Two fabulous music events serve as bookends to the last week of March. I urge you to attend both--your ears will resound with magnificent Jewish music.

The Temple Micah Volunteer Choir will join choirs from a dozen other area synagogues for the annual Washington Area Jewish Choral Festival at 4 p.m., Sunday, March 5 at Temple Sinai.

Our special guest this year is Simon Sargon, a professor of composition at Southern Methodist University. Prior to his appointment at SMU, Sargon taught at Sarah Lawrence College and the Juilliard School, and served as head of the Voice Department at the Rubin Academy of Music in Jerusalem. Sargon also was music director at Temple Emanu-El in Dallas for more than 5 years.

Each of the participating choirs will sing a Sargon piece. Temple Micah's selection is a fascinating arrangement of an old Sephardic melody, "Yom Gila." All groups will join forces for a glorious finale of beautiful Jewish music composed or arranged by Sargon. Temple Sinai is at 3100 Military Road, NW.

On Saturday evening, March 31, the incomparable Debbie Friedman will appear with our own Doug Mishkin for the annual NFTY (North American Federation of Temple Youth) concert to raise money for scholarships. We are truly privileged to host one of the world's leading Jewish singersongwriters. Be sure to book your tickets early--you will not want to miss this event--and it's for a terrific cause.

The Temple Micah Youth Choir will sing at the Friday evening service, March . The mini-pickup band will play at the service on Friday evening, March 16.

Last month's Shabbat Shira musical service was a thrilling and spiritual experience. Thank you to all who participated in the Youth Choir, the Adult Choir and the Temple Micah Pickup Orchestra.