The Avodah Choirs
Temple Avodah’s Adult Choir
The ” Best Choir in the Universe ,” (as lovingly named by Rabbi Philmore Berger of blessed memory), meets for choir practice on most Thursday evenings from 7:30-8:30 PM. It 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 Members 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.
As stated by Choir members:
“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, High School Graduation and Installation of Temple Officers. We sing once a month at Erev Shabbat services. We have participated in jazz festivals, an “Echad” service, Purim spiels, numerous choir festivals and programs at nursing homes.”
Temple Avodah’s Junior and Teen Choirs
The Temple Avodah Junior and Teen Choirs accept students from 3rd grade through high school. Cantor Amelia Fox 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. The choir sings throughout the year including at several Friday night Erev Shabbat services, including our famous Rock Shabbat Service, which uses electric guitar, bass, keyboards and drums. They also sign for Chanukah and Purim, as well as doing a special mitzvah and sing at a Jewish nursing home in Long Beach. The Junior choir meets on Monday evenings when Religious School is in session from 6:30 until 7:15 pm. They begin with a pizza dinner for the first 10 minutes or so, then sing for the rest of the time. The Teen Choir meets Tuesdays at 5:30 to 6:00 pm before the 7th grade classes and before the Kesher Kef Hebrew High School. The repertoire is mostly music for the Sabbath service. They learn Chanukah songs, song parodies for Purim, and learn 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. Contact our Cantor Amelia Fox, cantor@avodah.org, for further information about how participating in our Junior and Teen Choirs.