On Motzei Shabbat, Dec. 7, the New Rochelle Torah Center’s women organized a Rosh Chodesh Kislev kumzitz at the home of Dana Simpson in memory of Dannie Grajower, a”h, sister of NRTC Kollel Founder Rav Etan Epstein. The evening featured Sorah Shaffran, singer-songwriter and sister of Mordechai Shapiro. In addition to the live music and singing, Shaffran shared uplifting Torah thoughts and divrei Torah.
The evening’s program guide and songbook described the concept of a kumzitz, a musical gathering with participants sitting on the floor or on chairs, communally singing spiritually moving songs. The ambiance is of low lighting, candlelight or, when held outdoors, perhaps a campfire. A single guitar or violin is commonly used when held on a non-Shabbat day. An orator often will tell short, inspirational stories between songs. Kumzitz is actually a compound Yiddish word composed of kum (come) and zitz (sit).
Rabbi Ben Book, director of programming for the New Rochelle Torah Center, addressed the group: “I was in shul today and I had this amazing conversation with a young child. I asked him if he knew I was in his house on Tuesday night. I was giving a shiur. He responded that he did know because his mommy said he had to be in bed by 8:15 so she could go learn Torah.” Book recalled similar “formative memories of my amazing mother having brochos groups every single week in her house.”
He explained: “There are fantastic opportunities that we offer through the New Rochelle Torah Center for mothers and daughters of our community. Think about the formative things you can be giving your children. One thinks leaving husbands and children at home to go out at night is incredibly difficult, but that’s exactly what we need to do to show our children and our families what’s really important.” After delivering his remarks, Book left the otherwise all-female event.
Shaffran began: “This is a night for women. We are all here together. We share these common values, loving our babies and loving to be here with each other and inspiring each other and looking for opportunities … to grow and connect and be spiritual and to be together.”
Introducing the song “V’Zakeini,” a prayer at Shabbat candle lighting, she said: “The rabbis say at the moment we light Shabbos candles, the gates of heaven are open. … The candles are a key that opens the gates.
“One of the secrets to the success of our children is the prayers we say for them as we light Shabbos candles and the tears that we shed. Even if we are not shedding tears, we do the motion of bringing in Shabbos and covering our eyes. We are unlocking the gates of heaven, and it is so holy that we cannot even look. Hashem should answer all your prayers. … You are a tree; your children are the little fruits that come from you, and you should have nachas from them.”
Introducing the song “L’maancha,” Shaffran explained that these words are from Selichot. “The words mean we are here for you. Whatever you do for me is for your own sake. It is not because we deserve it. Everything you give us is from your mercy.” Shaffran connected this to last week’s parsha and Yaakov’s dream about the ladder. He wakes up and says, “Hashem, if you take care of me and if you give me clothes and food, then I will know you are my God. I will know that this will be between you and me, not just my father or my grandfather. I will come back here and give a korban and dedicate my life to you.”
Other songs that night included “Acheinu,” “V’hee She’amda,” songs and stories about Israel, as well as setting the mood for Chanukah.
As the program ended, Shaffran concluded: “I feel so moved by hearing your voices and singing together. … We should continue to be inspired. You should bring this inspiration with you, to your families, to your jobs and wherever you are. You should just grow from this higher and higher. We should continue singing together and inspiring each other.”
