March is the month for music! Just one week from today, the 10th annual Atlanta Jewish Music Festival begins. “Celebrating Jewish Contributions to Music” brings music for everyone. Here is what I am SUPER excited about: If you are a Jazz/Broadway lover like I am, then you MUST go see the Bill Charlap Trio at the Atlanta History Center. They are playing March 7th @7:30 featuring the Songs of Leonard Bernstein. Leonard Bernstein a prolific composer spanning the gamut from classical music, to Broadway and Jazz, and often utilized sounds and themes of Jewish music. This is a great date night! Movie music and Hollywood lovers will want to check out AJMF’s Salute to Hollywood. You will hear Jewish Contributions to the Academy Awards best Original Songs, held at the Breman Museum Sunday March 10th. If you love Judaism, history, and American popular music, then this next event is for you. Jazz pianist, producer, singer and composer Ben Sidran will bring his interpretation and first person … [Read more...]

This past Monday, I had the incredible honor to represent the Jewish community at the 51st MLK commemoration ceremony at Ebenezer Baptist Church. Sitting feet away from Martin Luther King’s daughter, Dr. Bernice King was mind-blowing- it was like touching history. Electric energy permeated the air; the sanctuary filled with passionate words directed towards radical reformation and change. When I stood to offer my reading of Torah, I felt this electricity almost overwhelm my entire being. Faith leaders and activists charged the audience with the mission to right the injustice and racism that pervades America today. Bryan Stevenson, the keynote speaker, encouraged folks to “get proximate, change the narrative, maintain hope and to get uncomfortable” in a mission to better reach out to and lift up those who live below the poverty line, or who lie on the margins of society. Stevenson explains that one must move into the heart of the issue they are trying to elevate. This … [Read more...]

This weekend is HISTORIC. Saturday we chant Shirat Hayam, the Torah portion that holds the Song of the Sea. In this Torah portion, the people of Israel stand on the precipice between slavery and freedom. Their oppressors at their backs, and the unknown expanse of the sea before them, the Israelites choose to step into the waters, which miraculously part. When the people of Israel step into freedom, their emotions are such that they can only sing to God with joy: Michamocha Ba-elim Adonai, Michamocha Nedar Bakodesh? Who is like You among the Gods, who is like you in glorious holiness? If those words sound familiar, it is because they are! We sing Michamocha as a part of our Geulah, or prayers of redemption section of our daily, Shabbat, and holiday services. There are many fun melodies for this prayer! Check out Debbie Friedman’s famous version HERE Monday, we recognize a very different march to Freedom. This Monday we honor Dr. Martin Luther King and the incredible life and work he … [Read more...]

Congregants helping Congregants: Sharing our resources, helping others connect to Jewish community “Prayer cannot bring water to parched fields, or mend a broken bridge or rebuild a ruined city; but prayer can water an arid soul, mend a broken heart and rebuild a weakened will.” -- Abraham Joshua Heschel. Two months ago, I wrote about the incredible strides made by Koleinu, our inclusion awareness committee at TE. Koleinu means “our voices” and it is our mission to give a voice to everyone in the community. Koleinu aims to increase awareness and facilitate participation for everyone within the five main pillars of Jewish life at Temple Emanu-El. We want to make Jewish life accessible for those who live with different abilities, physical disabilities and invisible disabilities, and educate those who do not. Ruchanut- Worship & Spirituality is one of our five pillars here at TE. We share these words on our website: “Temple Emanu-El is PRAYER. We are your place of … [Read more...]

If you enjoyed the music over the High Holy Day season this year, get ready because you are in for a real treat! We have something for you that is dynamic, unique and deeply inspiring for ALL ages. Music without Borders: Experience an orchestra like you have never experienced it before. Hear music emerge from an instrument that is feet away from you. This year our concert entitled, “Music without Borders” explores the universal and timeless story that began with the Jew’s exodus from slavery. We will traverse time and space with music that elevates voices of Jews, Afro-Cubans and those who resisted Nazi Germany. Through it all, the music will teach us that it does not matter where we end up, with faith and God as our foundation, music is our true home. Free! Sponsored by Marvin and Ann Goldstein. November 4th at 4pm, right here at TE. For ALL ages. Advance registration appreciated.  Click HERE From Darkness to Light Vedem magazine, the longest running underground magazine … [Read more...]