Blogroll | Congregation Darchei Noam

Congregation Darchei Noam is thrilled to report that our member Lenka Lichtenberg's setting of the Aleinu prayer has been selected for the 2016 Shalshelet International Festival of New Jewish Music, to be held in Philadelphia in December, 2016. Lenka's piece was one of only 39 pieces by 33 artists chosen from over 250 entries to this international competition. 

Lenka wrote the piece for Congregation Darchei Noam at the urging of our Rosh Chazzanut, Phyllis Angel Greenberg. "A while back, I noticed that very often, most of Aleynu is recited rather than sung at the end of our Shabbat morning services. I asked Phyllis Greenberg about it and she said that the common melody for Aleynu sounds like 'Itzy Bitzy Spider' and so we don’t usually sing it as it just doesn’t hit the spot… and she said, why don’t YOU write a melody? So I did! And I am VERY happy to say that the setting has been well received by the congregation, and it is a very special, happy moment for me every time I get to chant it at Darchei Noam, especially when people join in," she shared. 

We are very excited that one of our unique prayer melodies will be featured at such a prestigious festival. Congratulations, Lenka!