Almost 200 young, talented female NCSYers took the stage on a recent Sunday to “Storm the Heavens” with their golden voices and graceful steps. Supported by amazing production, direction, technology, costume and make-up crews, and capitulating to the wishes of previous year’s audiences, this year they added a show and put on two performances.

Although last year’s production was spectacular, the cast outdid themselves with this year’s performance, presenting magnificent dance sets, including a brilliant solo performance by Nili Kepets, who also served as a dance assistant. The choir performed outstanding renditions of Tehillim and other familiar tefilot with numerous solos, duets and trios featuring some of the youngest to the most senior vocalists.

Dance was adeptly headed by Elie Zigelstein, along with Sari Tager, assistant dance director, along with two other dance assistants, Tali Pfeiffer and Yakira Smilow. “Serving as the dance director for Meorot is an opportunity to form meaningful relationships with the girls and create a masterpiece for the Jewish community,” remarked Zigelstein.

Sorah Bayla Elias was the choir director, a first for her. Her ability to highlight the best in scores of young voices was apparent and delightful. Elias commented, “It was the utmost privilege to work with such an incredible group of women and young girls to showcase all the beautiful talent and passion for Judaism on the Meorot stage. Meorot gives these young women the opportunity to express themselves through song and dance, and it was incredible to be a part.”

Once again the show was graced by the multi-talented and dedicated dynamic duo of sisters Naomi Schiff and Sorah Shaffren. Schiff and Shaffren are the creative and music directors for Meorot, and along with their gifts of performance and stage presence, they also serve as formidable role models for the young women involved in this monumental production.

”We are thrilled to be able to offer the girls in the Bergen County area and beyond the opportunity to express themselves through song and dance in a tznius forum. The older girls are role models for the younger girls, and their connection was forged stronger than ever at the theater on the day of the show, when the older girls helped supervise the younger girls backstage. It was so moving to see. Naomi and I are proud to be a part of this thrilling movement that is Meorot,” said Shaffren.

Each year they compose and perform new original music, and this year there were two new pieces. The theme song “Storm the Heavens” was performed by the senior chorus. “Adon Olam” is an original composition written by the familiar and popular Mordechai Shapiro, brother of Schiff and Shaffren. “Ani Maamin, #5” was a collaboration of all three of the siblings, just for Meorot 2023.

And to stretch the Shapiros multi-generational role modeling up another notch, the audience was also treated to Roberta Shapiro’s rendition of Naomi Shemer’s beloved song “Al Kol Ele.” Roberta Shapiro is the proud mother of Meorot’s director, composer and performing siblings Schiff and Shaffren, and their brother Mordechai.

Schiff expressed, “It has been a pleasure and a privilege to work with our choir girls this year. We’ve been rehearsing since October and we get to know the girls and see how hard they work. They have such a passion for singing, and that shines through in their performance. They had a radiance on stage that could be seen all the way in the back row of the theater! ”