Boca Raton, FL (August 21, 2023) – Temple Beth El of Boca Raton will present their Selichot program “Who Are You? Where Are You Coming From? Where Are You Going?” on Saturday, September 9, 2023 at 8:00 pm at their Schaefer Family Campus in east Boca Raton. The program will also be available to view on Virtual Beth El Livestream. The public is invited to experience an unforgettable evening with guest artist, Chava Mirel, award-winning composer, certified self-love coach and teacher who will join our clergy in a transformative exploration of these questions as we prepare our souls for the High Holy Days. Chava will inspire us with some of her original melodies, as our clergy will lead us in this introspection and the well-known musical settings of Selichot and the Holy Days.
Temple Beth El Senior Rabbi Dan Levin says “As we prepare to celebrate the New Year, tradition invites us to perform what is called a Cheshbon HaNefesh – an accounting of our lives. In many ways, the High Holy Days call us to ask ourselves those same three questions: Who are you? Where are you coming from? Where are you going?” The month of Elul which precedes our celebration of the New Year and the holy days of Tishri inspires us to begin this important introspective work.”
He continues, “This work reaches a crescendo on Selichot – the Saturday night prior to Rosh HaShanah. This year, with the extraordinary composer and singer Chava Mirel, we will gather to explore these questions together as a community, and to lift our spirits as we welcome the New Year.”
The annual observance of Selichot, teaches that the preceding month of Elul is a time of soul-searching and reflection to prepare oneself for the magnitude of the Days of Awe. Temple Beth El of Boca Raton welcomes the entire community to attend this traditional service prior to the High Holy Days. No tickets are required, however please register online. or paste this link into your browser: https://tbeboca.shulcloud.com/event/selichot-with-chava-mirel.html
For more information about Temple Beth El of Boca Raton, its programs and events, Religious School, Early Learning Center, Beth El Mausoleum and membership, please visit tbeboca.org or call 561-391-8900.
About Chava Mirel:
Chava Mirel is a unique being in the world of music and spirit, defying classification of style or genre. A multi-award winning musician and composer whose voice was recently featured on a Grammy Award winning album, Chava is highly sought after for collaborations and recordings. Celebrated for her rich, luxurious vocals, lush harmonies, and rhythmic phrasing, she is also known for her loving and compassionate presence. Regardless of setting – spiritual gathering, concert hall, classroom or jazz club – she imbues her music and teachings with the universal themes of hope, caring, connection and inclusion. She exhibits ease and fluency in an expansive array of musical styles. She has toured and recorded with a spectrum of artists from Reggie Watts to punk icon Ari Up. Celebrated as a singer songwriter, World Music and Jazz artist, Chava is featured vocalist for global Jazz Fusion band Duende Libre; whose last two albums, “Drift” and “The Dance She Spoke”, were both recipients of the Golden Ear Award for Best Recording in the Northwest. Chava has also played keyboards and toured internationally with the legendary Reggae artist Clinton Fearon (the Gladiators). An award-winning Jewish music composer, Chava provides outstanding artist-in-residence services at congregations from coast to coast. She has been featured on the Plenary Stage at Union of Reform Judaism Biennial Convention, and her compositions have been included in compilations and songbooks throughout the Jewish world. Chava has recently joined forces with two other Jewish music powerhouses, Elana Arian and Deborah Sacks Mintz, to form the supergroup New Moon Rising. In October 2021, Chava released her fifth full-length album, “Chava Mirel: The Quarantine Sessions”, an album recorded in an electrifying live session with her jazz sextet Her 2019 original music album, “Source of Love”, is a collection of songs set to prayers from the Jewish Liturgy as well as new songs with universal themes that encourage the listener to seek a better future by focusing on nature, family, and spirituality. In early 2019, Chava also released “Into the Light”, a dreamy and deeply personal reinterpretation of the Great American Songbook. Her first single, a cover of Alice-In-Chains’ “Would?” has received critical acclaim and international radio play. In addition to her demanding schedule of recording and live performance, Chava serves as Cantorial Soloist and Musician In Residence at her home congregation, Temple De Hirsch Sinai. She is a certified Self-Love Coach, and is preparing for certification as a Mindfulness Meditation teacher. She is grateful to live in beautiful Seattle with her beloved partner and child.