MACCABEATS TO LEAD SERVICES AT BETH JACOB’S FIRST-EVER “HARMONY SHABBAT”

FESTIVE WEEKEND PLANNED TO WELCOME AND INSTALL NEW CANTOR

Beth Jacob Congregation of Beverly Hills invites the Jewish community of Los Angeles-Beverly Hills to its first ever Harmony Shabbat Weekend – a unique event featuring prayer with the acclaimed Maccabeats and new Cantor Arik Wollheim.

Harmony Shabbat weekend will take place March 8-9, and will officially serve to welcome and install Arik Wollheim as Beth Jacob’s new Cantor.  It will also be a kick-off to Beth Jacob’s annual Tiferet Award Banquet on Sunday, March 10, honoring Myra and Dennis Monk, Adena and Jordan Frenkel, and Rena Slomovic.

• Harmony Shabbat will begin with Kabbalat Shabbat on Friday, March 8 at 5:40 pm as the Maccabeats and Arik Wollheim lead the community in a musical prayer service.

• On Shabbat morning, March 9, all are invited to join together with the Maccabeats and Cantor Arik for a unique prayer service in Shapell Sanctuary.

• A festive Kiddush will follow Shabbat morning services in Jacob’s Garden, where the community will enjoy food, family, friends, and an a cappella performance by the Maccabeats.

• All events of the weekend are open to the public free of charge and will take place at Beth Jacob Congregation: 9030 West Olympic Boulevard, Beverly Hills, CA 90211.

“Through prayer and song, led by Chazan Arik and the Maccabeats, we will celebrate our dynamic community,” says Rabbi Kalman Topp, Beth Jacob’s Senior Rabbi. “The beautiful harmony produced by their voices will symbolize, in my view, the harmony of our diverse, inclusive and warm congregation.”

“What’s so exciting and unique at Beth Jacob is that it’s a microcosm of the world – a diverse synagogue with congregants of all ages coming from different backgrounds with different practices,” says Cantor Wollheim.  “My goal as Cantor is to represent my congregation during prayer through the two components that are essential: spirituality, as expressed through music and participation; and education.  A Cantor must be part of his congregants’ lives and have relationships with them in order to be able to function as their emissary.”

Cantor Arik Wollheim was born and raised in Israel, and served as the head soloist of the Israeli Military Choir, as well as Chazan of Congregation Agudath Sholom of Stamford Connecticut from 2001 to 2012.  He has performed in a variety of over 30 roles both in opera and concert works and holds Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Music and Opera Studies.

“Chazan Wollheim has hit the ground running,” says Rabbi Topp.  “His unique voice and beautiful davening style have been very well received by our members.  We are excited about the new energy in our services.”

Beth Jacob is a Modern Orthodox Congregation which has played a pioneering role in the development of Jewish life in Southern California.  Beth Jacob is dedicated to creating a community of engaged, Torah educated, socially conscious, Zionistic and caring Jews.  Beth Jacob strives to provide members of all generations, and the broader Jewish community, a spectrum of spiritual, educational, social, chesed and cultural opportunities.

The Maccabeats use nothing more than the unadulterated human voice, a clean cut presentation, and a little Jewish humor to connect with fans of all backgrounds and ages.  This talent has caught the eye of the world with their explosion of success on YouTube and publications across the world.

For more information, contact Beth Jacob’s Communications department at 310-278-1911, or visit www.bethjacob.org.