They started out as a cobbled-together group of guys from Beit Shemesh who loved to sing the tefillah. But as people became drawn to the new sound, the walls of their makeshift sanctuary became too small
(Photos: Lior Mizrahi)
In the town of Ramat Beit Shemesh this coming Shabbos a sports center is about to be transformed into a singing synagogue. As classical chazzanus pieces intermingle with contemporary compositions young voices blend with old and Jews across the religious spectrum stand shoulder to shoulder and sing the Shabbos davening a home-grown local choir will once again turn Shabbos Shirah into an all-encompassing corridor of song.
They aren’t on the top of the charts with some big-bucks CD and many members have never had formal musical training — so who exactly is the Halelu Choir who will make the city sing on this Shabbos of Song?
Choir practice serves as a bit of a revelation as the adult members of this ensemble straggle in out of the cold rainy night. Smiles handshakes and pats on the back follow as the men shed their wet coats and find their way to a table laden with hot drinks and platters of refreshments.
Eleven choir members show up tonight — one in a suit some in sweaters a few in white shirts and others in polo shirts. There are lace-ups and sneakers velvet kippahs knitted kippahs and beards; a young high-spirited yeshivah bochur together with an elderly venerated rav a psychologist side by side a sofer.
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