Community Choir Gathering for 'SACRED RIGHTS, SACRED SONG' Concert

On November 13, 2016, a chorus of over 50 singers will present "Sacred Rights, Sacred Song - A Concert of Concern" at the Perelman Theater in the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia at 7 p.m. "Sacred Rights, Sacred Song" (SRSS) is an 11-piece multi-composer cantata conducted by Cantor David Tilman, that is designed to literally raise voices in concern over the state of the modern Jewish democracy in the modern Jewish State of Israel.

Singers interested in adding their voice to the SRSS Chorus are invited to participate in two different ways. For those who want to master the entire cantata, becoming a part of the SRSS Philadelphia Chorus, auditions will be held Wednesday, October 5 from 7 to 9 p.m. at Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel, 8339 Old York Rd, Elkins Park, PA 19027 and on Wednesday, October 19 from 7 to 9 p.m., at First Presbyterian Church, 21st and Walnut (Cake Room). In addition to a dress rehearsal on the day of the performance, rehearsals will be held on Wednesday evenings - Oct. 19 and 26, Nov. 2 and 9. Singers should plan to attend all rehearsals.

For those who want to add their voice in a less time consuming manner, The SRSS Project invites you to become a part of the Sh'ma Yisrael "flash chorus." During the "Sh'ma Yisrael", which is Naomi Less's pop/rock song, there is a grand chorus which is simple in form but most effective in performance. See Naomi Less perform here. We will have a special discounted block of tickets for those who want to sing in this one number, from their seats in the audience. There will be one informal rehearsal, date and time to be determined.

For more details on either opportunity, contact Sue Lawson, 215-680-7112 or e-mail her at smlawson8@gmail.com.

Tickets for the concert will range in price from $22 to $184 and can be purchased by contacting The Kimmel Center box office at 215-893-1999 or www.kimmelcenter.org/pdp-pages/201617/rentals/sacred-rights-sacred-song---a-philadelphia-concert-of-concern.

A sample of songs in SRSS: A Concert of Concern:

Woman at the Wall: A play on Women of The Wall

Sh'ma Yisrael - Listen Israel: Asks who decides how I'm a Jew, who dictates what I have to do to claim my essence, to bond with my tribe? In a democracy more than one voice should decide.

To Dari and Noam: The Masorti Marriage: Refers to the fact that the only way to get married in the State of Israel and have it be recognized by the state is to be married by an Orthodox rabbi.

Agunah: refers to chained women who need their husbands' permission to get divorced.

The Odd Bus: tells the story of publicly funded segregated buses in religious neighborhoods where women are expected to sit at the back of the bus.

About Sacred Rights, Sacred Song:

In 2010, Fran Gordon launched "Sacred Rights, Sacred Song" with the vision of ensuring that Israel be a healthy Jewish democracy in which the spiritual civil rights of all Jews are protected. The goal is for Judaism to be expressed and celebrated freely and equally by men and women and in its myriad forms of observance and that matters of personal status and spirit are governed by a Public Jewish Law that welcomes vibrancy and creativity.

The mission of Sacred Rights, Sacred Song is to educate the North American Jewish community about challenges to religious freedom in Israeli society and motivate them to provide moral, visible and financial support to promote a Jewish democratic society based on the notions of gender equality and freedom of worship.