The Role of Music at Congregation Beth Israel . . .
"Music is a universal language, and needs not be translated. With it, soul speaks to soul." - B. Auerbach.
At CBI, we know that there are many ways to express one's Judaism, so we offer a variety of worship experiences designed to meet our members' musical needs.
CBI is a "singing congregation" that takes pride in offering highly participatory, joyous worship services. Here in the "live music capital of the world," we at CBI strive to enhance our worship experiences through a variety of musical traditions. Sometimes you will hear pieces of liturgy set to traditional melodies, while other times you will hear more contemporary settings led by our talented cadre of Lay Cantorial Soloists who assist with leading services ... some play guitar, some don't, some are more traditional in their sound, while others are more modern ... one of our Lay Cantorial Soloists even brings a true Texas sound to our worship!
Additional Opportunities to Participate in CBI's Worship:
CBI's Children's Choir: Zimriyah ... CBI's Children's Choir is open to all kids from kindergarten through seventh grade, whether or not they are a member of CBI. Zimriyah performs at select Shabbat services and community events throughout the year. During the 2008-2009 season, Zimriyah performed at Austin community events such as "Chanukah in the Hood," "Passover in the Hood," and the city-wide Yom HaShoah commemoration ... as well as at a wedding!
Rabbi Olshein directs our Children's Choir, with assistance from our Zimriyah Songleader, Sarah Avner. Our kids rehearse on most Sundays when there is Sunday school from 11:30am-12:15pm in the Music Room on the Second Floor of our Education Building. (There are no rehearsals on the first and last day of each Sunday school semester.) Additionally, our student singers rehearse before each worship service and before each performance.
For more information about your child joining the Zimriyah, please click here or contact Rabbi Olshein. New members are always welcome and there is no fee for joining.
CBI's Adult Choir: Makheilah ... CBI's Adult Choir is open to all adults interested in singing Jewish liturgical music, whether or not they are a member of CBI. Our all-volunteer choir is made up of adults who love to sing and whose own spiritual connection with Judaism has been deepened through their participation. It is led by well-known Austin Choir Conductor, Jeffrey Jones-Ragona. The ability to read music is not required.
The Makheilah performs during the High Holy Days and at select worship services and community events throughout the year. Rehearsals are scheduled around each particular performance. New members are always welcome and there is no fee for joining. For more information about joining our Adult Choir, please contact CBI's Worship Committee Chair, Allan Adelman.
CBI's Intergenerational Yiddish Choir: For the past two years at Chanukah, our Children's Choir, Zimriyah, has joined together with our Yiddish Language Group to sing in Yiddish. These "generation to generation" moments are shared with our congregation during our Shabbat services during Chanukah, as well as during the community's "Chanukah in the Hood" event. Anyone interested in learning to sing in Yiddish is invited to contact Rabbi Olshein for additional information regarding learning Yiddish songs and performance opportunities.
