Beth Medrash Govoha’s first Cantorial Concert, a gala program for Lakewood-area seniors and their friends, will take place on Feb. 17, 3 p.m., at the Ramada Inn of Toms River and Lakewood in Toms River.
The concert, planned in conjunction with the festive holiday of Purim, is one in a series of community outreach events hosted by Beth Medrash Govoha, a Yeshiva college that has been located in Lakewood since 1943.
Cantor Avi Carman, cantorial director and vocal coach at the college, will perform a selection of cantorial masterpieces and a variety of classic and contemporary favorites from Jewish liturgy and song. He will also premiere the voices of his students at Beth Medrash Govoha, accompanying him for the first time.
Highlighting the program will be composer, songwriter and musical comedy artist Cantor Seymour Rockoff, who will sing his patriotic composition, "We Salute You, USA."
"Jewish war veterans will be invited to serve as a color guard," said Rabbi Joshua Hill, Beth Medrash Govoha’s director of community relations and senior programs, who will host the program.
Cantor Sid Derner will also be featured.
Coffee, cake and hamantaschen, the traditional Purim pastry, will be offered during an intermission that will give concertgoers the opportunity to chat informally with some of the performers.
Purim gifts will be distributed to the audience at the conclusion of the program, compliments of Beth Medrash Govoha.
Men are asked to wear jackets, and there is a suggested admission charge of $10 per person at the door. Parking at the Ramada is free.