Your news: Torah Academy hosts Hanukkah concert
Buffalo Grove was rockin' Sunday, Nov. 21, when Shlock Rock took the stage at Congregation Beth Am in Buffalo Grove to entertain a diverse audience of over 200 people. The event sponsored by Torah Academy of Buffalo Grove, was billed as the Jewish Unity 2010 Chanukah Concert.
Jewish unity was certainly a key theme of the day as concertgoers ranged in age from young toddlers to seniors and everywhere in between.
“The community really came out to show their support for Torah Academy of Buffalo Grove and hear some great rock music,” said Torah Academy parent Jordan Ripstein. “It was a fun time for everyone who attended and wonderful to see friends from across Buffalo Grove as well as other suburban areas and as far as Skokie and Chicago. This is the type of event that all Jews could relate to, no matter what their religious background or affiliation.”
The Shlock Rock concert was from 3:30 until about 6 p.m., with a short intermission about midway through. The band led by powerful vocals from Lenny Solomon, backed up by riveting guitars, drums and keyboard played music to rave audience reviews. Shlock Rock uses a unique blend of song parodies and original music in both English and in Hebrew. During the Torah Academy concert, the audience was treated to songs that poured forth traditional Jewish ideas and cultural concepts, utilizing rock music to communicate their message to young and old alike.
The Shlock Rock band, which has been playing concert venues around the world since 1986, wowed the Buffalo Grove audience with music that included Jewish versions of popular songs from such well known artists as The Beatles, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen and even Lady Gaga.
Not to be outdone, the students of Torah Academy of Buffalo Grove, accompanied by their talented music teacher Naomi Sitzman on the piano, took the stage and belted out a lively rendition of popular Hanukkah songs including “Oh Hanukkah,” “I Have a Little Dreidel” and even a Spanish-Ladino tune, “Una Candalika.” The audience gave these little “shlock rockers to be” a thundering round of applause, as anticipation of the Hanukkah holiday was on everyone's mind.
In addition to the concert and children's performance, a wide variety of kosher food was available including pizza, popcorn and pastries. All in all, it was a very fun-filled afternoon for all who attended and a big success for the program sponsor, Torah Academy of Buffalo Grove.
Torah Academy of Buffalo Grove is a new Jewish Day School conveniently located within Congregation Beth Am at 225 McHenry Road in Buffalo Grove. The school currently provides half-day and full-day classes for pre-K and kindergarten aged children as well as first- and second-grade classes. An on-site day care facility is planned for the 20111-2012 school year, with a 2 year-old program opening in January.
For information, visit the school website at torahacademybg.com or contact Rabbi Zehnwirth or Rabbi Grunberg, heads of school, at (224) 353-7791.
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