Newsletter Articles
Music and Memory 2013
The High Holy Days allow us as individuals to remember the past year. It is a time to explore and examine ourselves, our relationships to others and the world around us.
My earliest memories of the High Holy Days are filled with song. I remember being especially transfixed on Rosh Hashanah as I watched my Cantor walk the entire length of the synagogue- filled to the brim with people- chanting the Hineni prayer.
I also remember my many, many years singing in the synagogue choir- first as a young eleven year old surrounded by people who were years older than I, then as a professional singing throughout the LA area, and as a cantorial student in my first year in Israel, and my first two years in New York. From the time I was a young pre-teen until the present, I have always found a sense of joy and wholeness raising my voice with others. My voice joined with other voices rising up together as one made praying holy for me.
In my years as a cantorial soloist and as a student cantor, singing together with choir, and with the kahal (congregation) has become increasingly important to me. I want to pray with my kahal.
I will never forget the first time I felt as if the kahal and I were singing and praying as one voice. It was my first year in my student pulpit, and my very first year of singing the High Holy Days all by myself. I turned to face the ark, and the music for Avinu Malkeinu began. I opened my mouth, and began to sing and to pray, and then became aware of a strange buzzing behind me. The entire congregation spontaneously began singing Janowski’s Avinu Malkeinu with me! This moment was elevated to a truly magical and holy prayer experience. In one voice, the Kahal and I prayed to God, creating sacred time and space. To this day, it is one of the most moving memories I have of the High Holy Days.
In my work as a student cantor, I moved from singing in the choir as a professional to directing adults, children and teens in choirs. This has brought me great joy and blessing. It is a magical experience to create music with a body of voices, no matter the skill level of those involved. It is just fun. Choir is a wonderful way to connect with those in the community, to be involved in the musical and prayer life of a synagogue and to have the opportunity to learn and grow with each other.
Do you love music? Do you love to sing? If you do, I invite you to join me this year on the bimah! Whether you are 9 or 99, I would love to make music with you! Please drop me an email, and let me know if you would be interested in participating in services and special events. There is no minimum requirement for participation- if you are interested, we will sing together! I may be reached at [email protected] and I really hope that if you love to sing, you’ll let me know and join with me.
I want to invite everyone who is a part of our synagogue community to please feel free to join in song and in prayer with me throughout the High Holy Days and the upcoming year. Whether you are on the bimah or in your seat, please feel free to sing along- you don’t even need to know Hebrew- you can sing on la. I am so looking forward to meeting you in just a short while. I truly look forward to creating meaningful relationships, prayerful worship filled with music, and fun learning experiences with you.
B'Shira,
Lauren Furman
The High Holy Days allow us as individuals to remember the past year. It is a time to explore and examine ourselves, our relationships to others and the world around us.
My earliest memories of the High Holy Days are filled with song. I remember being especially transfixed on Rosh Hashanah as I watched my Cantor walk the entire length of the synagogue- filled to the brim with people- chanting the Hineni prayer.
I also remember my many, many years singing in the synagogue choir- first as a young eleven year old surrounded by people who were years older than I, then as a professional singing throughout the LA area, and as a cantorial student in my first year in Israel, and my first two years in New York. From the time I was a young pre-teen until the present, I have always found a sense of joy and wholeness raising my voice with others. My voice joined with other voices rising up together as one made praying holy for me.
In my years as a cantorial soloist and as a student cantor, singing together with choir, and with the kahal (congregation) has become increasingly important to me. I want to pray with my kahal.
I will never forget the first time I felt as if the kahal and I were singing and praying as one voice. It was my first year in my student pulpit, and my very first year of singing the High Holy Days all by myself. I turned to face the ark, and the music for Avinu Malkeinu began. I opened my mouth, and began to sing and to pray, and then became aware of a strange buzzing behind me. The entire congregation spontaneously began singing Janowski’s Avinu Malkeinu with me! This moment was elevated to a truly magical and holy prayer experience. In one voice, the Kahal and I prayed to God, creating sacred time and space. To this day, it is one of the most moving memories I have of the High Holy Days.
In my work as a student cantor, I moved from singing in the choir as a professional to directing adults, children and teens in choirs. This has brought me great joy and blessing. It is a magical experience to create music with a body of voices, no matter the skill level of those involved. It is just fun. Choir is a wonderful way to connect with those in the community, to be involved in the musical and prayer life of a synagogue and to have the opportunity to learn and grow with each other.
Do you love music? Do you love to sing? If you do, I invite you to join me this year on the bimah! Whether you are 9 or 99, I would love to make music with you! Please drop me an email, and let me know if you would be interested in participating in services and special events. There is no minimum requirement for participation- if you are interested, we will sing together! I may be reached at [email protected] and I really hope that if you love to sing, you’ll let me know and join with me.
I want to invite everyone who is a part of our synagogue community to please feel free to join in song and in prayer with me throughout the High Holy Days and the upcoming year. Whether you are on the bimah or in your seat, please feel free to sing along- you don’t even need to know Hebrew- you can sing on la. I am so looking forward to meeting you in just a short while. I truly look forward to creating meaningful relationships, prayerful worship filled with music, and fun learning experiences with you.
B'Shira,
Lauren Furman