From the Cantor - August 2001

Shalom, Chaveirim:

Right about now, a national school and office supply chain is probably running its yearly late summer ad: An ecstatic father zooms his shopping cart up and down the store aisles, tossing notebooks, pencil cases, binders and other supplies into the cart with reckless, happy abandon, to the tune of, "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year." In his wake appear two baleful school-age children. Their faces tell the whole story: They're going back!

So it is at Congregation Albert Religious School. Junior Congregation will have its first service of the year at 9:00 a.m. Saturday, August 25. Junior Congregation is a Shabbat morning service for families of all ages, and is typically led by students in the Alef, Bet and Gimel classes (grades 4, 5 and 6) in preparation for Bar and Bat Mitzvah study. Now we start a new tradition: The first Junior Congregation service of each year will be led by members of grade 7. This is their gesture of transition into a new phase of study; and also a means of welcoming Alef families and introducing them to our minhag haMakom (local custom). All are welcome!

HaShirah, our junior choir, is changing too. This year, HaShirah will become a family choir for children in grades 3 through 6 and their parents. There will be a mandatory meeting at noon on Sunday, August 26 for all new and returning families to HaShirah. Lunch will be provided. Please contact me if you plan to participate in HaShirah Family Choir this year.

Zamir Choir prepares for High Holy Days under the baton of our new choir director, James Bratcher. Jim has logged many years as conductor and singer and takes a great interest in Jewish music, stemming from his choral singing days at Temple Emanu-El in New York. He also serves as Music Director at St. Michael's and All Angels. Baruch HaBa (Welcome), Jim!

Zamir always welcomes new members. Rehearsals are Tuesday nights from 7 to 9 p.m. beginning August 7. Please contact me for more details. Want to bone up your music-reading skills? Zamir will hold a sight-singing workshop on Thursday, August 9 from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Moise Chapel, led by NMSO choir director Roger Melone. Please sign up by contacting me so we know how many supplies to have on hand.

B'shalom u-v'shir,
Cantor Jacqueline L. Shuchat-Marx

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