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Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Local Issues Obituaries Weather Archive Revels Etcetera Backpage Hot Topics Most Viewed Forum Photo Galleries Video Readers Polls O-Zone Online Games Movie Preview Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad June 5, 2006 Devotional and peace songs from Jerusalem at the Havurah Spiritual singer Miriam Ahuvatel-Iron makes Ashland stop Staff reports On Tuesday at 7:30 p.m., Havurah Shir Hadash will host Miriam Ahuvatel-Iron in concert. Ahuvatel-Iron is an Israeli spiritual singer, composer, poet and peace activist. Growing up in a Jewish Hassidic family, she absorbed their passionate and joyous spirit. She eventually went on a long, individual search for her own spirituality, integrating the new learning with her Jewish sources, becoming a pioneer of the Jewish Renewal movement in Israel. The result is a new, unique expression of Hebraic singing, fusing the ancient texts and spirit with great joy, depth and faith. “We are privileged to have Miriam grace us with her original songs of peace from Jerusalem, the city of peace,” says Ayala Zonnenschein, Havurah program director. Ahuvatel-Iron is one of 28 composers whose 36 compositions were chosen to be presented at Shalshelet: The Foundation for New Jewish Liturgical Music Concert in Maryland on June 11. This year’s submissions totaled more than 300 from 107 composers across the U.S. as well as Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Israel and Uganda. The winning composers comprise a diverse group geographically and musically, and in their Jewish affiliations and practices — Rabbis and Cantors, teachers and students, and those with primary occupations outside the Jewish and music worlds. Shalshelet (Hebrew for “chain”) was established as a non-profit in 2003 to encourage the creation of original Jewish liturgical music. The Foundation’s mission is to build bridges within the Jewish community and beyond by exposing a wider audience to Jewish religious music in creative ways. Ahuvatel-Iron’s devotional songs can be heard at www.cdbaby.com/miriamai. She is currently working on a new CD entitled “Ways of Peace,” which are songs dedicated to peace initiatives in Israel. Miriam herself is involved with numerous organizations working for peace, such as All Nations Café and Seeds of Peace, bringing Israeli and Palestinian children together in summer camps to dialogue and get to know each other. For the past three years Ahuvatel-Iron has been part of the on-going Peace Vigil that was established by Debora Brous (Bustan L’Shalom) and Eliyahu McLean (Rodef Shalom), both of whom have been guests of the Havurah in the past few years; Israelis, Palestinians and guests from around the world who meet weekly in Jerusalem to pray and sing songs of peace. Iron’s next project will be recording the Karliner’s music, the Hassidic tradition she grew up with and heard at home in her childhood. Tickets are $7-$15 sliding scale and are available in the Havurah office, 185 N. Mountain Ave.. Call Ayala at 488-7716 for information. . Leave a Comment: --> Copyright © 2006 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved.