On Saturday, Jan.19, all of Temple Micah's musical forces will join together to make a "joyful noise" as we observe Shabbat Shira. The Adult Choir, Youth Choir (grades two through four), the Kol Bo Choir (grades five through seven), the Temple Micah Pickup Band, and the famous Temple Micah Orchestra join Meryl Weiner to produce a musical service that is not to be missed. Shabbat Shira (the Shabbat of the Song) refers to the Song of the Sea (Shirat Hayam) that is read each year on Shabbat Beshallach (this year on Jan. 19). It is on this Shabbat that the "Mi Chamocha" text is read. Mi Chamocha is the prayer we recite at every service that recounts the joy of our ancestors as they crossed the sea from slavery to freedom.

The text reads: "Who is like You among all the other gods, Adonai? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, awesome in praise, doing wonders?"

At Temple Micah, it is our custom to bring these words to life via some dozen different musical settings. Each setting evokes a different meaning of the same text, so that each composition enhances in its own way the sacred drama that is our worship service.

To commemorate the 60th year of the State of Israel, this year's Shabbat Shira service will include a number of songs of Israel throughout the service. We will present a magnificent setting of Naftali Imber's original text of Hatikvah (The Hope), by David Burger. It is a moving piece of music that brings deep meaning to the text:

Our hope is as yet not lost:

The hope that is 2000 years old.

To be a free nation, in our own country

The land of Zion and Jerusalem.

As always, any interested instrumentalist is welcome to join the Temple Micah Orchestra. We are a truly intergenerational group with string, woodwind, brass and percussion sections. If you would like to join us for this special occasion, please contact me at musicdirector@templemicah.org. We are a self-selecting group--no audition required! We will rehearse at :40 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 10 and Thursday, Jan, 17.

The Temple Micah Youth Choir sings at the first Friday service each month. Our next service is Jan. 4.

The Temple Micah Mini Pickup Band will provide music for the service on Friday, Jan. 25.