Ma’ariv led by Cantor Ross Wolman and Cantor Lauren Levy and Installation of new ACC officers

Accompanist: Dr. Alan Mason

Click here for music for this T’filah

Prayer in Israel is undergoing a renaissance with new practices and compositions, which are spreading like wildfire and being embraced from Modern Orthodox to Reform. This Ma’ariv experience incorporates melodies from new communities such as Nava Tehila and Beit T’fillah Israeli (BTI), some older nostalgia, and even an Israeli interpretation of Debbie Friedman z”l. In collaboration with our Convention theme, this service touches on different issues of freedom that Israelis face daily. Some freedoms are realized and some are still a dream in progress. We pray that someday we will look back with pride at the work of our hands as we reap in the harvest.

Cantor Ross Wolman is blessed to serve Temple Chai in Phoenix, Arizona. He was ordained from The DFSSM at HUC-JIR in 2007. Along with his passion for music, Cantor Wolman has a strong love for film, Jewish camping and the outdoors, education, Israel, and the Hebrew language. He has participated in Riding4Reform five times and hopes you will join the 2017 ride. He lives in Scottsdale with his wife Malka, three children, and their cat Zev.

Cantor Lauren Levy is a very new member of the ACC and was just ordained from the DFSSM this May (2016).  She and her fiancé Eric just moved to Philadelphia and in a few days she will start working at Beth David Reform Congregation in Gladwyne, PA.  Lauren is excited to lead services this week with an old Philly friend, Ross, to explore the personal and communal balance between comfort and discovery in worship.

Dr. Alan Mason was installed as the President of the Guild of Temple Musicians on July 1, 2015.  Alan is the Director of Music at Temple Israel in Miami, Florida, and in 2014 retired from his position as a tenured Associate Professor Music at Barry University. Alan is a well known accompanist to cantors across the country, and is the Conductor of HaZamir Miami, a chapter of HaZamir: The International Jewish High School Choir.

Gaston Bernstein was born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and was part of Marshall Meyer’s Comunidad Bet El temple growing up – singing in the Choir and leading services.  He emigrated to Southern California in 1982, where he graduated college at the University of California.  He has been working as a synagogue percussionist for over 15 years and has played in concerts with various Jewish artists including Craig Taubman, Danny Maseng and Rick Recht.  Gaston moved to Philadelphia with his wife Hazzan Sandy Bernstein and their two daughters in 2013.  In Philly he is the Band Leader of Shir Joy, the synagogue band at Congregation Beth El Ner Tamid, and singer/percussionist at the Neshamah Band at Beth Sholom Congregation in Elkins Park.