The Elul Program takes place in the Hebrew month of Elul, the last month of the year before Rosh Hashanna and Yom Kippur. Part of the Ein Prat Leadership Academy, the Elul Program attracts a mix of religious and secular young Israelis who want to learn about their heritage. It culminated in a unique Yom Kippur service last week on the edge of the desert.
Asher Kruger, one of the coordinators, spoke about the experience. Kruger is a musician in the band Shivat Zion. together with fellow band-mate Meir Chaim, he helped organize musical prayer services. Kruger says that many of the participants have recently finished their Israeli Defense Force army service.
Click here to download the full audio interview.
Kruger: They come to learn Jewish philosophy and Zionism. Part of the program is unique prayer service. Meir Chaim and I, our job was preparing them. It was a regular Orthodox service. Afterward, the students already knew the tunes and felt more at home.
Question: So it's not a replacement for a service, but supplementary preparation.
Kruger: Yes. We came once a week for the month of Elul and got together with groups of between 15 - 30 people in order to teach them, the melodies and the songs so that when Yom Kippur comes, they are familiar with the prayers and can even lead them.
Question: Where was it located?
Kruger: I just came back from there in Ein Prat. The program is for both religious and secular participants, in addition to a regular Orthodox service, there was also a room for mediation and classes on different subjects. It was enjoyable for both. People came from different types of homes, but there was acceptance of each other and we taught each other. We taught all the customs of Yom Kippur. The program also uploaded to YouTube the band The Fountainheads, who now have over a million views on YouTube with songs for Purim and Rosh Hashannah. They started Elul program five years ago and now it has grown to four locations throughout Israel.
Question: Tell us about Ein Prat.
Kruger: It's a 20 minute drive from Jerusalem. It's a beautiful place. Part of the magic of the program is the location. It expands the heart once you get there.
Question: How many years have you been doing this? How did you get involved?
Kruger: My connection started last year when three of the participants saw me doing Rosh Hodesh services [prayers for the new month] with music and guitar when I was at Lev HaYehudi in India at the welcome center. Now I am working on recording Rosh Hodesh services based on familiar mainstream Israeli music. We are trying to create like what Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach made for Kabbalat Shabbat -- accessible and friendly to everyone. Meir Chaim and I are trying to continue in that way with Rosh Hodesh and Rosh Hashannah and Yom Kippur, friendly to all Am Yisrael.
Question: What is one example of an Israeli pop song you used?
Kruger: A song by Eviatar Banai called Yesh Li Sikkui. It's put to the words of Rosh Hodesh prayers.
Question: So a participant met you India and then asked you to come run a program in Israel?
Kruger: Yes. I worked a year ago at a Jewish drop-in center in India called Lev HaYehudi. There we did all kinds of workshops such as creative writing and Kabbalat Shabbat services and Rosh Hodesh prayers. There is a special Hallel on Rosh Hodesh and because it is not on Shabbat, we did it with instruments in a nice big circle for all the Israeli travelers who are interested.
Question: Do you have any inspiring stories that happened during your Elul experience?
Kruger: Last night, the hugs between the organizers and the participants -- they thanked us and said that they never experienced a Yom Kippur with so much ruach [spirit] and happiness. They felt close and they felt it related to them. I think this is really like a new wave. People are understanding that they can be connected to different parts of our culture. One of the guys told me last night that he doesn't believe in G-d. But still, he came to the service because he felt the human kavana, the pure, good intention of trying to purify yourself. It was inspiring for me to see a person who, on a daily basis does not have anything to do with Torah mitzvot, but felt connected to Yom Kippur through the melodies an niggunim together with the rest of Am Yisrael.
For more information on the Elul Porgram,
click here,
For more information on the Shivat Zion band,
click here.
Ben Bresky is a music journalist and host of the Israel Beat Jewish Music Podcast on Arutz Sheva - Israel National Radio. For show archives click here.
