Evanston’s very own klezmer band, based at the Jewish Reconstructionist Synagogue in Evanston, brought its Evanston sound to the community on Dec. 16.
The band called Heavy Shtetl, a play on the genre “heavy metal,” performed at a community-oriented Kabbalat Shabbat Service and Hanukkah celebration.
A definition of the word “shtetl” in Yiddish means “little town.”
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While synagogues hire klezmer bands to augment their holiday music, JRC’s klezmer house band was formed in 1989 by Lori Lippitz of Skokie, band leader.
According to the group’s website, in 1983, Lori Lippitz also founded the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band, named for Chicago’s Sunday morning Jewish marketplace.
“Klezmer” is a Hebrew blending of the words “kley” (vessel) and “zemer” (melody) for musical instruments in ancient times.
“It became colloquially attached to Jewish folk musicians sometime in the Middle Ages,” also according to the Maxwell Street Klezmer Band website.
On Friday evening at JRC, people of all ages danced to Heavy Shtetl to celebrate Hanukkah. This year the holiday began on Dec. 18 and ends on Monday, Dec. 26.
JRC Rabbi Rachel Weiss indicated that, “people are here, and they’re here to celebrate community and this holiday of Hanukkah which is bringing light, and lighting up the darkness and who doesn’t need that these days?”
Weiss added, “Klezmer music is Jewish folk music. It is designed for everyone to be able to play and sing and dance and harmonize.
“There’s room for every instrument,” Weiss said. “The more we bring our own personalities and our whole selves to the table of Judaism, the better the experience is for everybody.”
Lippitz said music is a universal language regardless of religion or other differences.
“You don’t have to know the words or understand the language to find music to be emotionally evocative,” Lippitz said. “As a Jew, I love the music of Bach, which was inspired by his connection to his own faith community yet, it speaks to us all. And you don’t have to be Jewish to love klezmer music.”
“Happily,” Lipptiz said, “it (klezmer music) is not unique to Chicagoland … the klezmer sound, which came to us from the shtetl, has been revived across the country. In Chicagoland, I have been devoted to bringing it back to simchas (Jewish celebrations) for 40 years.
She said bands like Heavy Shtetl have been part of bringing back the tradition.
Of having its Evanston own sound, Lippitz said about Heavy Shtetl, “Each band is an amalgam of the personalities and skills of its members, so each one is unique.
“Heavy Shtetl has the dynamic energy of the kind of folk ensemble that grew organically in the old country, made of folk musicians from the community who play for the joy of making music together and getting people to dance.”
JRC’s house band includes synagogue members and volunteer musicians who perform on instruments such as the clarinet, violin, trumpet, trombone, keyboard, banjo, bass and drums.
On violin of Dec. 16 was Hannah Mira Friedland of Ravenswood whose father is JRC cantor Howard Friedland.
“It’s very special,” Hannah Mira Friedland said. “I’ve listened to the klezmer band growing up and always loved to dance along to it and it’s really fun to be playing in it (Heavy Shtetl) for the first time.”
Hannah Mira Friedland grew up in Glenview and is of the Glenbrook South High School Class of 2013.
“Music’s always been a very important part of my life,” Hannah Mira Friedland said. “It’s a way that I tap into spirituality.”
Also performing for the first time with Heavy Shtetl, and also on violin, was Alexa Dolinko of Andersonville. Dolinko grew up in Evanston and is of the Evanston Township High School Class of 2018.
‘It’s nice to be able to connect with the congregation I grew up in,” Dolinko said. “I’ve always loved music and I’m always looking for new ways to play music and new people to play with. I’m excited.”
Lippitz and Howard Friedland helped to start the dancing at the top of the Friday performance.
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“It (klezmer) inspires people of all ages and backgrounds,” Lippitz said. “Music connects people who otherwise might not have things in common.”
Learn more at https://jrctogether.org/engage/performing-arts/.
Karie Angell Luc is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.