Beth Israel combo Def Schlepper tunes up for Hannukah celebration
By Jewish Review
Fledgling bands often have to beg for gigs. Not so for Def Schlepper, the house band at Congregation Beth Israel.
Since their debut performance at the 5767 Beth Israel Hanukkah dinner, the home-grown group has played at a variety of venues, including the community-wide Yom Ha’atzmaut celebration at the Mittleman Jewish Community Center, private homes and monthly Family Shabbat services, under the “Shabbat Combo” banner.
The core group–Rayna Dushman on guitar and vocals; Ben Sandler on upright bass; and Ayal Yariv on keyboard–has grown to include CBI members Arthur Steinhorn on drums and Dennis Epstein on 12-string guitar.
Add the talent of new faculty member and youth group advisor Julie Lipson on percussion, vocals and jazz flute, and the band’s sound is taking on a mature feel.
The band’s name, a play on the famous band Def Leppard, has special meaning to the group. Israeli band member Ayal Yariv notes that the band’s logo includes the Hebrew letters daled and shin to form the word “dash,” an acronym for Drishat Shalom, which literally means wishings or demands of peace.
Last year’s Hanukkah celebration at the synagogue provided the launching pad for the band. The event, which included the release of the special Mishpacha Minyan CD featuring Rayna Dushman singing selections from Beth Israel’s weekly school services, was so popular that seating for the dinner sold out quickly.
A guest appearance by “Rabbi Elvis” surprised the crowd.
Asked about the band’s preparation for this year’s Hanukkah celebration, Sandler said, “With congregant Ken Kwartler joining us on 6-string guitar and Rayna busting out her clarinet this year, we’re in for some serious schleppin’. We have some special surprise guests too—let’s just say for now that Rabbi Elvis knows how to raise ‘em right.”
This year’s Hanukkah celebration will be Friday, Dec. 7 with a 6 p.m. service in the Temple, 7 p.m. dinner in Goodman Hall, catered by Century Catering, and the Def Schlepper show in Blumauer Auditorium with room for dancing—beginning at 8 p.m.
Dinner reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis through the Temple office: 503-222-1069. The dinner cost is $45 per family, based on two adults and two children under age 10. There is no charge for additional children per family; additional adults are based on the individual cost of adults (ages 10 and up) $15 or children (ages 5-9) $7.50. The cost includes a 3 percent donation to MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger.