Martin Luther King Jr., who denounced in 1963 the Soviet Union’s treatment of its Jewish population by restating the “injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” Being able to demonstrate genuine love for one another, in the fashion of Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel and Rev. Pastor Eric Manning of Charleston, S.C., and Rabbi Jeffrey Myers of Pittsburgh, Pa., will introduce the musical piece with a brief discussion about why faith is now more important than ever. This is believed to be the first time that Jewish and Black music ministers have come together for a collaborative video production. We want to show solidarity and support with our Black brothers and sisters and believe our voices can be used to create positive change in the world. “We believe in the power of music to elevate and transform, so that people of all ages will feel more deeply connected to one another, to God and to their own sense of purpose,” said Pomerantz-Boro.Įliezer Katzoff of Stormport Productions served as video producer to create the video with voices from people in the United States, Canada, Uruguay and Israel. In addition to leading worship services, Cantors perform all life cycle events, teach, counsel, do pastoral work, and use music and prayer to bring people close. Hazzan, the Hebrew word for Cantor, literally translates as “visionary” and is ordained as a fully functioning Clergy person of the synagogue. “We can all lean in on faith and music to heal,” said Hazzan Alisa Pomerantz-Boro, immediate past president of the Cantors Assembly and the originator of the idea. The song “Total Praise” was originally composed in 1996 and promoted faith and healing. “I pray that this will help to inspire, encourage and bring healing to all people everywhere." To direct my composition Total Praise that features my Jewish and African American brothers and sisters standing together in solidarity is something of which I am immensely proud,” said Mr. "I am honored and humbled to be a part of this amazing collaboration. Smallwood, who believes in the promise of this project as to lend his talents, served as conductor. The musical piece, Total Praise, is based on Psalm 121 and is a well-known anthem to many in the Black community. The song “Total Praise” – written by African American gospel artist Richard Smallwood – was sung individually by a group of Cantors and Black prayer leaders and integrated into a 3 ½ minute video that will be used to promote peaceful healing while simultaneously benefiting AAMI music scholarships. The Cantors Assembly, an international membership group of Jewish Clergy, came up with the idea for the “ Voices for Change” video as a way to build bridges among the Black and Jewish communities through music following the murder of George Floyd by police violence in May. New music video promotes peace through harmony, while raising funds for music scholarships to benefit Afro-American Music InstituteĪCROSS THE GLOBE–In an effort to promote peace through harmony, more than 100 faith leaders came together to produce an interfaith, multiracial virtual video that unites the voices of Black and Jewish prayer leaders from around the world. Media Contact: Saul Markowitz, 41, United in Music, Cantors and Black Music Ministers from Around the World Release New Video, “ Voices for Change” with Legendary “Total Praise” Composer, Richard Smallwood
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