Cantor Daniel Friedman will bring his insight, knowledge and well-trained vocal chords to the Wood River Jewish Community for a weekend of Jewish education and special Shabbat services.
Friedman will conduct a singing Shabbat service at Ketchum's Rotary Park on Friday, Aug. 28, at 6 p.m. and will teach classes on Saturday, Aug. 29, and Sunday, Aug, 30. For times and more details, call the Wood River Jewish Community at 726-1183.
Saturday's class will be on the subject of Psalms, "Techilim: The Etymology and Practical Application of the Psalms in Our Lives Today," and the second class on Sunday will explore "Jewish Identity: Looking in the Mirror Through Time."
Friedman said the Psalms class is fascinating because it crosses over between Christianity and Judaism. The class is an abridged version of a 10-week class that Friedman teaches frequently.
"The Jewish identity class is geared toward young adults and the importance of having a good self-esteem," Friedman said. "Jewish people have gone through great troubles throughout time. We will discuss the importance of having a good self-image regardless of circumstances."
In 2001, Friedman accepted a position as full-time cantor at Temple Beth Sholom in Las Vegas, Nev., a conservative synagogue of 650 families. Besides his clergy responsibilities, Friedman also produced and performed in numerous concerts with well-known hazzanim (Jewish cantors), including Alberto Mizrahi, Herschel Fox, Nate Lam, Joe Gole, Jeremy Lipton and Jacob Mendelson. In addition, he performed with contemporary Jewish singers and songwriters such as Theodore Bikel, Craig Taubman, Debbie Friedman, Gerard Edery and Neshoma Carlebach.
Friedman has released two CDs of Jewish music with accompanist and arranger D.J. Sinai and performed with the Las Vegas Philharmonic under the direction of David Itkin.
Sabina Dana Plasse: splasse@mtexpress.com
