A community-wide Selichot program and service took place on Sept. 9 at host congregation The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah.
Following a dessert reception and Havdalah, this year’s Selichot program welcomed Rabbi Josh Feigelson, president and CEO of the Institute for Jewish Spirituality, who gave a discussion called “The Breath of Life: A Jewish Mindfulness Practice of Teshuva.”
The service was led by area clergy and a musical leadership team of soloists from congregations across the community. The Selichot service is done to help worshippers begin to spiritually prepare for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The late hour and the themes articulated in the liturgy were to prepare attendees for the Days of Awe and set the tone for the High Holy Days. The service concluded with the blowing of the Shofar by Zach Zwibelman.
Selichot community soloists included Hazzan Tahl Ben-Yehuda, Rabbi Javier Cattapan, Laura Payne and Lezlie Zucker. The Selichot community choir was conducted by Lara Steinel, Accompanist Susie Adams and Warren Sickel on the clarinet. Choir members were Hazzan Tahl Ben-Yehuda, Carol Ducak, Estelle Edelbaum, Vic Finkelstein, Kris Gray, Nick LeVine, Abby Magariel, Lee Merrill, Laura Payne, Nina Shik, Lezlie Zucker and Andrea Zwibelman.
The Rabbinical Association of Greater Kansas City sponsors the Selichot program in collaboration with area congregations and generous support from The Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City.
