Temple Beth-El

7350 Lowber Ave

Philadelphia, PA 19138

(215) 276-4330 congtemplebethel@aol.com

Rabbi Mehira Bat Sarah, Spiritual Leader

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Hear them sing “Sim Shalom / Grant Peace” MP3

When Ruach, the Jewish student organization of Swarthmore College, and the Swarthmore African-American Student Society invited Rabbi Mehira Bat Sarah and her renown Beth-El Choir to their sedate campus in Pennsylvania that got to see and hear what it means to be black and Jewish.

“We sing the songs of Zion” explained Rabbi Sarah, who is also one of the choir’s directors, lead singers, and lyricists. The program for the evening was an eclectic blend of songs taken from the traditional synagogue liturgy and sung in impeccable Hebrew to those that are associated with the musical genre called “Negro Spirituals.” Musicologists have long recognized two features about black sacred music that makes it distinct: One is the preponderance of Old Testament themes in such classics as “Go Down Moses”; the other is the range of soulful exuberance, heartrending pathos, and exalted jubilation that characterizes the performers—and often the listeners, who are moved to participate.

Whether it is Spirituals, Gospel, or Rhythm-and-Blues, people have always known that black people sing with soul; it is only now that people are starting to discover that the roots of our soul go back to its spiritual source. The hundreds of white and black people who packed into Tarble Hall that evening felt the common Ruach (spirit) that brought the audience to their feet and had them clapping, swaying, and dancing at several points during the concert. Black Jews form New York came to show their love including Rabbi and Rabbinit Yahonatan, Odeyah Israel, (the Cantor of Beth Shalom in Brooklyn) and Rabbi Sholomo Levy. Rabbi Sarah explained later that there is a real hunger for the spirit that we bring in many segments of the Jewish community, particularly among Jewish youth. She notes that before her choir was contacted the sponsors of this event were interested in Joshua Nelson, the self-proclaimed “Prince of Kosher Gospel” who has found an international Jewish audience and has had sold out concerts and CDs throughout the United States. The same phenomenon is true for the popularity of black Jewish music in Israel and by African communities in Ethiopia, Uganda, and Nigeria.

Once we were ridiculed for retaining our customs of spiritual expressions by people who said if you sing or pray like that you will sound “Christian”; you will only truly be Jewish if you sound like us; i.e. like Jews of European origin. Now we are slowly starting to see a greater appreciation of our diversity, one that is being embraced by black people who were formerly Christian and by white people who are being brought back to their Jewishness through a spirit that speaks to their souls.

Services

Erev Shabbat Services Friday 7:00 to 9:00 PM Shabbat Services Saturday 10:30 AM We Welcome Everyone!