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Hand in Hand | Tot Shabbat | Religious Schools | B’nai mitzvah
Jazzed Up Shabbat
Shabbat is a time for love and delight. What could be better than an evening of candles, wine, a little cheese and music? This series will take us from winter through spring with an innovative, soulful song in our hearts. You bring the wine and we will provide internationally acclaimed guest artists in a variety of musical styles (Israeli, Jazz, Gospel, Latin-American…). This is a Shabbat on the cutting edge and we look forward to sharing this with you.
Tot Shabbat Program
Our Tot Shabbat Program occurs on Friday mornings when children, teachers, and parents gather in the sanctuary to join together to celebrate Shabbat with songs and dancing. In the year 2002, we celebrated the release of our CD, “Tot Shabbat With Cantor Marcelo.” Parents, children, teachers, and congregants contributed by composing, singing or offering production related assistance. “Tot Shabbat with Cantor Marcelo” has been well received throughout the Jewish communities around the world including New Zealand, Argentina, Lithuania, Israel and Canada. Since the CD was released, we have been invited to bring our music to national education and religious conferences. Schools have called upon us to come and perform the music, demonstrating our Tot Shabbat Program. Teachers, Rabbis and Cantors around the country, use the CD in their classrooms, and families listen to the CD at home. Now we are continually looking toward the future, and in order to give our children and adults the best Jewish music education. I am in the process of recording two CD’s that will be available to our community and will continue to spread our inspiration throughout the country.
Inter-Generational Program
We visit the residents of the Jewish Home For The Aged to celebrate Shabbat with our pre-school children and adult choir. Everyone joyfully celebrates with dancing, prayers and songs with a Latin beat.
Hand in Hand
I direct the Hand in Hand program, along with Janet Ettenger and Lisa Szylagyi. Hand in Hand is a program which provides support for children with special needs from diverse backgrounds and faiths, and offers opportunities for them to learn new skills, socialize and have fun. Hand in hand is an after school program that runs every Thursday from 4PM to 5:30PM, which includes a buddy program with mainstream peers, Music and Art Therapy, community service and an optional opportunity to become a Bar or Bat Mitzvah.
Religious School
I teach music and songs from our beloved Israel. I also teach prayers and blessings to every class, progressing further with each level. Together, we learn to embrace and enjoy our culture through music.
B’nai Mitzvah Program
This is a very successful program and I personally mentor each student to insure that they are proud of their Jewish heritage and enjoy this important milestone in their life. Our students learn to read Torah, lead Tefilot, and Brachot. Our B’nai Mitzvah class learns the Tropes for Parashah and Haftarah.
Malibu Bat Mitzvah–Skylar’s Haftorah Video Montage from Graham & Graham on Vimeo.
Torah Trope Classes
It is tremendously rewarding to see people of all ages stand upon the bimah, reading Torah for our congregation. I prepare kids and adults to read Torah during the year, and especially on High Holy Days with the special melody. These classes are available to everyone in the synagogue; I prepare the Torah readers so they can bring the light of Torah to our lives.
Concerts
We have three major concerts annually. These are exiting successful events that the whole community looks forward to.
The Cantor’s Concert (Click here)
Video from the Cantor’s Concert:
Choir & Musical Ensembles
Everyone is welcome to participate to the full measure of his or her spiritual desire, singing or playing music. We meet with the Choir regularly to prepare for holiday celebrations. We invite every congregant, from child to adult, who plays an instrument to join our Musical Ensembles. We perform on Shabbat and in memorable concerts throughout the year.
Sing-A-Long
This repertoire encompasses music about Jewish life and our heroes – from Abraham Avinu, to the creation of the State of Israel. Everyone is welcome to join. As we learn, our voices and spirits soar to new heights. Each song resonates with the entirety of the Jewish experience, the devastations and victories, the separations and reunifications, and above all, the constant bond with the eternal.
PurimShpiel
Every year I direct the play we prepare with everybody who is interested in acting, singing or dancing. We begin our rehearsals in January to prepare our annual play with the story of Purim. Every year we create a play with a musical theme.
2009 Meguillah Mia! (Music by ABBA) By Steve Krashen
2010 The Sound of Purim (Music from the Sound of Music) by Steve Krashen
