The Hidden Roots of American Synagogue Melodies

Sunday February 20, 2022, 3:00-4:00 PM (Virtual Only)

If you enjoyed our Scholar-in-Residence events this year, you can see Josh Jacobson again! This Zoom lecture may surprise you. We will examine the music sung in modern American synagogues, and attempt to determine where this music came from. Many of the melodies that we assume are traditional "from Sinai" are not older than a century or so, while others hark all the way back to the ancient Near East. We will examine non-Jewish sources as well as Jewish sources from America, Germany, Austria, England and Russia. Illustrated with slides and recordings.

For questions contract adulteducation@tbsneedham.org. To register to attend go to: t-b-s.me/melodies.