Harmony for All: Jewish Community Choir Brings Voices Together

Lizzie Fagen Shares her Journey Back to the Joy of Singing

Fifty-three years ago, I was 9 years old, and the Cantor at our Synagogue was starting a youth choir. I was thrilled and loved the Jewish and Israeli songs our Chazzan chose, and the simple harmonies we were able to produce. But my experience with this synagogue choir was short-lived as other life pursuits pulled at my time and one life choice after another took precedence.

Fast forward decades later and my busy life as a Rabbinical spouse; parent of four; social worker and early childhood educator, left no time for involved musical pursuits! Singing consisted of haftorah and prayer chanting. Or singing with our own children; or with the little ones I taught at the South Bend Hebrew Day School or in Ta’am Shabbat at Sinai Synagogue. But I never lost sight of the desire to pursue more involved musical pursuits such as piano playing or communal singing—both of which gave me such joy.

I am now 62 years old. Fifty-three years after my first and only choir experience; with children grown; responsibilities lessened; and time of my own. Time in which I could finally pursue the joy of communal singing. And I found it in my own backyard at the Jewish Federation of St Joseph Valley that had just created a Jewish Community Choir led by the wonderful Dror Baitel—a gifted and extraordinary musician.

And what a gift! Without any training or experience in performative voice, possessing only a very AVERAGE voice, I have the opportunity to sing and create music with wonderful people, regardless of my own past experiences and abilities.

And this is what makes the Jewish Community Choir so special. It is special because the choir is open to anyone who would like to sing. There are no auditions. Only the desire to sing and be part of a communal experience.

And it is our extraordinary Director, Dror Baitel, who makes it work. Some of us in the choir have performative voices. Some of us read music. Some of us play instruments. And some, like me, have normal voices with no experience, but who just love to sing. And it is Dror who weaves us all together, who makes this tapestry of varying degrees of talent SING, as if we were preparing for Broadway (of which Dror has considerable experience!). It is Dror who makes rehearsals fun, who is always encouraging, non-judgmental, patient, and kind. With Dror’s leadership the choir is collaborative, caring, and helpful, with and to one another, as we learn beautiful songs and harmonies taken from our Jewish and Israeli heritages.

For 90 rehearsal minutes a week, I get to escape the world and bask in the joy of music. It is a long-awaited dream come true. Fifty-three years to be exact. Perhaps, you will join me in this dream. It is here and waiting.

Lizzie Fagen
Community Contributor

Email info@thejewishfed.org if you are interested in joining the Jewish Community Choir.