In This Issue
From Where I Sit
Meet Your Teen Leaders!
TL Orientation
Introducing...
HaZamir @ NAJCF
HaZamir Israel Concert
HaZamir @ AGR
Yachad Na'amod
Good and Welfare
 
From Where I Sit
Vivian Lazar,  Director


This summer I took an involuntary vow of silence when I lost my voice for 17 days. I'd had laryngitis before but never for more than 2 or 3 days. Living in silence was a novel experience which at times was frustrating and at other times, a relief.

Not being able to sing was another thing, altogether. I discovered that I don't just love to sing but that I need to sing. Whether it was with my choir, the Zamir Chorale, or just humming in the car, there is always a song running through my head and it is often audible to anyone around me.
After 3 weeks, my speaking voice returned, but my singing voice did not. For 6 weeks I was unable to sing more than the same 3 notes and sometimes those weren't reliable. (Did you ever try to sing with only 3 notes? It's not very satisfying.)

As I look back on my summer of silence, I have an even greater appreciation for the vocal language that our musical community shares. What do HaZamir teens do when they get together? They SING! - on sidewalks, in subway cars, in camp, and far into the night, when they have the opportunity. Music is such a strong connector that teens can override most social challenges when they share this additional language of music. A HaZamir teen from Minneapolis bonds instantly with a teen from HaZamir North Texas and another from HaZamir Boston. Within minutes, HaZa-teens from across the country or from Israel know that they are part of the same musical world. Even though they have never met, they are immediately connected by the values of HaZamir: excellence of performance, familiarity with a superior body of music, love and acceptance of all Jews (and people), love of Israel, and how that is all expressed through the music that they sing.

My singing voice is back, just in time to sing in synagogue for Rosh HaShanah. Eventually the vocal paralysis that visited me this summer will be a memory but as I approach this New Year, of 5776 I will take with me a much stronger appreciation for the gift of voice that I was given and that I share with all of you.

Our HaZamir Staff, Ellie, Sandy, Hadas and I, wish all our HaZamir Singers, Conductors, Coordinators and Parents a Sweet and Song-filled Shanah Tovah!
  

HaZamir Teen Leadership Committee

The HaZamir Teen Leadership Committee (TLC) is a leadership training program for representatives of HaZamir chapters from across the United States and Israel. 
 
We are pleased to present to you the 2015-2016 
HaZamir Teen Leadership Committee, led by our International Teen Leader Co-Chairs, Polly Lehman and Noam Fields-Meyer.
  • HaZamir Ashkelon:  Adam Teri
  • HaZamir Baltimore: Isabel Feller-Kopman, Daniel Goldman
  • HaZamir Beit She'an: Nicole Hait
  • HaZamir Bergen County: Emily Knopf, Matan Mann
  • HaZamir Boston: Mykalah Jacob
  • HaZamir Cleveland: Samantha Shaffer
  • HaZamir Columbus: Rebecca Lubow
  • HaZamir Harford: Esther Schlossberg, Jodi Teitelman
  • HaZamir Karmiel/Misgav: Yoav Tene
  • HaZamir Kfar Saba: Razi Shemesh, Nitzan Shohaam
  • HaZamir Long Island: Sasha Pezenik
  • HaZamir Los Angeles: Ayelet Goldman, Jenna Fink, Noam Fields-Meyer
  • HaZamir Manhattan: Ella Lang, Ella Tav
  • HaZamir Minneapolis/St. Paul: Kelsey Bailey, Polly Lehman
  • HaZamir North Jersey: Annie Cannon, Samantha Schmutter, Josh Gonzalez
  • HaZamir North Texas: Emily Rosuck
  • HaZamir Philadelphia: Lily Coltoff, Stacie Kerbel
  • HaZamir Providence: Emma Benun, Penina Satlow
  • HaZamir Rockland: Cara Kupferman
  • HaZamir South Jersey: Melanie Raush
  • HaZamir Westchester: Carly Batt, Shira Silver

HaZamir Teen Leader Orientations: Israel and U.S.

Teen Leaders from each HaZamir chapter gathered for intensive two-day training retreats, learning leadership and community building skills,  as they bonded and prepared for the new HaZamir season.

Look for them in their HaZamir Teen Leader sweatshirts at your first 
HaZamir chapter rehearsal!

Teen Leaders in Israel
Teen Leaders happy to be together

With leadership training professional, Rebecca Sykes

Leading from the front...

... and back!

Teen Leaders in the U.S.






We love a good #HaZaSelfie

Teen Leader Co-Chairs Noam and Polly

Polly with HaZamir Teen Leader Fellow, Avi

Daniel and his S'mores


Introducing... New HaZamir Staff

HaZamir International Staff

Sandy Laserson:  HaZamir Midwest Coordinator
Hadas Sturman:  HaZamir Israel Project Manager

HaZamir Conductors

Kate Belshe : Conductor, HaZamir Jerusalem
Hannah Druckman : Conductor, HaZamir Silicon Valley
Daniel Eisenberg : Conductor, HaZamir DC 
(Alumnus, HaZamir Baltimore) 
Douglas Levine : Conductor, HaZamir Pittsburgh
Mitchell Martin : Conductor, HaZamir of the Palm Beaches
Alan Mason : Conductor, HaZamir Miami
 Chris Mason : Conductor, HaZamir Westchester 
( Alumnus, HaZamir Bergen County)
Elita Zeitlin: Conductor, HaZamir Ofakim-Merchavim
HaZamir Chamber Choir at the 
North American Jewish Choral Festival

This year, the  NAJCF introduced  Next Dor  (Next Generation), 
a track for young participants.  We were excited that so many 
HaZamir Singers and  HaZamir Alumni  were part of this program.


