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Family service night at the Hebrew Tabernacle on Fort Washington Avenue in Washington Heights is getting a musical boost.
“We’ve decided to try something new to appeal to the different demographics in our congregation,” said Mitch Gershonowitz, chair of the ritual committee that was formed specifically to ensure that the services at the Hebrew Tabernacle continue to meet the needs of the congregation.
“We are experimenting with a new style of service called ‘Shabbat in Song.’ The service will be entirely sung and accompanied by the band. It will be like a Jewish rock opera,” said Gershonowitz.
An Israeli jazz band will provide the live music and children from the Hebrew School will sing during the service. The choir will be led by clergy Rabbi Jeffrey Gale and student Cantor Michelle Rubel.
In addition, members of the congregation who are musicians will also be adding their talents to the experience.
“We wanted to have a service focused on music because we believe that music helps people connect more with their worship and prayer,” said Gershonowitz. “It makes it a more fun, interactive experience where children and families can sing along and feel included in the service.”
The Hebrew Tabernacle, the only reform synagogue in Northern Manhattan, is 105 years old, and has been at its present locations for 38 years. During the 1930’s, its membership swelled with German Jewish refugees. Today, many of its elderly members are the same refugees or Holocaust survivors.
But younger families and their children are also becoming part of the congregation.
According to Gershonowitz, the new families who may have limited exposure to Judaism, can’t read Hebrew and are interfaith, which makes it difficult to relate to the traditional worship services.
“We wanted to address that part of our congregation so that they too feel welcome,” he explained.
Gershonowitz said that both the committee and the clergy have been doing different things to appeal to the different age groups of the congregation. Recently, they held a service in the style of pre-World War II Germany, for the older members of the congregation who grew up attending services in that style.
“Of course this is a Jewish event, so we will have food,” said Gershonowitz. For guests wishing to stay, there will be a full sit down kosher dinner served by the students of the Hebrew school in the synagogue’s Social Hall.
The family service “Shabbat in Song” will be held on Fri. Nov. 4th at 6:30 pm.
The Hebrew Tabernacle is located at 551 Fort Washington Avenue.
Everyone is welcome. For dinner reservations, please call 212.568.8304.
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