Linda Drucker, Joan Joffee, Meryl Mulligan, Jody Laibstain, Alex Pomerantz, Marlene Rossen and Linda Samuels, committe members for From Bimah to Broadway.
Three cantors and a rabbi walk onto the bimah…. No, it is not the start of a bad Yiddish joke. But there were a few of those quips when Congregation Beth El hosted its largest fundraiser on Dec. 14 since its 150th anniversary celebration in 2000.
Rabbi Jeffrey Arnowitz introduced the special guest cantors: Randy Herman of Bet Torah in Kisco, N.Y.; Alisa Pomerantz-Boro of Congregation Beth El in Vorhees, N.J.; and Zachary Mondrow of Temple Torah of West Boynton Beach, Fla. Then the hazzans ran away with the 1½-hour show titled, From Bimah to Broadway.
Thrilling an audience of some 400, the much-traveled trio performed everything from Hebrew liturgy and original Jewish songs to vaudeville shtick and Broadway blockbusters.
“It’s one thing to have a casino night or a golf tournament—and we might do those again in the future—but it’s even better when we can combine a fundraiser with our mission of sharing Judaism with the community,” said Rabbi Arnowitz in his opening remarks.
He thanked co-chairs Alex Pomerantz (no relation to the cantor) and Marlene Rossen, plus a host of other volunteers, sponsors and staff, for their hard work and contributions to the concert. The event took place in the midst of a months-long exploration of cantorial music styles during the synagogue’s search for a new cantor.
Accompanied by the keyboard magic of Cantor Herman, the threesome performed songs together, in mix-and-match duos, and in solo. Judaic selections included Pomerantz-Boro’s moving personal rendition of Modim Anachnu Lach, Herman’s amusing recording of Yofi Tofi Mucho Beseder (think Randy Newman) and Mondrow’s big, baritone voice in Boneh Yerushalayim.
In the evening’s final half hour, they added a touch of showbiz with Pomerantz- Boro singing I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserables, Mondrow belting out Proud of Your Boy from Aladdin the Musical and Herman involving the crowd in Cab Calloway’s Minnie the Moocher.
Together they finished with rousing sing-alongs for Lo Yisa Goy and Aleinu.
“I didn’t want it to end,” Betty Lou Legum said as she exited the sanctuary.
“What a treat; I couldn’t get enough,” said Dr. Herbert Brewer during a post-concert reception.
Rabbi Arthur Ruberg, who oversaw the congregation’s packed house with Elie Wiesel in 2000, called the concert “one of the great days in the history of the synagogue.”
And beyond the entertainment value, co-chair Alex Pomerantz says the afternoon “exceeded fundraising expectations.”
by Mark Kozak