Monroe Temple Beth-El to celebrate Israel's 60th birthday on May 31

MONROE — In celebration of Israel’s 60th year, Monroe Temple Beth-El is inviting the community to join them for singing, dancing, Israeli food, and wine tasting. The Seeds of Sun jazz ensemble will highlight the evening, cantors from three congregations will join in the celebration, and the Beth-El Choir will sing. They will all join voices to lead the shirah b’tzibur (congregational signing) of popular Israeli songs. The event will begin at 7 p.m. on Saturday, May 31 at 314 North Main St. in Monroe. Seeds of Sun, a New York-based band whose five members are all veterans of the Israeli Defense Force, offers an eclectic mix music written in Israel, Jazz-fusion, Brazilian grooves, and a World beat. The band has played on prestigious stages such as the Kennedy Center in Washington DC and the 92nd Street Y in New York, and has traveled as far as Vietnam, Hong Kong and The Philippines. Compositions by Mattan Klein have earned Seeds of Sun several awards. The band is featured on the Global Rhythm Magazine CD, and has received the prestigious John Lennon Songwriting award for its original music tracks. For more information, visit the website www.seedsofsun.com. All three cantors hail from the Ukraine. Cantor Elena Schwartz, from Monroe Temple Beth-El in Monroe, is a singer, violinist, and Jewish educator. She has received numerous awards, both for her teaching and Torah cantillation, and has been recognized by the American Conference of Cantors. Cantor Sergei Schwartz, from Temple Sholom in New City, studied with conductor and cantor Elli Jaffe at the Jerusalem School of Cantorial Art, and with Cantor Naftali Herstik at the Jerusalem Great Synagogue, where he served as both a cantor and soloist in the choir. He has appeared at concert halls across Europe, Israel and the United States. Cantor Vadim Yucht, from the Orangetown Jewish Center in Orangeburg, began his professional career as choir conductor and musical director at the USSR Government Community Center. As a member of the Red Army Chorus, he served as conductor and music arranger. While studying under Cantor Herstik in Israel, he sang with the New Israeli Opera and the Cantor’s Ensemble. Tickets start at $18 for non-reserved seats. Israeli food will be served kosher-style, and wine tasting is courtesy of Star Liquors. Money raised will support music education and musical programming at the temple. For information, call 783-2626.