Saturday, August 26, 2017

Four-Reasons-Shabbat-Is-Compared-to-Bride-and-a-Queen

http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/3753326/jewish/Four-Reasons-Shabbat-Is-Compared-to-Bride-and-a-Queen.htm

In the 16th-century Shabbat hymn “Lecha Dodi” [“Come, my beloved . . .”], we welcome the Shabbat as both a bride and queen.
This concept goes all the way back to the Talmud, where we read that Rabbi Chanina would wrap himself in his special garments on Shabbat eve and say, “Come, and we will go out to greet Shabbat the queen.” Another sage, Rabbi Yannai, would don his garment on Shabbat eve and say, “Enter, O bride. Enter, O bride.”1
So what is the Shabbat: a bride or a queen? And who is her husband?

Monday, August 14, 2017

Jazz for the Soul

http://www.record-eagle.com/news/local_news/jazz-for-the-soul/article_26fd5bcf-1230-5790-8581-4c3af5bf1c3e.html

TRAVERSE CITY — There are few things Rabbi Arnie Sleutelberg loves more than Shabbat and smooth jazz, though he admits combining the two is a rare treat.
It has been nearly 15 years since Sleutelberg and Jeff Haas organized a series of "Jazz Shabbat" services, reharmonizing traditional Jewish prayers into jazz songs. He jumped at the chance to do it again.
The two will reunite for a Jazz Shabbat on Aug. 18 at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Traverse City. Sleutelberg will lead the free Jewish prayer service while Haas playing jazz harmonies of traditional Shabbat hymns from the grand piano.
"Having an opportunity to pray and use jazz motifs to elevate the music of those prayers is exciting," Sleutelberg said. "Anyone familiar with the prayer service will still be able to chant along, but the surrounding melodies will be something very new."