S’lichot Musical Service

How do we take stock, let go, and move in new directions?  What do we do to prepare our hearts for the spiritual work of teshuvah (return)? The tradition of chanting S’lichot – psalms, poems, and prayers for forgiveness – invites us to return to ourselves and to awaken our spirits before the High Holy Days begin.  Join Rabbi Adam Zeff, Nina Peskin, Shawn Hennessy, and Roger Mgrdichian for an evening of devotional music, spiritual kavanot (intentions), deep prayer, and inspiring melodies.  Together we will open our mouths, our ears, our minds, and our souls to all of the possibilities that the new year offers.

PLEASE NOTE: Links to services and events are not posted below. Rather, daily and weekly schedules with links are emailed to our member listserv. If you are not a GJC member but would like to receive these emails, please contact Program & Membership Director Kate Lawn at program@germantownjewishcentre.org to be added to our list.

• To listen on our audio livestream: click HERE
• To watch on our video livestream: go to the StreamSpot player on GJC’s homepage.

Shawn Hennessey is a Multi-instrumentalist and World Percussionist, who has performed in Ghana, Istanbul, Haiti, Tahiti, and all over the United States. In Philadelphia, Shawn founded and is the director of Leana Song, an Afro-Cuban and Ghanaian drum and song ensemble performing original and traditional compositions. Shawn has received grants from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, and the American Composers Forum to continue to study and teach world music. He is a graduate of Berklee College of Music and Emerson College and has more than 20 years of experience working with diverse students of all ages. Shawn teaches world percussion at Germantown Friends School, and has been adjunct faculty at Temple University, Curtis School of Music, and the University of Pennsylvania.

Roger Mgrdichian is a multi-instrumentalist and composer from Philadelphia PA, currently residing in Collingswood NJ. He is self-taught on the oud and is versed in the traditional music of his Anatolian Armenian ancestors. His diverse musical background includes classical and folk music of the middle east, belly dance accompaniment, flamenco, Sephardic, Indian and jazz, in addition to middle east rock fusion. Roger is an original member of Jaffna, a middle east and Indian fusion ensemble still active over 25 years. He also has a long history with Atzilut Concerts for Peace, a 10-member Arab/Jewish peace orchestra which has played concerts around the world and is a founding member of Barakka, an innovative Turkish folk-rock band. In addition to his solo and ensemble work, Roger has collaborated with vocalists Nicoletta Demetriou, Farah Siraj, Karinee Andonian and Michele Tayoun, and has over the years been a member of Herencia Arabe, The Mid East Ensemble and Sababa.