Bet Shalom Youth Choir — Bet Shalom Congregation

Building Jewish Identity

By Cantor Tamar Havilio

Youth choirs have been part of Jewish tradition for about 150 years. Jewish music and prayer were developed and nurtured by generations of cantors and their “shul choirs” from the late 19th century through the 1940s. The cantor would invite the children (only boys back then) and start to teach them the melodies of the prayers and how to harmonize underneath them like wings of prayer. They would stand around the cantor in the middle of the synagogue and create a surround sound, providing the bass sound humming the cantorial recitative. The cantor would teach the children all of the prayers so that they knew how to chant and sing the prayers and could become leaders themselves. In synagogue youth choirs Jewish identity is formed through the Jewish songs and Hebrew letters in a very profound way.

When I studied these youth choirs, I learned that the children often became future cantors, rabbis, and synagogue leaders. One of my goals as a cantor was to teach Jewish prayer through the choral experience of leading others together as a unit of Jewish sound and inspiration through prayer. It is a way of transmitting the soul and the texts of our Jewish tradition from generation to generation – L’Dor VaDor.

For that reason I have developed a youth choir in each synagogue that I have served during my cantorial career. And as Head of Cantorial Studies at Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem I organized choirs of future cantors, rabbis, and Jewish educators.

Long time Bet Shalom member Anita Silver recalls: “Years ago Bet Shalom had a children's choir, Shir Tzair, which participated in occasional Friday night Shabbat services. From the late 1980s through mid-1990s, I planned programming and implemented performance pieces for the group, in addition to Shabbat services. Shir Tzair performed thematic pieces such as "Jewish Music on Stage and Screen," "Jerusalem 5000," "Sing Me a Story," and even a modified "Fiddler on the Roof." The group sang prayers of the Jewish people and songs about and from Israel. The students practiced on Wednesday evenings following a pizza dinner. The goal was to develop social relationships and connections to other kids as much as it was to learn liturgy and Jewish music.”

When I came to serve Bet Shalom in 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown, I longed to start a new youth choir to begin teaching our Jewish journey through prayer and song. Suzy Lurie and Shana Eisenberg helped recruit the choir members and lead them with me. Rita Lusky accompanies us on piano at every service. The first time the youth choir led our congregation in prayer was on Shabbat Chanukah in 2023. I was in awe of them standing in front of the congregation and leading us with pure Jewish joy!

The Bet Shalom Youth Choir is learning some Hebrew and how to embody our Jewish tradition through prayer and song, just like in the old Yiddish tune by Mark Warshawsky “Ofyn Priepetshik – By the Fireside.” It recounts the rabbi teaching the children the “Alef Bet” and specifically the Hebrew vowel “Kometz-Alef, Oh.” The translation is:

Look, children; remember, dear ones
what you are learning here,
Say it again and again,
komets-alef, ‘o.’

Children, when you will grow older
you will understand…
may you draw strength from these letters.
Look to them!

By helping lead various services, Purim plays and Chanukah celebrations, the Bet Shalom Youth Choir strengthens and builds their Jewish identity. By participating in this sacred choir, our children are becoming our future Jewish teachers, cantors, rabbis and community leaders. They draw strength from the letters, and we gain strength from their joy and love for our beautiful sacred journey, L’Dor VaDor, from generation to generation.

The Bet Shalom Youth Choir meets on specific Sundays during Religious School. We sing for the High Holy Days, Chanukah, Purim and the end of the year Shabbat. We also sing at Sholom Home once a year during Chanukah as a mitzvah. Children from kindergarten through 7th grade are invited to join our Youth Choir!

Parents of the Youth Choir members are thrilled by the experiences. Here’s what they’re saying:

“All of my kids (even Isaac) do enjoy singing! They love artistic expression and the opportunity to do this in a Jewish setting is amazing. I catch them singing songs they learned from choir at home all the time- the songs are catchy and they love it! Something that will always stick as they grow.

Youth Choir Rehearsal

I think as a parent, hearing my kids sing Jewish songs as they grow up helps with their identity and belonging. It also strengthens their Hebrew and Jewish culture understanding. I do believe it has helped Eli tremendously as he prepares for his bar mitzvah (I recently learned what trope was and he was easily understanding it - or it could just be because he’s Eli). They are also learning how to perform in front of a group of people – a useful skill. Overall, I am proud to see them have so much fun to be part of the choir. The kids' smiles are all worth it!”

– Nancy Christensen

“Lisa has been singing in the Bet Shalom Youth Choir for several years. She loves the opportunity to sing with her community and for our community, whether that is at the synagogue at Religious School Shabbat or Yom Kippur, at the Shalom Home, or events in support of Israel. The music is lovely and fun, and it's great that the group is open to all ages of kids. And we (as the parents who drive her places) love that the practices for choir are when she is already at the synagogue for Sunday School!”

– Leora Maccabee

“The choir gives Ben and Danny a sense of community that extends beyond their grade levels. I love how some of the songs become ear worms and then the boys mindlessly hum them throughout the week while going about their business. I think this is how their Jewish education becomes part of their identity.”

- Yana Nagle

"The youth choir provides a wonderful opportunity for kids to connect to Judaism through music. Whether it is learning about Jewish beliefs, customs, or values, song is a powerful tool for education and connection. When I see my son singing in front of the congregation with such pride and joy, I feel tremendous happiness watching him connect to Judaism and share that special connection with our amazing Bet Shalom community. "

- Missy Chicre

And here’s what some Youth Choir members said when interviewed at a recent rehearsal:

How do you feel when you’re in the choir?

Youth Choir Oseh Shalom

Jonah: I feel pretty happy at joining choir because I like to sing.

Noah: It makes me feel better and it’s kind of peaceful to sing. It’s a great community here, and it’s not scary to sing in front of people when you’re with a bunch of people.

Harper: I feel like I’m surrounded by great people that I like.

Margo: I’m happy because I get to be with my friends and have fun!

Anna: It just gets the wiggles out of my body!

Brooklyn H: When I’m at choir, it’s peaceful and calming, because I’m surrounded by nice people and my friends. I like singing, too.

Brooklyn N: I’m proud to be Jewish. I like youth choir because it’s fun and I love making people happy.

Brenna: I just get this feeling that we’re all together and having fun singing songs.

Danny: I’m happy because I get to make the people I’m singing to happy!

Rose: I like to sing. The people kind of make me happy.

Micah: I like youth choir because it makes me happy, and I like singing for my family and expressing my feelings for Judaism.

Ben: I like choir because you’re surrounded by people who want to sing.

Sam: I like choir because it makes me feel calm and surrounded by peace.

Amaya: The reason I like being in youth choir is that I love to sing, and my mother was in a band.

Elliot: I joined choir because it’s how you can connect to people, like other Jews, other people, and sing with them and express your feelings by singing.

Warren: I like youth choir because I get to sing songs over and over again.

Zoe: What makes me feel happy is dancing with everybody and spending time with them.

Do you feel more Jewish when you participate in choir? (Lots of kids nodded their heads rapidly)