|
|
||
HOME
|
|
Musical NotesOctober 2002From the Desk of Marjorie HochbergJust a short time ago, in between the early and late Yom Kippur Kol Nidre Services, I was taking a few minutes to survey the sanctuary, make sure everything was set up correctly and attend to any last minute details. I saw Sisterhood President, Fern Marmis in the pews, and knowing that she would be lighting the candles in the second service, asked her if she needed the transliteration for the candle blessing and the Shehechianu. "No," she said, pointing to her prayerbook. "I have it right here. I can read Hebrew now…" "…you dummy!" she could have concluded. Of course, she could read Hebrew. She had graduated from my beginning and intermediate Hebrew classes, from the Adult B'nai Mitzvah program, and had chanted the Haftarah at her class' B'nai Mitzvah Service a year ago. For her, as for many others who have taken the Hebrew Marathon and gone on to take Hebrew classes at Temple, knowing how to read Hebrew makes a huge difference in the way they feel about being at Temple and participating in services. If you have ever felt that it would be great not to be a slave to the prayerbook transliteration and to be able to read and follow the Hebrew words, you were right! In addition, the Beginning and Intermediate Hebrew classes include an explanation of the order of the service and meanings of the prayers. Understanding the geography of the service will transform your experience of Shabbat and holiday worship, and if you are interested in continued study, they provide the foundation for the Adult B'nai Mitzvah class, Adult Confirmation, and Barner Tiefenbrunn's wonderful Conversational Hebrew class. If you have been wanting to learn Hebrew, make 5763 the year you actually do it. You will be glad you did. Marjorie Hochberg Cantorial Soloist |
