Almost each progressive Shabbat service is “musical” because of the use of instruments is characteristic for the progressive liturgy. But this project is not just an accompaniament, it is a way of thinking through music that evokes a connection to one’s emotions and spirituality in the present moment. The composer – Michal Pal’ko –  draws on various traditions in his arrangements, and so we weave these traditions together and encounter them all in our prayer, in fact enhances the sense of prayer. One could say he created a completely new musical quality using the liturgy and melodies we are all familiar with.

It is definitely the expression of the essence of Shabbat. In the same way that Shabbat is a unity of everything, and so in this musical form of Shabbat, we feel that everything is incorporated through the music happiness, the inner peace and harmony, the deep spirituality, and all the nuances of our emotions. And the religious feeling which awakens in the prayer and slowly grows throughout its course. All this definitely exists in these arrangements.

In this concept musical arrangements are not simply an accompaniment to the liturgical melodies
or an abstract ornament… for the composer every element is prayer. He experiences the prayer as a musician and as a composer and brings a full range of emotions and religious feelings into our musical service.

For many years groups of tourists related to progressive/reform movement who visit Kraków (Poland) join the Beit Kraków Jewish progressive/reform community of Krakow for Musical Kabbalat Shabbat (led by Rabbi Tanya Segal and Mojše Band). If you are interested in celebrating Shabbat with us or organizing special Musical Kabbalat Shabbat for your group, please contact us at kontakt@beitkrakow.org or office@tempel.pl

Shabbat with NFTY in the “old”  Galicia Jewish Museum 2015

And here a short piece of musical prayer (with a great cimbalon solo composed and performed by Michal Paľko) – from our last Shabbat 23.06.2017

We recommend reading about Beit Krakow’s Musical Shabbat in the link below!

The Joy of a Reform Shabbat in Krakow