The Temple Avodah Adult Choir is led by Cantor Sheila Singer. assisted by director/accompaniest Julia Lovett-Sergi
Temple Avodah Choir 2008
1st row (left to right): Jocelyn Weston, Joan Weinberg, Donna Alexander, Connie Axelson, Karen Pinsky, Carol Kortmansky, Marla Gross 2nd row: David Kirsh, Phil Harwood, Ann Taub, Ellen Sherman, Esther Rosengartgen, Caryle Katz, Cantor Sheila Singer, Barbara Snyder 3rd row: Ed Fried, Barry Howard, Steve Sieber, Marty Adler, Wendy Stollerman, Julie Fahrer
Teenage and Junior Choir
Cantor Singer has assembled the largest and most enthusiastic group of teenagers and young singers to form choirs and ensembles of young voices. The effect is electrifying as each year they conduct their Concert and Awards night. It is an evening to remember.
The Junior Choir sings at Hoffman manor every year for Mitzvah day and at various special services throughout the year , including the Rock Shabbats. Click here for the video.
Please consider participating in the Junior choir this year.. We accept students from 3rd grade through high school. The choir sings a few times a year. This year we sang at several Friday night services, including Rock Shabbat, which uses electric guitar, bass and drums. We also sang for Chanukah and Purim, as well as doing a special mitzvah when we sang at a Jewish nursing home in Long Beach. The choir meets on Monday evenings when religious school is in session from 6:00 until 7:00 pm. We begin with a pizza dinner for the first 10 minutes or so, then we sing for the rest of the time. The repertoire we sing is mostly music for the Sabbath service. We also learned Chanukah songs, song parodies for Purim, and learned new songs for Rock Shabbat and the nursing home performance, as well as an end of year concert. This is a great way for your child to learn the prayers for the service which they will need for their Bar or Bat Mitzvah, as well as for their Jewish lives. They will also get to socialize with other Jewish children of all ages from the religious school, and be able to take pride in singing.
The "Best Choir in the Universe," (as lovingly named by Rabbi Philmore Berger of blessed memory), meets for choir practice on most everyThursday evenings from 8 to 9:30 PM combines song with worship, creating a meaningful experience that enhances services at Temple and our own Jewish lives. Rehearsing and singing with it is a thoroughly enjoyable experience. All Temple Membes or prospective members are free to check us out and join us on any Thursday night that we are meeting.. You do not have to read music or have a background in singing. Your desire to sing and willingness to rehearse with us is all that you need. Events, such as the Temple Avodah Adult Choir Open House & Workshop where several congregants who are considering becoming new choir members, provide a special opportunity to meet with us for an evening of song, socialization and refreshments.
Over the years we have become a family. We sing at simchas of colleagues, enjoy choir dinners and picnics, and view one another as extended family. With Rabbi Goren's staunch support we sing at Temple events such as High Holidays, major festivals, Confirmation, High School Graduation and Installation of Temple Officers. We sing once a month at Friday Shabbat services. We have participated in jazz festivals, an "Echad" service, Purim spiels, numerous choir festivals and programs at nursing homes.
Not only does the choir assist the Temple by singing at services and for the High Holidays, it also has created a rich social calendar that transforms these singers into a Temple-based extended family. Annual picnics, Chanukah parties, End-of-Season dinners, Interfaith Services, Mitzvah Day singing all add to the warmth and joy of choir memebrship for new members as well as the old. The choir has sung at member's bar/bat mitzvahs, weddings and sadly funerals too. For informaion on choir membership contact Jocelyn via email jw53qt@aol.com.
Temple Avodah Choir History
A choir history as related by choir member Ed Fried:
I remember the first rehearsal called for the new Temple Avodah Volunteer choir. It was held in the evening, on a day we were preparing for our annual bazaar. I was working my way, slowly, down to the rehearsal room when I met Dave. He and I exchanged pleasantries and together walked into the room. Here we joined that handful of stalwarts who became the new choir. Most of us had not sung in a group for along time- for me it was since college - and we had great concerns about our ability to perform. Judy Rowland, however, just pushed ahead and we were singing in unison within a short time. It was the beginning of what has become a marvelous 18 years.
The choir was organized by Cantor Judy Rowland, our first full time cantor, in 1982. Those early rehearsals, starting in the Winter of 1982 were filled with organization and the learning of new music. Many of us had some previous musical experiences, but others had nothing but the desire to sing. Cantor Rowland gave us the incentive and courage to participate. When Cantor announced that we would do a concert at the end of that first year - we were in a state of panic. I remember Alan looking at me and smiling that " Oh my God " look. We did our practicing and the concert went well. We were all happy.
