Songs from heaven at a synagogue near you

THE sounds at Caulfield Hebrew Congregation over the coming holidays are to be heaven sent, with the shul hosting an Israeli choir for the second consecutive year.

Seven-member choir Kolot Min Hashamayim, or voices from heaven, will accompany Caulfield’s chazan Dov Farkas for all the main services during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

“After its visit last year, this is only the second time that a Melbourne synagogue has invited a choir from Israel to conduct services,” Farkas said. “This project further strengthens the link between Caulfield shul and the State of Israel, a connection we proudly value.”

The acclaimed group is led by its founder Rafi Biton, one of Israel’s leading choir masters, who is also a conductor, singer and concert artist in his own right.

The other choristers are Avreki Itamar, Drori Eitanabraham, Holdarov Eliyahu, Kariithi ZachariahnJoroge, Oved Jacob, and Vakhtang Matanel, who together have accompanied most of the world’s leading chazans and have performed extensively in Israel, Europe and the United States.

The presence of a choir at Caulfield shul is part of a longer-term plan of establishing its own songsters for Shabbat and yom tovs.

“We hope to demonstrate to our members how beautiful a choir can be and how much it can enhance the services,” Rabbi Ralph Genende said.

Kolot Min Hashamayim will also feature at the shul’s Shabbat service tonight (Friday), to give the wider community an opportunity to hear the choir.

In addition, they will accompany Chazan Farkas during selichot at midnight on Saturday night.
Shira Hadasha, believed to be Australia’s first Orthodox congregation to have prayers led by both men and women, while still having a mechitzah separating the genders, will also host visiting chazans for the holidays.

Husband and wife team Mishael and Elana Zion will take turns leading the services, as well as singing together.

Once again relocating to the bowls club at Caulfield Park during the High Holy Days, the congregation also plans to host “refreshing and engaging talks” on a range of timely topics between shul services.
Shira Hadasha, an inclusive Orthodox minyan, follows the tunes of religious teacher, composer, and singer Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach.

Enquiries: Caulfield Hebrew Congregation (03) 9525 9492; Shira Hadasha www.shira.org.au; Carmella (03) 9528 5604.

AJN STAFF