INTRODUCTION:

Gather in community for a soulful Jewish Song Circle that meets everyone where they are. This program offers several options for how a song circle can be led. No musical experience is required; just bring your voice, curiosity, and openness. Through this program you can explore different ways of using song to connect, reflect, and build meaningful Jewish community.

PROGRAM SUGGESTION MENU:

• (JCH) Host a Jewish fireside jam session and sing/teach songs learned at Jewish summer camp.
• (JL) Niggun Saloon, learn about niggunim (Jewish wordless melodies) and then sing a few niggunim together.
• (JL) Host a Yiddish music night. Learn a few Yiddish songs, discuss their meaning, and sing them as a group.
• (JL) Host a Hebrew music night. Learn a few classic or popular songs in Hebrew, discuss their meaning, and sing them as a group.
• (JCH) Looking for a meditative musical practice? Pick one short song, perhaps in Hebrew, to sing on repeat for 30 min or more!
• (JCH) Host a song circle themed to a Jewish holiday. For example, host a Passover themed song circle and sing songs about freedom. Or host a musical tashlich for the high holidays and sing about water and letting go.
• (JCH) Host a Friday night tisch or songful seudah shlishit on Shabbat and sing zemirot around the table.
• (JCH) Host a kumzits or melaveh malkah after havdalah to help escort Shabbat out with additional singing themed to Shabbat and rest!

(JL) Program #1: Jewish Fireside Jam Session 

• Lean into those summer camp vibes with a fireside song circle!  
• Invite your community members to bring instruments and song suggestions but be sure to prepare a few songs to get the singing started.  
• Consider printing out (or digitally sharing) the Moishe House Songbook so guests can get inspired and have the chords/lyrics in front of them.  
• If you’ve got a fire going, consider ramping up the summer camp vibes with singing and s’mores around the fire! 

(JL) Program #2: Niggun Saloon 

• Teach your community about the history and practice of niggunim or wordless Jewish melodies. Reach out to your JLS to help develop a source sheet/learning activity on this topic. 
• Be prepared to teach a niggun or two to your community for everyone to sing as a group. Niggunim are good to sing on repeat for extended periods of time, so even just one or two melodies can go a long way. Here is a great anthology of niggunim.  
• It’s possible that song sheets may not be needed for this event as most niggunim are sung using syllables like “Yai dai dai” or “La la la.” However, some niggunim include a short phrase or piece of liturgy for which it might be helpful to print lyric sheets.  
• Consider asking other community members to bring niggunim to share/teach to the group. 

(JL) Program #3: Yiddish Music Night 

• Teach your community about the history of Yiddish music. Reach out to your JLS to help develop a source sheet/learning activity on this topic.
• Be prepared to teach a song or two in Yiddish to your community. Here is a great database of Yiddish songs and lyrics.
• Be sure to print song sheets or have the lyrics projected on a large screen/tv in the original Yiddish, transliteration and translation.
• Consider taking some time to discuss the meaning of the lyrics for each song.
• Consider asking other community members or hiring a local Yiddishist to bring songs to share/teach to the group.

(JL) Program #4: Hebrew music night

• Teach your community about the history of Hebrew music. Reach out to your JLS to help develop a source sheet/learning activity on this topic.
• Be prepared to teach a song or two in Hebrew to your community. Here is a great database of classic Hebrew songs. Here is a great playlist of more modern Hebrew songs that could be easily sung/taught in a relaxed setting.
• Be sure to print song sheets or have the lyrics projected on a large screen/tv in the original Hebrew, transliteration and translation.
• Consider asking other community members or hiring a local Hebrew speaker/musician to bring songs to share/teach to the group.

(JCH) Program #5: Meditative Musical Practice  

• Invite your community over to sing one niggun for 30 min (or more) for a meditative musical experience.  
• Consider using a niggun with a short phrase or line from liturgy so that people can learn it easily or catch on. For this practice, it’s recommended to sing a capella. 
• Here is a great anthology of niggunim. But feel free to reach out to your JLS for help finding an appropriately short niggun for this practice.  
• Have the lyrics projected or printed and posted in large font somewhere central or have smaller lyric sheets placed through the room. Set up the space with lots of comfy seating options and beverages easily accessible for folks to rehydrate during the singing. 
• Welcome guests and encourage them to stay engaged with the singing for the whole time, even if they need to just listen for a while. Encourage guests to hold off on side conversations or chatter until after the singing is over. Be sure to mention how long you plan to sing and keep an eye on the clock to help wind the group to a close when it’s time. Consider posting a sign with these guiding rules by the door for any latecomers to read so they can jump right in!  
• Before jumping into the singing, consider explaining why you choose the niggun you plan on singing. Perhaps it’s connected to an upcoming Jewish holiday or perhaps you’re experimenting with this singing circle as a type of prayer practice. Consider asking your guests to set or share an intention for the practice. And if the song is in a different language, be sure to offer a translation of the lyrics. 
• Once the time for singing is over, encourage guests to close their eyes and take a few deep breaths or turn to someone near them and share a word that captures that experience for them. Then open the space up for snacks and socializing!  

(JCH) Program #6: Jewish Holiday Themed Song Circle 

• Put together song sheets with songs about or related to the themes of the Jewish holiday.  
• Offer your community a brief framing about the Jewish holiday.  
• Sing/teach the songs on the song sheet. Consider asking people to bring a song connected to the holiday to share with the group.  
• This program could be a great addition to a festive holiday meal!  

(JCH) Program #7: Tisch or Songful Seudah Shlishit 

• Add singing to your Friday night Shabbat meal with a tisch or weave song into your Saturday afternoon meal with a songful seudah shlishit.  
• For either shabbat singing event, gather your community around a table, and pass out song sheets and or bentchers with zemirot (or pick some from the Zemirot Database). Consider serving dessert during this time.  
• Have one or two songs prepared to teach/sing as a group and then open up the space for anyone to jump in and lead/teach a song. Be sure to frame the space so people know that the leader is going to start things off, but then anyone can jump up or shout out and start a new song.  
• It’s helpful to have song sheets or bentchers with zemirot to remind people of songs they could lead and to help make sure everyone has the lyrics. Set a culture of naming the page number and title of the song you’re singing so that everyone can be on the same page and sing along. It’s also good to remind people that they can always sing “Yai dai dai” or “La la la” if they don’t know the lyrics.  
• Consider also opening up the space for people to share words of Torah (thoughts on the Torah portion of the week, an interesting teaching they heard on the Haftarah reading, or an upcoming holiday, etc…) 

(JCH) Program #8: Post-Havdalah Kumzits or Melaveh Malkah  

• Help usher Shabbat out in song with a post-havdalah Kumzits or Melaveh Malkah!  
• For either post-havdalah singing event, gather your community in a comfy area, consider keeping the lighting low or candlelit. Pass out song sheets and bentchers with zemirot (or pick some from the Zemirot Database). Consider serving desserts or snacks and drinks during this time.  
• Have one or two songs prepared to teach/sing as a group and then open up the space for anyone to jump in and lead/teach a song. Be sure to frame the space so people know that the leader is going to start things off, but then anyone can jump up or shout out and start a new song.  
• It’s helpful to have song sheets or bentchers with zemirot to remind people of songs they could lead and to help make sure everyone has the lyrics. Set a culture of naming the page number and title of the song you’re singing so that everyone can be on the same page and sing along. It’s also good to remind people that they can always sing “Yai dai dai” or “La la la” if they don’t know the lyrics. 
• Consider also opening up the space for people to share words of Torah or poetry (for example, ideas on the past Torah portion or reflections from shabbat or for the week ahead).