Oy got rhythm, Oy got music—Who could ask for more?

By Deborah Moon

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A popular interactive music class for parents and tots led by “Oy Baby!” musician Kim Palumbis debuts at the Mittleman Jewish Community Center at 9:30 a.m. Dec. 14.

Sponsored by the MJCC, the 45-minute class features Jewish sing-along, Hebrew finger plays, creative movement, musical instruments and a Shabbat celebration. The class repeats Jan. 18 and Feb. 15.

Palumbus performs with her sisters Lisa and Stephanie Schneiderman on two “Oy Baby!” CDs and DVDs as well as the new “That Baby” for all children ages 0 to 5. Developed by Rob and Lisi Wolf, the “Oy Baby!” series is designed to create a rich Jewish experience for children ages 6 months and older.

Palumbis said she will draw on many of the songs from the CDs for the class, which will be held once a month at the MJCC. Cost is $10 for one child and $5 for each additional child.

Palumbis began leading music programs for moms and their children when her older daughter Sophia, now 6, was less than a year old. As word of those classes spread, Ronnie Malka came with her older daughter Maayan, now 3.

“I said to Kim, ‘Let’s do this for Jewish kids,’” said Malka. “We gathered eight women at my home and we just had a beautiful time with our kids every month.”

Soon, word of the Jewish music classes spread and women were calling wanting to join the group. Malka said they had to impose a limit of 20 children because the homes the group met in could not accommodate more. Each month 35 moms were vying for one of the spots, with more moms hearing about it from friends and asking for a chance to join the group.

“I did feel I had a special ticket to a wonderful program,” Malka said. “I’m so glad the MJCC agreed to host this so we could open it up to the community.”

She said that within 24 hours of sending an e-mail invitation to the 35 women, who forwarded it to friends, 100 people had visited the related Web site and 52 have RSVP’d to participate in the first class which will be held in the MJCC’s ballroom.

“It’s the biggest honor for me to be part of this group and to watch these moms with their babies and help connect them to the Jewish community,” said Palumbis, who teaches music at Neveh Shalom’s Foundation School and religious school, as well as in Shaarie Torah’s religious school and the Little Garden Preschool.

She said she ends every class, which meets on Fridays, with a short Shabbat celebration featuring challah and the blessings.

“For some, this is the only Shabbat they have,” she said. “It’s so special. The kids love it.”

Like Shabbat, the class is also a time to take a break from the busy world, according to Palumbis.

“The time when a baby is young is such a short season,” she said. “This is 45 minutes to stop and look into your baby’s eyes.”

Malka said the Jewish music class is the only Jewish activity that some of the families participate in. She added that some of the mothers have asked her for information on other Jewish activities and services after participating in the class.

Malka is also working with the MJCC and the Women’s Philanthropy Committee of the Jewish Federation of Greater Portland to put on an “Oy Baby!” concert for the whole community at the MJCC June 1.

Palumbis said she and her sister Lisa Schneiderman from Los Angeles will definitely perform and her sister Stephanie Schniederman will perform if her touring schedule permits.

“We all live such different lives,” said Palumbis, who grew up singing with her sisters. “Stephanie is a professional singer with Dirty Martini and her own band, and she just finished a concert series benefiting Uganda. Lisa is working on a documentary in LA, and I’m a teacher at Jewish schools. So for the three of us to be able to come together and do this (Oy Baby) is so special.”

For more information or to RSVP for the Dec. 14, Jan. 18 or Feb. 15 class, call the MJCC at 503-244-0111 or email Malka at d.malka@comcast.net.