Temple Concord will hold a musical Solis-Cohen Scholar-in-Residence weekend with Cantor Jeff Klepper and Rabbi Dan Freedlander of Kol B’Seder from Friday-Sunday, June 10-12. The event is sponsored by Temple Concord’s Solis-Cohen Scholar-in-Residence Fund. All programs will be held in person and online. 

There will be four programs:

• Klepper will give a sermon in the form of song with a vocal ensemble from the congregation on June 10. The sermon will relate to the week’s Torah portion Naso, which includes the Priestly Benediction. Services will begin at 7:30 pm. There is no cost to attend.
• Freedlander will lead Torah study on June 11 beginning at 9:15 am. There is no cost to attend.
• Kol B’Seder will perform a Community Concert on June 11, at 7 pm, in the synagogue’s social hall. The concert will feature Israeli, traditional music and the songs of Debbie Friedman, as well as their own hits. The concert is free for Temple Concord members and children under 13, $10 for adults and $5 for students.
• On June 12, Freedlander will speak on “Progressive Jewish communities outside of the U.S. and Israel.” He was the president of the World Union for Progressive Judaism from 2014-19. The brunch will begin at 10 am, with the program starting at 10:30 am. There is a charge of $7 for the brunch. Reservations are due by Thursday, June 9, and may be made by contacting the synagogue at TempleConcordbinghamton@gmail.com or 723-7355. 

The Jewish News of Greater Phoenix called Kol B’Seder, “Perhaps the most famous duo in contemporary Jewish music… often likened to Simon and Garfunkel, the duo is at the forefront of the Jewish rock/folk scene.”

“Mark your calendars!” said organizers of the event. “After two years of social distancing, we are going all in on a musical celebration. We are excited to welcome Cantor Jeff Klepper and Rabbi Dan Freedlander of Kol B’Seder as our Scholars-in-Residence. You already know the music of Kol B’Seder; we often sing their melodies such as ‘Shalom Rav’ and ‘Haporeis Sukkat Shalom’ at our services. In fact, Kol B’Seder’s melodies are woven into the fabric of synagogue music throughout America and around the world.”

Organizers added, “Kol B’Seder’s Cantor Jeff Klepper and Rabbi Dan Freedlander met in college in 1971 and have been singing together ever since. Jeff and Dan have composed some of the most beloved and enduring Jewish songs of the 20th and 21st centuries. Their Saturday evening concert at Temple Concord will be part of their 50th Anniversary Tour.”

The Solis-Cohen Scholar-in-Residence Fund was established at Temple Concord to enable the congregation to bring speakers and programs to Temple Concord every other year. Ann Rosenthal and her sister, Mary Keller, created the fund as a memorial to their parents, J. Solis-Cohen Jr. and Marion Labe Solis-Cohen of Philadelphia. “During his lifetime, J. Solis-Cohen was most generous to Temple Concord,” said event organizers. “The nucleus of the temple library was a presentation from his personal library. In honor of his generous gifts, the library is named for him. Please consider making a donation to Temple Concord’s Solis-Cohen Scholar-in-Residence Fund to enable us to continue providing quality adult educational programs.”