June 2025 - All You Need Is a Song

Dear Friends,

If you watched the Tony Awards this past Sunday night, you saw Cynthia Erivo open the program with her original song, “All You Need is a Song.” It was so poignant and perfect, an inspiring tribute to Broadway and to music in general.

About two weeks ago I flew to NYC for a quick 3-day getaway to visit some Rabbis and Cantors, friends from my AJR seminary, with whom I stay in touch. One of the shows we saw was Buena Vista Social Club, a music and dance extravaganza, which won a Tony award Sunday night. One of the lines in the show was, “There’s nothing a song can’t fix.” Boy, did I identify with that!

Many of you have heard me say, referring to almost anything, “I know a song about that!” Many of my divrei Torah on a Saturday morning are illustrated with a musical setting of something relevant to the topic. I frequently teach it to the congregation, as I taught my new Zeh Hayom at the beautiful anniversary honoring in May.

There is a story that one of the Rabbis tells in which one little girl is very sad and wanders into the forest to be alone with her thoughts. She hears another little girl singing off-key somewhere else in the forest and is drawn to the music nevertheless. The music lifts the spirits of the sad little girl and she eventually meets up with the other girl who is happily singing. Together they discover the joy of singing and become fast friends.

Music offers a way into our hearts, a way for our souls to connect to one another, and a pathway for us to connect with our Creator. It is fair to say that whenever we are together at Beth Samuel, singing is part of it. Join us on a Saturday morning for a service and delicious Kiddush luncheon, and sing with us. Come to a Shabbat in the Park and enjoy a pot luck supper and singing. I think I was that happily singing little girl when I grew up, and I’ve been singing ever since. Your community awaits – come sing with us and you will be uplifted!

B'shalom,
Cantor Rena