Page 38 - Jewish News_January 2022

2B January 2022 COMMUNITY FOCUS

Kehillah Collaborative: Temple and Organization Spotlight

In each issue of The Jewish News, we will spotlight one local temple and one local organization that are participating in the Kehillah Collaborative initiative.
For more information, contact Trudi Krames at tkrames@jfedsrq.org or 941.706.0037.
Temple Beth Israel Sarasota Jewish Chorale By Robyn Spirtas

By Isaac Azerad, Executive Director By Nancy B. Finn and Ronnie Riceberg
elebrating 43 years as the grams and many other activities for he Sarasota Jewish Chorale and 2019, and is currently reprising
Center of Jewish Living on members of the congregation and com- was organized in late 1999 by what was the Covid-canceled 2020
CLongboat Key, Temple Beth Is- munity. We also feature pre-recorded Ta group of individuals led by production, “Songs of Peace and Joy,”
rael (TBI) continues to offer a beautiful sessions from the 92Y lectures in New Arlene Stolnitz and Priscilla Shore, and for Sunday, March 27.
house of worship; an abundance of ed- York and host recorded lectures of the attracted people to it from throughout Besides performing in smaller
ucational, cultural and social program- Sarasota Institute of Lifetime Learning the Sarasota-Manatee area. It began venues in the Sarasota-Manatee area
ming; and a place to share, celebrate (SILL), which focuses on music and as a chorus of individuals who wished for over 20 years, the Chorale has sung
and experience our precious Jewish global issues. to express the joy of Judaism through with Matthew Lazar in Music Makes
heritage. The temple serves members Music is an integral part of our Jewish music. Community and with Joseph Holt in
both in its facility and in the virtual religious services as well as our tem- Dr. Joel Kreiss, the first mu- the Florida premiere of “Voices of the
world. ple life. We join in song during Friday sic director, led the group for sever- Holocaust,” both at Van Wezel in the
Rabbi Stephen L. Sniderman joined services with the temple choir. Over al years at performances throughout spring of 2014.
the TBI family in 2016. Sniderman was the years, it has achieved a position as the region, and particularly at spe- For years the Chorale was grant-
a graduate of York University in Toron- one of the leading choral groups on the cial event Shabbat services at Temple ed space on the Federation campus
to, and a graduate student in European west coast of Florida. Sinai. for rehearsing, but due to campus con-
history at Johns Hopkins University in Our social clubs, the Beth Israel The Chorale has thrived and grown struction, rehearsals have been housed
Baltimore. He studied at the Hebrew Women and TBI Men’s Club, host ac- to include more than 35 volunteers at Temple Emanu-El. Rehearsals are
Union College and was ordained in tivities throughout the year including who sing music from early Renais- Thursday evenings from 7:00 to 9:00
1975. Sniderman is involved in many Shabbat and holiday meals, luncheons, sance works by Salamone Rossi to p.m., and those interested in joining
interfaith studies and discussions, and musical performances, trips, book club contemporary artists such as Debbie should contact us as we continue to
has been on the board of several com- meetings, films and game days. We Friedman and Michael Isaacson; music welcome new singers.
munity organizations. He leads weekly have many committees, including the from Chassidic melodies, Holocaust We are often called upon to per-
Judaism classes, Shabbat & High Holy Social Action Committee, supporting pieces, rhythmic African Jewish tribal form at various Federation-sponsored
Day services, and takes part in many of our community with food drives, do- music, and Israeli and contemporary community events. Most recently, this
the temple’s educational activities. nations and environmental efforts. If songs. It is an unaffiliated, non-audi- past Kristallnacht we recorded both
TBI strives to provide a balance of you’re looking to volunteer, this is the tioned group. Members rehearse every “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “Ha-
both educational and spiritual growth place for you! Thursday evening and perform at in- tikvah” for the event.
through a range of stimulating activi- Wherever you are on the Jewish terfaith events, synagogues, churches, For more information on the Cho-
ties and services. The new Education spectrum, we invite you to meet with schools, retirement facilities and local rale, visit sarasotajewishchorale.org.
Center provides in-person and virtual us to learn more about our congrega- civic events, many of which are open You’ll find information about its many
educational lectures, wellness pro- tion. to the public. activities, ways to donate and how to
Under the baton of Artistic Direc-
Look for information on Chabad of Venice & North Port tor Sharon Greene, the Chorale has purchase tickets for the Spring Gala
Concert.
and JFCS of the Suncoast in the February 2022 issue. produced two major concerts, in 2018

Kehillah Collaborative
Building Jewish Life Through Community

In Hebrew, the word Kehillah
means community.

The Kehillah
Collaborative
brings together
Jewish organizations in
Sarasota-Manatee to share ideas, Sarasota-Manatee
work together Chabad
on programming
and host
collaborative events.

For more information, contact Trudi Krames at
tkrames@jfedsrq.org or 941-706-0037.