Bet Knesset BaMidbar Visit

The following event was originally scheduled for Friday evening, January 25th but because of scheduling conflicts and a few broken ribs, has had to be postponed until Friday evening, April 26th.

This past October I had the good fortune to have our chapter’s Dean, Steven Wright substitute for me at First Christian Church. As we discussed music in our sanctuary I learned that Steven was a linguist—a subject near and dear to my heart. As the topic moved to my work with Hebrew transliterations and Jewish liturgies at my temples, Steven thought that our AGO chapter might find an interest in this subject.

We would like the opportunity to invite you to Temple Bet Knesset BaMidbar on Friday evening, April 26th for the 7:30 service. I would like to hand out some source materials and give a short 15 minute lecture promptly at 7:00, then will need to play for approximately 15 minutes before the service begins (as do all Jewish services) at 7:30. The brilliant Cantor, Jonathan Friedmann, who commutes from Los Angeles for each service, will lead the ceremony. I have worked with Cantor Friedmann for years and look forward to every opportunity I have to learn from him.

Bet Knesset BaMidbar is located in the Desert Vista Community Center, Sun City, Summerlin, 10360 Sun City Boulevard, Las Vegas, NV 89134.

When you enter into the temple area the men will see a basket with kippahs (or yarmulkes) to put onto their heads. You will also want to pick up a prayer book and a songbook so you can follow along with the service. Once everyone has assembled in a seating area a couple of rows back from the piano I will give you each a packet with the liturgy plan for that evening, an example of the music and a copy of a couple of my favorite portions of the service.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Jewish services I can’t imagine a friendlier, more joyful temple than Bet Knesset BaMidbar to familiarize yourselves with such a rich liturgical tradition.

I am including a YouTube link to an Adon Olam, based on the musical “Hamilton” I was recently asked to perform at a concert. You will hear another version of the Adon Olam sung towards the end of our service. The YouTube version, sung at the Park Avenue Synagogue in NYC, beautifully portrays the joy and humor inher-ent in every Jewish service I have ever participated in. It is worth watching to the end just to see the two little girls jump out of their seats and dance down the aisle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R__G1XqjN98

Hope to see you all on Friday, April 26th. Please be in your seats promptly at 7:00. I promise you will be enriched from this experience.

Sincerely,

Timothy Cooper

702-461-8290