Despite the dreary, rainy weather, more than 400 women and girls from the Highland Park/Edison area gathered at the Yeshiva Shaarei Tzion Boys School in Piscataway for a kumzitz with renowned singer Bracha Jaffe on Sunday evening, September 11. The event was held in collaboration with the local yeshivot and endorsed by the Vaad Harabonim of Raritan Valley, with all proceeds going to the benefit of the Lefkovits Family Park Mikvah in Highland Park.
Event organizer Marla Rottenstreich was delighted with the turnout. “Women of every hashkafa and age are here. Everyone is different, but they all came together in the spirit of Elul to demonstrate the achdus of the community. That’s what makes the Highland Park/Edison community so wonderful and special.”
After a brief introduction by Rottenstreich, Bracha Jaffe took the stage saying how happy she was to be part of this beautiful event to lead to the Yomim Noraim with song. Jaffe came down from the stage to be part of the standing-room-only audience as she encouraged the women to sing with her. She urged everyone to get together as this is the time of year when our prayers mean more when they are said together. After declaring that the audience was “just getting warmed up,” Jaffe sang a beautiful version of “Eishet Chayil,” and continued the song from the audience as she passed the microphone around.
Jaffe’s slow version of “Esah Einei el HaHarim” was so popular that it brought thunderous applause upon its conclusion, and she then sang the Carlebach version with a faster tempo that proved to be equally as popular, with the entire audience joining in. Wanting to build on the energy in the room, the next song, “Kol HaOlam Kulo,” started out slowly but soon had the room on their feet. Groups of teenagers were dancing in the back of the room, while mothers and young daughters danced at the front. The timely “Avinu Malkenu” had Jaffe prompting the audience to sing along and be part of the action.
When asked by Jaffe if they were “Having fun yet?” the deafening roar of “Yes!” said it all. Jaffe then led a musical singalong chant of “Thank you, Marla” to show everyone’s appreciation to Rottenstreich for her work on the event.
Jaffe was warm and personable and easily connected with the audience, at one point stopping to sing “Happy Birthday” to Aviva Scott who was celebrating.
The songs and music continued with more dancing and a giant line rimming the perimeter of the room. Jaffe concluded her performance with the hope that this year would bring the coming of Moshiach and we will all be together dancing in Yerushalayim. What more fitting way to end the evening than with a rousing rendition of Leshana Haba b’Yerushalayim?
Co-President Lynn Hanfling was thrilled to see such a great turnout from a broad cross-section of the community. Audience members were all in agreement that it was a special night for many reasons.
Robyn Black, of Edison, said it was exciting to see so many people generating the warmth and achdut of the community.
Shoshi Malitzky, who brought her two young daughters to the event from Highland Park, said the night was “amazing, so much fun for all of us. There was dancing and singing and the chance to see friends.”
Lisa Goldberg, also of Highland Park, loved the energy in the room brought out by a terrific performer.
Friends Hailey Kramer and Ariella Wallenstein described the concert as “Really fun!” and “Very interactive,” respectively.
The women-only concert was an incredible success as a first of its kind in the area. Rottenstreich related that each year she works with Co-Presidents Esther Posen and Hanfling to present the annual mikvah fundraiser. This year they decided to think “out of the box” and plan something that would bring women together.
Posen added that the “positive energy present at this intergenerational event was a privilege to witness.” Hanfling agreed that “it was an amazing, feel-good event for girls and women of all ages and all places on the religious spectrum.”
By Deborah Melman
