First Thursdays: The Role of Music in Jewish Ritual

First Thursdays: The Role of Music in Jewish Ritual, with Ira S. Miller, PhD

This lecture looks at the role that music has played in Jewish worship through the ages and how it enhances the ritual experience.

Going back to around 40,000 BCE, bone flutes, along with rhythmic drumming and vocalizations were likely used to accompany early communal and spiritual activities. It is said that Solomon was the first to institutionalize music in worship for the First Temple (around 960 BCE). Mishnah Arakhin 2:3-6 (around 190 CE) describes the composition of the Temple orchestra and choir, and Psalm 150:3-5 (around 515 BCE, during the time of the Second Temple) treats the use of musical instruments as essential tools for praising G-d. Although the use of music in Jewish ritual has changed over the years to meet the needs of the time and place, music plays a vital role in our worship. Combining, lecture and musical example, this lecture will look at the multiple approaches to using music for worship in our services and examine some of the major styles and musical names involved in the history of using music in our services.

Dr. Miller, who holds a PhD in Music Theory and Composition and lectures on a wide variety of musical topics, spends much of his time in retirement singing Jewish choral music, whether as a member of CKA’s volunteer Adult choir Koleinu, singing with Nashirah: The Jewish Chorale of Greater Philadelphia, or participating in Jewish choral festivals.

Please note this program will only be offered in-person at Kol Ami.

No charge for congregants. $15 per non-congregant.
Registration required by September 2 so we may adequately prepare.

First Thursday programs bring you guest speakers, including congregants and rabbis from around the country, to share their expertise on topics of interest. We will also include several discussions of films with Jewish themes.

Sponsored by our Adult Education Committee.