Next year in... New York!

At long last, Passover break has begun, and with it comes some exciting developments!

We're finally done with the student pulpit placement process for the coming year, and I have been given the student cantor position at Congregation Emanu-El in New York City, the largest synagogue in the world. This is the first time they have ever taken on a student cantor, and I'll get many opportunities to perform beautiful music from the Classical Reform Jewish tradition with the senior cantor, professional choir and organ. I'll also be a part of their newly-revamped Lifelong Learning program, teaching music in the religious school, and even writing the occasional sermon! As if it weren't obvious, I'm very excited to be working there next year, especially since I'll be reunited with my old Glee Club bud Adam, who is continuing on as the rabbinical intern at Emanu-El.

In other news, my dad is arriving in Israel tomorrow for his first trip both to Israel and out of North America. He'll only be here for five days, so it's up to Donna and me to show him as good a time as possible. Highlights will include Shabbat dinner at Saba and Savta's, Shabbat morning services at HUC (featuring Donna's first traditional Torah chanting since 1992), Leil Seder at Dudi and Yehudit's, and trips to Masada and the Dead Sea. We'll be sure to get plenty of pictures to post!

I gave a concert last week in Tel Aviv of art songs by Arie ben Er'ez Abrahamson, a master jeweller by trade who not only survived the Holocaust in dramatic fashion but also wrote a lot of music. The works we performed were mostly taken from the 1930s-40s, in anticipation of Holocaust Remembrance Day next month. We'll be repeating the program on that very day - April 16 - here in Jerusalem, and it will be broadcast live across the country on Kol HaMusica, the Israeli classical music radio station! Should there be simultaneous streaming available, I will definitely put the link here.

Best to all for a happy and healthy holiday: chag sameach vekasher!

"Patience" Pics!!

I finally have access to amazing photos from the show. These were taken by JEST colleague Brian Negin during the first two performances. All the photos can be seen via a guest pass on Brian's Flickr site: Patience Album. Here are a few of the choice shots -- click on the photos to see them full-size!

Opening scene: Twenty (or so) Lovesick Maidens We

"In A Doleful Train" ~ the maidens pine over Reginald Bunthorne

Patience and Angela's Duet ~ "Oh, forgive her, Eros!"

Act I Finale: "Oh shameless one!"

Act I Finale: The maidens attack Grosvenor!

Act II: Grosvenor sings the fable of "The Magnet and the Churn"

Act II Quintet: "In sections of three -- RAPTURE!"

Act II Finale: The "Swears and Wells young girls" are reformed; Lady Angela marries Major Murgatroyd (on the right)

Hopefully I'll have some of my own backstage pics soon! Don't forget to check out the album!

"Patience"

This week marked the opening of "Patience" with the Jerusalem English Speaking Theater in partnership with the Jerusalem Gilbert and Sullivan Society. It has been a very LOOONG rehearsal process, one that I haven't experienced since the last time I did community theater (coincidentally, when I did G&S shows in college). Opening night brought with it an unprecedented challenge for me: I woke up on Sunday morning before the dress rehearsal with a sore throat and completely hoarse voice. I didn't sing at all at the dress rehearsal on Sunday night and prayed that I would be able to sing on Monday for the show...

Monday morning I found myself still quite sick and very, very hoarse. After panicking for a few hours, I calmed myself down (with the help of Josh, who came home from school because he was worried about me.... more proof that he's beyond amazing). I realized that somehow or other, I had to go onstage and so I did my best to warm up my voice. I don't know if I have ever relied so heavily on my years of training as I did to get me through the first performance.... it certainly took a lot of concentration! Josh and Mary were in the audience last night and they both swear that there wasn't any evidence that I was so sick.

Now I just have to get through another performance tonight, and TWO tomorrow -- back to back! And of course, four more next week. Haven't taken any photos yet, but I promise to do so very soon...

Updates, updates, updates!

Hi, Josh and Donna here. We have been neglecting the blog because we've actually been really busy! But we finally have some time today as the city of Jerusalem celebrates the festival of Purim (see below) and Josh has the day off of school. We have a few things we wanted to blog about... we'll try to be brief so this post doesn't go on for three pages!

HUC Tiyul to the Negev
At the end of February, we went to the Negev desert area and Eilat on HUC's final extended field trip of this year. We stayed a couple nights at Kibbutz Yahel, the first Progressive Jewish (Reform) kibbutz in Israel. The highlights of the tiyul were our all-day hike in the Negev, specifically in the Red Canyon; snorkeling in the Red Sea at Eilat; sleeping overnight in a mock-Bedouin tent (it was run by hippie Jews) and visiting the super eco-conscious Kibbutz Lotan. All the photos are up at Donna's Flickr photo website as usual, but here are a couple faves:

At the top of the first big climb, with a spectacular view of the Negev mountains in the background.

The hike was so much fun!!

After our all-day hike: Sunset at the Bedouin tents. We were a bit tired!

Visiting Guests
Our friend Siri was here this week on her way from Vienna (where she was living for six months) to India. Siri is going to India and Nepal to teach English and music for 10 months! We enjoyed having her here -- it was her first time in Israel -- and Donna played tour guide in the Old City.

Siri and Donna with a vegetable seller in the market. They all couldn't keep their eyes off this tall blonde woman and HAD to have photos taken with her!

Donna at the Kotel

While Siri was here, we went to Stephanie's place for "Camp Shabbat," a recreation of Shabbat practices at all the various Jewish sleepaway camps in the US. It was loads of fun, and we sang practically every Jewish camp song in the world! Siri left for India on Sunday and we wish her the best of luck on her journeys!

Purim in Jerusalem
Finally, last night we celebrated the festival of Purim at HUC and in Jerusalem at large. It was certainly one of the most fun, most memorable and most hilarious Purim celebrations either of us have been a part of! Josh and Phil planned and led a rollicking Purim service that had people laughing the whole night. Along with some faculty members, many different students -- including Josh -- participated in the Megillah reading of the entire book of Esther! Donna takes full credit for Josh's costume here (we call him "Fruma Shukele"), and Donna ran publicity for "Patience" by wearing her Act II finale costume!

Josh as a disturbingly lovely "frum" girl, and Donna as Lady Angela

Fruma Shukele and Marilyn Monroe (Phil) lead an amazing Purim service

After the Megillah reading and service, we were highly entertained by the "Shushan Night Live" Purim spiel -- all the skits were parodies of SNL favorites! Donna laughed very hard throughout the spiel, especially at Josh's funny sketches!

Josh and Jamie's "Night at the Orthodox Roxbury"

And finally, after the spiel we went out dancing at a gay bar (?) appropriately called Shushan, and then walked the streets to see all the revelers out and about. Once again, you have to check out the photo album online to see all the great pics! We had loads of fun... we're a little pooped today but we're enjoying the day off. More posts -- we promise -- to come soon. Chag Sameach!