ReRolling the Year

Simchat Torah was a joyous occasion at the Woodstock Jewish Congregation. It was the highlight of the week for two of the PKO's principle members as they were "invited" to sit in on a few numbers with the two-time WJC Hakafot Klezmer band (led by Craig Judelman, violin, with Jim on drums and Vince on bass). Rabbi Jonathan led the service with his usual stellar skills including some very exuberant dancing. The Torah readers would knock your socks off if you could hear them and they weren't all alte kackers! From the taking out of the Torahs, through the seven dances, the sharing our prayers, the unrolling one of scrolls -- completely (all the way around the room!), the blessings for each other, to returning the Torahs to the ark . . . what a memorable and special night. Oh, did I mention the root beer floats!



left: one of the seven hakafot, center: Rabbi Jonathan and the congregation, right: the band.

Check out the action --- live:

PKO performs for record breaking crowd at Sukkot Celebration

Good food. Good friends. Good weather. These were the headliners for the Sukkot celebration at 24 Fisk. And if that weren't enough the PKO regaled the crowd with some lively tunes. Joel Kaplan, dumbek; Alan Dubrow, violin; Bernard Greenwald, coronet; Elena Erber, accordion; Jerome Taub (not picuted) snare drum. What fun...

Joel performed the blessing with the lulav and etrog:

holiday fever

Hoping that we have been inscribed in the book of life for another year, the PKO is busy with plans for two upcoming celebrations.

The days of Sukkot will be celebrated in full force on Oct 19 with an afternoon gathering featuring pot-luck music and food. The frame of the sukkah is up (who said an accordion player can't handle an electric drill?) and ready for the next stages of dressing. Check out the photo.

Shortly after, on Oct 21, we'll follow some stellar klezmorim to the shul for Simchat Torah. If we are really lucky we'll sit in on a few numbers.