Even Jeff Schindler, our organist, was happy. Jeff is the man, as Caryle recollects, who spent more time looking for girls to date but was never too successful. I recall him spending almost as much time reading magazines about horses and horse racing. He always had a problem with the alto section, which he called " altoids ". Many of our activities, such as the Purim spiel were started by Cantor Rowland. When Cantor Rowland left Temple, we hired Karen Braunstein, who brought her interests in Klezmer, folk music and Yiddish music to the Temple and choir. New music was introduced and we expanded our musical knowledge and repertoire. I remember the joy of attending Karen's wedding to Cantor Paul - held outdoors at Temple. Do you remember how Karen dressed at Purim spiels and the Yiddish/Klezmer concert she gave at Temple? It was quite unique.
Gershon Sillins may have been the most quotable of our cantors. Bob kept a book of his statements for many years. A few choice sayings and explanations "if you had a choice between laissez faire and a controlled economy-you would pick laissez faire" [this means that we, the choir, like to do whatever we want without following directions] and "when we get to this section, I feel lonely. Only you can change that" [ this means - connect to me, especially at this place in the music]. Gershon is the one who developed our exercise lines, as part of warm-up activities. We learned to give back rubs to one another as a form of loosening-up activity. It was also Gerson who arranged for choir members to go to New Jersey to participate in a workshop/songfest with other congregational choirs.
When Gershon left, we hired Ron Broden, who remained with us for 7 years, the longest tenure of any cantor up to this time. Ron brought a new, fresh perspective to choir. Much new music was introduced and we expanded on our participation with other Temple choirs. Barry recalls some of Ron's statements, such as "no breathing", "look up", "not as low as you think", " a really great bass part", "not so much forte" and "ignore what is written". Ron also had strong feelings for tenors, as he said "tenors can't help singing loud-we're all that way". When Ron dressed up and played Haman at a Purim spiel, he had a ball and we all enjoyed ourselves. Ron brought enthusiasm and enrichment to our programs. It was in this time frame that Bob developed his annual trophy for a choir member. The award was given for distinguished service, usually to a newer member of the choir. By the way, Bob entertained us with his music and wit at many of our parties.
We have been blessed over the years by the strong support of our Rabbis, Cantor and members. Their approval has continued to strengthen our resolve.
The years have been good to us by allowing us to do something that we truly enjoy. It really has been fun. We continue to laugh at and with one another. We can joke when we see one of us sleeping in the choir loft. We can console one another when there is a loss of family or one of our members leaves. It has been an extraordinary 18 years. It is like yesterday that Alan and I continuously joked around during rehearsals and laughed at what was expected of us. We have succeeded in our mission. I treasure every memory.
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Spring into Song
This musical event, held on May 7, 2009 made for a thoroughly enjoyable evening. The choirs of Central Synagogue of Nassau County and Temple Avodah of Oceanside, Hazan Judy Naimark, Cantor Sheila Singer (nee Rubin), flutist Lisa Goldberg, guitarist Karen Feit, and pianist Julia Lovett Sergi delighted the large audience who turned out for this evening of music amd community.
Temple Avodah Choir Hazan Judy Naimark and Cantor Sheila Singer (nee Rubin)
(All photos courtesy of Milch Photo)
Thanksgiving Interfaith at Temple Avodah
The clergy, choirs and musical soloists from Temple Avodah, St. Anthony's Roman Catholic Church, Oceanside Lutheran Church, First Presbyterian Church of Oceanside and the First United Methodist Church joined together at Temple Avodah for an evening of rejoicing in song and non-denominational prayer and thanksgiving. This moving and interesting event never fails to bring together in a joyous and stimulating way the diverse community of Oceanside under one roof in a house of worship. Our neighbors and fellow town's people joined with us to hear inspirational remarks from Temple Avodah President Philip Weis, Reverend Randall Broger and congregant Peter Richardson of First Presbyterian Church, Rabbi Mark Greenspan of OJC, Reverend Janet Porcher and congregant Christen Pastrana of First United Methodist Church, Rabbi Uri Goren of Temple Avodah, Father James French with congregant Nicolle Gubelli of St. Anthony's Catholic Church, Reverend Danielle Miller of Oceanside Lutheran Church, Gina Calderone of Oceanside Lutheran Church and Cantor Sheila Singer of Temple Avodah.
Musical selections were performed bt Alyssa Blumenthal of OJC, Cantor Gadi Elon of OJC, Cliff Kretowski of First United Methodist Church.
Choral presentations were performed by the choirs from Oceanside Lutheran Church, First Presbyterian Church Choir, St. Anthony's Catholic Church Choir and the Temple Avodah Adult Choir
Combined choral pieces were conducted by Keith Gramlich, Music Director of First United Methodist Church.
Musical accompaniment was provided by Julia Lovett-Sergi, Cliff Krewtowski. Amplification was provided by Steve Sieber.
Coordination and organization was provided by members from each house of worship. Esther Rosengarten of Temple Avodah choir worked tirelessly on behalf of Temple Avodah to make this years' event a happy reality and memory.
