The Santa Fe Opera and the Jews

From the Physics Rabbi: This is way cool. Abq Jew is very happy to announce that Rabbi Jack Shlachter PhD of HaMakom, aka "the Physics Rabbi." will be leading Wednesday evening minyanim at the Santa Fe Opera this summer.

Says Rabbi Jack:

Beginning on July 6 and continuing for four more consecutive Wednesday evenings through including August 3, I will offer a Jewish teaching inspired by the evening’s opera followed by recitation of the Mourner’s Kaddish in the lower parking lot of the Santa Fe Opera.  

The ten-minute long service will begin at 8:00 pm during July and 7:30 pm in August, allowing patrons to make their way to their seats comfortably.  

Meet on the east side of the parking lot, by the picnic tables overlooking the mountains.  Please come help make a minyan* and tell your Jewish friends to join us! 

*minyan – a quorum of Jewish adults, not to be confused with Mignon, an opera by French composer Ambroise Thomas

How and why did this come about, Abq Jew wanted to know. Rabbi Jack explained:

I'm a long-time Santa Fe Opera fan, and I've often remarked on how many Jews from the various congregations he bumps into at the opera. 

Following my mother's death in February, I've been taking advantage of opportunities to say kaddish. My mom was an opera-goer, too, and this is a great way to remember her during this year of kaddish.

Wednesday night is Minyan night
at the Santa Fe Opera!

July 6 13 20 27  August 3

Now, Abq Jew could give you, his loyal readers, a long, brilliant dissertation on the relationship between The Jews and The Opera. Well, actually, he couldn't, because he doesn't know that much about it. On the other hand, that's never stopped Abq Jew before.

Fortunately, the Marx Brothers - Leonard, Adolph (Arthur), Julius Henry, Milton, and Herbert Manfred (aka Chico, Harpo, Groucho, Gummo, and Zeppo) can explain it all much better.

And three of them (Groucho, Chico, and Harpo) did, in A Night at the Opera.

But let's be serious for a minute. This is a kaddish minyan, which means that - if you're at the Opera or close by - you gotta participate.

And by the way - since HaMakom's founding rabbi, Rabbi Malka Drucker, has recently become HaMakom's Rabbi Emerita ...

Rabbi Jack Shlachter, who has given so much in service to the HaMakom community for many years, will serve as HaMakom's Rabbi, co-leading services with Hazzan Cindy Freedman. 

Both will continue supporting our community through pastoral counseling, lifecycle events and ceremonies, deep teaching, inspiring music, and joyous davvening. 

This year, Rabbi Jack will again be leading High Holiday services in Beijing.