D'var Torah

Heshvan/Kislev (November 2007)

Hanukkah: On Time but Early

Once Simchat Torah passes, can Hanukkah be far behind? This year Hanukkah begins the night of December 4, and the last candle will be lit December 11. For many of us, Hanukkah remains that most brilliant of the Jewish celebrations. One of the most recent observances in the Jewish calendar (before Israel Independence Day and Yom ha-Shoah), its roots are post-Biblical. The story of the Maccabees, the cruse of oil, the rededication of the Temple in Jerusalem, lighting of candles, eating latkes and sufganiyot resonate from generation to generation. This year, we at the Greenburgh Hebrew Center will be celebrating Hanukkah with an extra-added dash of color, enthusiasm, and joy. We will be hosting “Pizmon,” the co-ed Jewish a cappella group from Columbia, Barnard, and the Jewish Theological Seminary, one of whose members is our very own Jon Billig, son of Michael and Marcie Berman-Billig, brother of Talia and Avram. How fortunate we are that that will joining us for a full weekend of music, song, and delight.
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Started in 1987 by four members of the Columbia Jewish community who sought to bring Jewish music to homes of the elderly, “Pizmon” expanded its membership, repertoire, and audience. There are 14 members of the group: seven males and seven females. In the early 90’s “Pizmon” added an annual Spring Break tour – its Musical Outreach Initiative – to bring its passion and music to places they could not otherwise reach on a normal weekend. Every March they travel for ten days to different communities across the globe, sharing their love for Jewish music. In the past they have visited Ukraine, Argentina, Israel, England, France, Germany, Poland, and various regions of the United States. More recently, they have travelled to to Los Angeles and New Orleans, and this year they also are coming to us. They have produced seven CDs, three of which are still available. “Pizmon” is a not-for-profit group, and all CD sales and donations go directly toward ensuring that they can continue to bring their music and spirit to Jewish communities around the world.

In Hebrew, pizmon means a simple melody, often with a refrain. For Jews with roots in Syria, pizmon music carries memories of the past as it marks the celebrations of the present, a bridge between old and new passed down through generations in the form of a song of celebration called pizmon. For Syrian Jews, Pizmon music has come to reflect influence of new cultures. For these students from Columbia, Barnard, and JTS, their songs connect the generations, validating the present while maintaining a tie to the past and providing a path to the future. We are so pleased that they will be at GHC the weekend of Hanukkah, December 7-8, 2007.

While we are still finaling the program, what is envisaged is the participation of “Pizmon” in Friday night and Shabbat morning services, with a special program for children at our Hanukkah dinner. Look for details to follow (and elsewhere in this Hamvaser).At about 7:00 pm, there will be a congregational lighting of Hanukkiot (every family brings their family hanukkiot and candles) and havdalah, and the “Pizmon” concert, open to the community at large, Saturday night. Why not bring your family Hanukkah party to the GHC? We’ll all have a great time.

We are looking for workers, volunteers, and sponsors for the program. Please contact me, Alan and Sheila Greenberg, Vivian Milefsky, Marcy Berman-Billig or the office. We especially are looking for you and all of your family members to join us for a most spectacular celebration of Hanukkah.

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