Jewish Reconstructionist Federation

Harmoniyah Mission Statement:

The mission of Harmoniyah (Reconstructionist Music Network) is to nurture, facilitate, and energize the evolving musical culture of Jewish civilization in accordance with the values and principles of Reconstructionism Judaism. Harmoniyah will serve to connect all who are involved in the musical transmission of our religious civilization by providing a central place for philosophical, educational, material, and logistical knowledge to be disseminated and shared by all of its members.

Go to the music page for links to music downloads

SAVE THE DATE! Harmoniyah 2nd Biennial Retreat 10/ 29 - 11/1

Background
Harmoniyah was founded as a grass roots movement by musicians attending the JRF Biennial Convention in 2004. There was a general feeling that musicians throughout the Reconstructionist movement had no apparatus by which they could network easily together. It was decided to try and build one together.

The main goals identified at that time included:

1. Create a list serve, preferably hosted by JRF.

This was achieved quickly by successful collaboration of Harmoniyah member Barry Brian with JRF Staff member R. Shai Gluskin. The list serve has over 100 subscribers. The list, while moderated, is used freely by its members to pose questions, make announcements, organize meetings, share resources, and was used very successfully to organize music events approaching the JRF biennial convention.

To sign up for the listserv you must be a member of a JRF congregation, a graduate of RRC, a member of the RRA or an individual member of JRF: Go to http://jrf.org/listserves

2. Create an on-line Music Catalogue for Reconstructionist music, with links to other resources. To be launched in phases beginning in 2008.

3. Energize Reconstructionist gatherings with music, both nationally and locally.

With the help and support of JRF Staff, Harmoniyah prepared a number of workshops and programs for the 2006 and 2008 JRF Biennial Conventions. This included the first North American JRF Community Kumsitz, a Music Sharing workshop, a goals setting workshop, and teaming with other groups in JRF to help with Shabbat song leading duties.

A very successful and inspiring Harmoniyah Shabbaton was held in Philadelphia, in November, 2007, with over 40 participants from 20 JRF congregations present. Work on the 2009 retreat in Bethesda, MD, is currently underway.

4. Provide for continuing leadership

After the convention in Portland a Steering Committee of volunteers was formed and has led the network up to the present day. The Steering Committee members were invited to join the committee by founders from Portland. The committee includes a member who is the liaison between Harmoniyah and JRF Staff. This relationship has proven to be very helpful and successful.

In June, 2008, the JRF board unanimously approved the Harmoniyah Steering Committee's proposal that Harmoniyah become an officially recognized project of the Reconstructionist movement (JRF).

We are proud of what we have achieved so far with limited resources, feel we are able to acknowledge how to better concentrate these in order to achieve our goals, and look forward to the upcoming Convention in Philadelphia, and beyond.

Thank you.

Submitted by the 2008 Harmoniyah Steering Committee

Rabbi Micah Becker-Klein, Springfield, MA
Barry Brian, Or Hadash, Ft. Washington,PA
Doris Dyen, Dor Hadash, Pittsburgh, PA
Cantor Rachel Hersh Epstein, Adat Shalom, Bethesda, MD
David Lefkowich, Darchei Noam, Toronto, Ontario, CAN
Elaine Moise, Keddem Congregation, Palo Alto, CA
Barbara Nordstrom-Loeb, Mayim Rabim, Minneapolis, MN
Cantor Eric Schulmiller, RSNS, Plandome, NY
Rabbi Margot Stein, Mishkan Shalom, Philadelphia, PA
Rabbi Shawn Zevit (JRF Staff Liaison), Jenkintown, PA

Other founding committee members:
Ilana Axel (Chair 2004-7)
Rabbi Steve Segar (2004-7)
Cantor Sharon Hordes (2004-6)
Lauren Resnick (2007 Retreat co-chair)
Rabbi Shai Gluskin (JRF Web Liaison), Jenkintown, PA

For general Harmoniyah, please contact either co-chair Barry Brian, barrybrian@alum.mit.edu, Elaine Moise, emoise@stanford.edu;

For music, email your question to the Harmoniyah listserve music@lists.jrf.org - to post you must be a member of the Harmoniyah listserv, which requires Harmoniyah membership (You are a members of a JRF congregation, the RRA, RRC, a JRF Individual member, or become one by taking out membership at http://jrf.org/individual-membership.

Once you are a member of the categories listed you can subscribe to the Harmoniyah music listserve at http://lists.jrf.org/lists/info/music.