Your Email:

Friend's Email:

Note: (optional)

Subject:

Message: <br /><br /> If you are having trouble reading this email, you may view this article online at: http://www.jweekly.com/13420/full/13420/reform-community-shabbat-hoping-for-crowd-in-s-f/ <br /><br /> <b>Reform Community Shabbat hoping for crowd in S.F.</b> <br /> Friday, June 9, 2000 | by <p>Six cantors, about 20 rabbis and anywhere from 300 to 500 people are expected to participate in the Bay Area’s first-ever Reform </p> <br /><br /><p>"No tickets are necessary and parking is free," Berk stressed. "And there will also be a beautiful oneg after the service."<br /><br /> Noting that most affiliated Jews in the Bay Area are Reform, Berk said it's a good time to bring them together because the area's two biggest Reform synagogues, Sherith Israel and Congregational Emanu-El of San Francisco, are both celebrating their 150th anniversaries.<br /><br /> The service is intended to draw people from the 30 Reform synagogues in the greater Bay Area and Sacramento, as well as unaffiliated Jews.<br /><br /> Community Shabbat services have been held in metropolitan regions, such as Phoenix and Los Angeles, but Berk said this is the first attempt here.<br /><br /> "I went to the first one in L.A. five years ago and saw it as a wonderful device to help build the sense of community in terms of the movement," Berk said.<br /><br /> The liturgy of the service will be divided among the many rabbis and cantors. The six cantors will also be joining voices for a few songs.<br /><br /> "We're in for a cantorial treat," Berk said.<br /><br /> Stephen Richards, who retired as cantor at Congregation B'nai Tikvah in Walnut Creek on May 31, wrote a special song, "Vay' Chulu," for the service. He will sing it, accompanied by flutist Toni Dine, a member of B'nai Tikvah.<br /><br /> "The cantors are all very excited about this," said Richards, 65, who was at B'nai Tikvah for six years.<br /><br /> A huge turnout in Sherith Israel's 1,300-capacity main sanctuary could make for a very memorable night.<br /><br /> "I really think it's going to be impressive," Berk said. "People will see the breadth of our movement and the talent that's inherent in our movement. It's a great movement."</p> <p> </p>

Please enter the letters and numbers you see in the image below: