Welcoming Shabbat with V'Shamru by the Teen T'filah Team at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield, Michigan

Temple Israel was organized during the summer of 1941 in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. From its inception, the aim of the Temple has been to revive many of the symbols and traditions of Jewish heritage and establish them within a Reform setting.

It was the first Reform congregation in the Detroit area to introduce a cantor to the service, and to revive the tradition of Bar and Bat Mitzvah. It holds a daily morning minyan and regards wearing of a kippah as a matter of personal choice.

On November 3 Temple Israel's Teen T'filah Team led the congregation in the Kabbalat Shabbat service in singing V'shamru.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

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A Music Video for Sukkot: "Sukkah", a Parody by Temple Israel of the Maroon 5 Hit "Sugar"

The Sukkot holiday starts this Friday night, which leaves only a few days for us to share any new Sukkot musical videos that are being released this year.

The clergy and staff of Temple Israel of West Bloomfield, Michigan are starting us off with Sukkah, a joyful parody of the pop hit Sugar by Maroon 5, released about eight years ago.

As Suzanne Chessler wrote in The Detroit Jewish News, 

“We want to spread the joy of Sukkot,” said Cantor Michael Smolash, who developed and participated in the video with Cantor Neil Michaels and Maya Grinboim, director of music production for the temple.

“The whole idea of Sukkot is that it takes place as the most joyous holiday in the Jewish calendar. After getting through Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah and the repentance linked to that, this video is all about joy,” Smolash said.

“This video is taking a very popular song and showing how you can celebrate to have fun, be a little silly, dance and be together in the sukkah.”

The music is from the song “Sugar” by Maroon 5, and the new lyrics are by Smolash, Grinboim and Canadian comedian Simon Rakoff, who polished the final lyrics. Rakoff is known personally to Smolash because the comedian is a cousin of Smolash’s wife.

Part of making the video was to appeal to all ages, and the musicians helping with that included Larry Prentiss on electric bass, Steve Nolton on drums and percussion, and Bryan Pope on electric guitars and synth.

“Little kids will like it,” Smolash said. “Adults will get more of the jokes, and teenagers will dig the Maroon 5 song.”

Enjoy!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.

Welcoming Shabbat with Adon Olam by the Professional Choir of Temple Israel Michigan

Temple Israel was organized during the summer of 1941 in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. From its inception, the aim of the Temple has been to revive many of the symbols and traditions of Jewish heritage and establish them within a Reform setting.

It was the first Reform congregation in the Detroit area to introduce a cantor to the service, and to revive the tradition of Bar and Bat Mitzvah. It holds a daily morning minyan and regards wearing of a kippah as a matter of personal choice.

Cantor Michael Smolash, Cantor Neil Michaels, Cantorial Soloist Emma Trivax, Zipser Foundation Artist-in-Residence Aaron Markovitz and the Temple Israel professional choir led the congregation in Adon Olam during Erev Rosh Hashanah worship services on Sunday, September 25.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO. 

Welcoming Shabbat with Lecha Dodi by the Clergy of Temple Israel in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan

Temple Israel was organized during the summer of 1941 in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, a suburb of Detroit. From its inception, the aim of the Temple has been to revive many of the symbols and traditions of Jewish heritage and establish them within a Reform setting.

It was the first Reform congregation in the Detroit area to introduce a cantor to the service, and to revive the tradition of Bar and Bat Mitzvah. It holds a daily morning minyan and regards wearing of a kippah as a matter of personal choice.

Today's video has Cantor Michael Smolash, Rabbi Jen Lader, cantorial soloist Emma Trivax and Dan Iwrey leading the congregation in Lecha Dodi during Kabbalat Shabbat services. This version of Lecha Dodi ("come my friend") was composed by Yom Chadash. 

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.