Thanks to Amanda Kleinman (far left) for coordinating the  Next Dor track!






HaZamir Israel in Concert Honors Dr. Ruth

HaZamir Israel Alumni reunite

HaZamir Alumni happy to perform together again

Mati passes the baton to Dr. Ruth

Dr. Ruth conducts  Tzaddik KaTomar

High and low voices

Dor solos

HaZamir at  Annual Gathering of Remembrance 
For Yom HaShoah
at Temple Emanu-El, New York City



Mazal Tov to our Graduating Seniors!
Yachad Na'amod!
  • Nathaniel Bear (HaZamir Long Island): Eastman School of Music/University of Rochester
  • Miriam Bennett (HaZamir Cleveland): The Ohio State University, Honors Program
  • Max DuBoff (HaZamir South Jersey): Rutgers University, Honors College
  • Rebecca Elspas (HaZamir Los Angeles): Tiferet, Israel
  • Brittany Evans (HaZamir Cleveland): Pace University
  • Sage Ferdinand (HaZamir North Jersey): University of Pittsburgh
  • Phillip Fisherman (HaZamir North Jersey): University of Hartford
  • Abram Foster (HaZamir Baltimore): Brandeis University
  • Sandy Gooen (HaZamir North Jersey): Barnard College
  • Rina Goldman (HaZamir Los Angeles): University of Maryland
  • Rachel Greene (HaZamir Cleveland): Emunah Ve'Omanut, Israel
  • Amital Haas (HaZamir Cleveland): Migdal Oz, Israel, Princeton University
  • Dana Halpern (HaZamir Bergen County): Muhlenberg College
  • Melissa Joseph (HaZamir North Jersey): Bloomsburg University
  • Inbar Levin (HaZamir Karmiel/Misgav): HaMachanot HaOlim, Israel
  • Marissa Kerbel (HaZamir Philadelphia): College Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati
  • Philip Kronenberg (HaZamir Long Island): SUNY Potsdam
  • Melissa Lubars (HaZamir South Jersey): Manhattan School of Music
  • Ronit Morris (HaZamir Manhattan): Hartman Institute/Barnard College
  • Aaron Noriega (HaZamir Bergen County): Wanda L. Bass School of Music at Oklahoma City University
  • Rachel Novick (HaZamir Boston): Boys and Girls Club, Maynard, MA
  • Jordana Offer (HaZamir Manhattan): Migdal Oz, Israel
  • Melanie Oventhal (HaZamir Bergen County): Syracuse University
  • Ora Rogovin (HaZamir Bergen County): Nishmat, Israel, Brandeis University
  • Monica Sass (HaZamir Cleveland): Washington University in St. Louis
  • Einat Shrell-Fox (HaZamir Jerusalem): IDF
  • Isabelle Siegel (HaZamir Brooklyn): Binghamton University
  • Ashira Silver  (HaZamir Brooklyn): Brooklyn College
  • Rivital Singer (HaZamir Beit She'an): Mechinat Beit Yisrael, Israel
  • Ilana Symons (HaZamir Pittsburgh): New York University
  • Neal Taibel (HaZamir Houston): Frost School of Music at the University of Miami
  • Danielle Zimbler (HaZamir Karmiel/Misgav): IDF
Mazal Tov

Didi (Edelman) Shinefield, (HaZamir Philadelphia, 2007)   and husband, David, on the birth of Akiva Mendel. Mazal Tov to the grandparents, Dr. Marsha Bryan Edelman (Conductor, HaZamir Philadelphia)  and her husband, Herb and to uncles, Eli (HaZamir Philadelphia, 1998), Rafi (HaZamir Philadelphia, 2003) and Yoni

Dr. Marsha Bryan Edelman (C onductor, HaZamir Philadelphia) on the marriage of her son, Yoni, to Rachel Kor

Cantor Michelle Teplitz, (C onductor, HaZamir Central Jersey) , husband Ari and proud sister, Amalya, on the birth of Elijah Samuel

Adina Frydman, (former C onductor, HaZamir Westchester) and husband, Avi Orlow, on the birth of Libi Frydman Orlow

Baruch Dayan Emet

We Extend Our Sincere Condolences to:

Sasha Workenklein  (HaZamir Manhattan) on the passing of her grandfather, Jack Sternklar. Condolences to her mother, Cindy Sternklar Worenklein, Jay Worenklein and the entire family

Adina Avery-Grossman (Zamir Choral Foundation Board of Directors) and Harman Grossman; Lisa Avery- Peck (HaZamir Boston parent volunteer) and Alan; and grandchildren, Zoe Avery-Grossman (HaZamir Bergen County, 2011) and Eli; Hannah Avery-Peck (HaZamir Boston), Gabrielle and Lev on the passing of their father and grandfather, Cantor Lawrence Avery

May the Memories of Those We've Lost

Always Be a Blessing