Music at Beth El

As a community, we find some of our deepest connection and expression in Jewish song. We see participatory music, in services and other communal experiences, as absolutely key to our community’s spiritual life. We value each community member’s voice, and listen and sing together to build energy and understanding for celebration, grieving, healing, and learning.

Shabbat Rinah

On the third Friday night of each month, Beth El musicians and singers go all-out to create a musically exciting, instrumentally rich Shabbat evening experience for our community. Come sing with the strains of accordion, cello, clarinet, drums, fiddle, guitar, keyboard, saxophone, and more, and the sweet harmonies of the Rinah singers!

Shir El

Shir El is Beth El’s singing chevra. We meet every other Wednesday to learn beautiful and spiritually stirring music, sing it together, and offer back to our community. You don’t have to audition, and you don’t have to read music. If you love to sing, then we want to sing with you! Shir El sings for our community at select services and events throughout the year. The full rehearsal schedule for 5784 (2023-2024) is below.

Rehearsal Schedule for 2023-24 (all rehearsals from 7–8:30 p.m.):

• • October 25
  • November 8 and 29
  • December 13
  • January 3, 17, and 31
  • February 21
  • March 13 and 27
  • April 10
  • May 1, 15, and 29
  • June 5

Come and Sing

“Come and Sing!” is a monthly in-person opportunity for our Beth El community to get together on a Sunday morning and just sing some songs, for joy and comfort and healing and exploration. No rehearsal, no performance; responsive to our needs in the moment and tailored to every voice in the room. The guiding principle for these gatherings is the Let My People Sing motif: “Everyone’s a learner, everyone’s a teacher.” Come ready to sing; and, if you feel moved, bring a song to teach and share!

Schedule for 2023-24:

• • October 15, 2023 at 9:30 a.m.
  • November 12, 2023 at 11:00 a.m.
  • December 10, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. (Chanukah-themed; BE InSpirEd kids will be joining us for the last half-hour)
  • January 21, 2024 at 9:30 a.m.
  • February 11, 2024 at 11:00 a.m.
  • March 17, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. Special “Come and Sing and Chat about the Climate!” with member Sophie Glasser
  • April 7, 2024 at 10:00 a.m.
  • May 19, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. Special Koolulam “One Day” experience – we’ll learn all the parts for glorious harmony!

Purim Spiel

Beth El’s Not Ready for Purim Time Players write and stage a musical comedy each February using the Purim story with familiar tunes and humorous lyrics on a different theme. We perform with scripts and minimal costumes/props, and very few rehearsals, so it’s all informal and tongue in cheek. Past Purim Spiel titles have included “Surfin’ Jew S.A.,” “Mordy Python,” “Adar Wars,” and “It’s a Wonderful Purim.”