Women drum up spirituality on Rosh Chodesh

New teacher, new class at Beth Israel

By Jewish Review

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As part of their full year of programming, Beth Israel Sisterhood is offering a new option designed to teach women in the community about the connection between rhythm and spirituality.

“New Sounds for the New Moon:  A Rosh Chodesh Drumming Event” will take place Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2008, (Rosh Chodesh Shevat), from 7 to 8:15 p.m. at Congregation Beth Israel. 
   
Julie Lipson, a new addition to the Portland Jewish community and Beth Israel faculty, will lead participants through an evening of drumming and spirituality, including a unique Rosh Chodesh celebration. 
   

“This particular Jewish month, which includes the celebration of Tu B’Shevat, the birthday of the trees, is a time to remember our responsibility toward the environment,” said Lipson.
   
“What better way to reconnect to Mother Earth than rejoicing in our own Shechinah through music and community?”
   
The Jan. 8 Rosh Chodesh event will take place in the Miller Room of the Sherman Education Center, 1931 NW Flanders St. The program is free and open to women in the community. No musical experience is necessary. Drums will be provided, but participants also may bring their own percussion instruments.  RSVP to the Temple office, 503-222-1069, by Jan. 4.
   
The Rosh Chodesh program will be a free introduction to an upcoming women’s drumming class at Beth Israel.  Beginning Thursday, Jan. 24, the six-week course is described as a multi-generational beginning djembe class.
   
The djembe (pronounced jen-bay) is a skin-covered hand drum that originated in west Africa and is an integral part of the region’s musical tradition and culture.
   
Students will learn polyrhythmic African beats as well as djembe technique and will become comfortable with creating their own rhythms, adding to a drum circle and beginning solo methods.
   
Instructor Lipson graduated from University of Maryland with degrees in women’s studies and ethnomusicology. She learned to play the djembe when she traveled to Ghana after high school, and later in college under the instruction of Dialis Djimo and Amadou Kouyate, and then through her work with the Young Women’s Drumming Empowerment Project in Washington, D.C. 
   
“The class will create a women-only space in which participants can explore parts of themselves that mainstream society does not usually encourage or deem ‘feminine,’ such as being loud, aggressive or musical,” Lipson said. 
   
“The class also will focus on some of the ways rhythm can be used in Jewish spirituality, tradition and meditation.” 
   
In addition to teaching various grade levels and serving as a youth advisor at Beth Israel, Lipson is co-founder of The Shalem Project, which confronts homophobia in Jewish Youth Group (listed under “Shalem U’veyachad” in Facebook.com).
   
The class fee is $80 for six sessions, including drum rental, or $60 for those with their own instruments.
   
Prospective students may contact Lipson directly for more information: JBLipson@gmail.com or 240-418-5607.