MARLBORO, N.J. (December 29, 2011) n On Friday, January 6 at 6:30 p.m. Temple Rodeph Torah (TRT) will continue to rock the Jewish community with its progressive and cutting-edge "Rock Shabbat" Friday night service. Feedback from attendees at these unique services has been nothing short of extraordinary! The program is led by TRT’s youthful and energized Cantor Joanna Alexander and supported by New Jersey songwriter and musician Eric Komar and TRT congregants, Bruce Cooper and Charlie Pearlman, and professional drummer Kevin Werbel. This unique musical and spiritual experience is "must see and must hear" for people of all ages and all religions.
"In the span of just about an hour this service will rid your body and mind of all its tensions. It is a perfect way to end the work week," said Cantor Alexander. "Rock Shabbat combines traditional Friday night songs with original rock and roll arrangements, bringing excitement and energy to our prayers and to our congregation."
"We wanted to shake up Shabbat Friday night services a bit and make it more exciting for our congregants and guests, and putting the services to a rock beat struck the right chord, so to speak. It’s great hearing everyone’s voice come together and sing accompanied by a guitar and drums."
The response to the services has been overwhelming, with close to 1000 attendees across the first four services. At the joint Rock Shabbat-Hanukkah service it was standing room only, where guests included members from surrounding congregations who were curious about the energy this service could bring to the community. Congregants and guests have raved about the services, including Robbin Friedell, TRT Congregant, who, discussing the feeling after the singing of "Heal Us Now," by composer Cantor Leon Sher said, "we all wanted to keep this spiritual moment inside us just a little bit longer, which to me, was the most beautiful and fulfilling moment of the evening."
"These services have reinforced the importance of just taking a break at the end of a long hard week, spending time with family, friends and neighbors, and appreciating all that is good about our lives and our community, and being grateful," said Rabbi Don Weber, the spiritual leader of TRT. "We have had to work hard to bring in enough seating and share prayer books, but this is a good problem to have," said Rabbi Weber.
The monthly program has been extended in 2012, is free and open to the public. The next two dates are January 6, at 6:30 p.m. and February 24, at 8:00 pm. Additional dates and information will be posted at www.rockshabbatnj.com or the TRT Rock Shabbat page on Facebook.
About Temple Rodeph Torah
Temple Rodeph Torah is a member of the Union for Reform Judaism, with a traditional approach to prayer. Temple Rodeph Torah, located at 15 Mohawk Drive in Marlboro, N.J., is led by Rabbi Donald Weber and Cantor Joanna Alexander and home to more than 1,000 congregants.
