Kavanat Haruach
The music of Kabbalat Shabbat at Temple Israel
The purpose of music at Temple Israel is to transform lives by reaching worshippers' hearts with Jewish prayer. So we are always looking for melodies, instrumentation, and ways of leading a service that will truly give direction and space to our spirit and breath. If our congregants' faces are not radiant and glowing as they are singing a prayer, then we keep looking for music that will reach more effectively into their hearts and souls.
This CD is an expression of our continuing journey into Jewish worship with our wonderful community. We have tried to reflect the different styles, moods, and sounds that are in our services. Sometimes we have simply piano and voice. Sometimes we add guitars and harmony or a full band. There are inspiring new works from artists across North America, as well as some exciting new musical treatments of beloved older melodies. There are also some of the most popular American settings of prayers sung with all the joy we feel for our tradition, our liturgy, and our God.
May this recording bring prayer, peace, and joy into your homes, cars, ipods, or wherever you take the time to listen.
May God bring you many blessings.
May your spirit find its true intention.
-Michael and Neil
This project was generously underwritten by Shari and Stanley Finsilver, Nancy Katzman and Family, and Hilary and Edan King
Kavanat Haruach
Yih'yu L'ratzon....Shawn McDonald
Ein Keloheinu....Josef Freudenthal / Ari Posner / Michael Smolash
Elohai N'tzor....Danny Maseng
R'tzei....Stephen Richards
L'cha Dodi....Aaron Ben Soussan
Hashkiveinu....Shawn McDonald
V'shamru....David Shukiar
Listen Lyrics: Doug Cotler / Jeff Perry-Marx, Music: Doug Cotler
Mi Chamocha....Rick Recht
Niggun....Shlomo Carlebach
Mi Sheberach....Debbie Friedman
Ma Gadlu....Shefa Gold
Meditation....Marshall A. Portnoy
Salaam....Shlomo Carlebach
Shma....Scott Stern / Paul Yedwab
Praise for Kavanat Haruach:
A triumph for the modern Cantorate!
-Cantor Mo Glazman, White Plains, NY
I feel genuinely uplifted each and every time I listen.
Congratulations!...Stacy Beyer
The melodies by Shawn McDonald are truly inspirational and the arrangement of Ein Keloheinu is nothing short of brilliant.
-Cantor Lisa Levine
A wonderful and fresh musical interpretation of the Shabbat liturgy for every generation.
-Cantor Alane S. Katzew, Director of Music Programming, Union for Reform Judaism