For the past 20 years, Hazzan Harold Messinger, Rabbi David and our members have reimagined our spiritual and musical congregational prayer life. Ours is a participatory, inclusive and welcoming style of prayer, where everyone can bring their voice, instrument, and authentic prayerful self into our spiritual experiences.
Part summer camp sing-a-long, part tent revival, part meditative retreat, part communal exhalation, BAI’s music and prayer draw on a rich musical trove—such as Jewish Renewal chant, Grateful Dead improvisations, 70’s singer-songwriter emotion—all grounded in the traditional motifs of Jewish prayer.
Times to experience our music and audio and video samples are highlighted below:
Kabbalat Shabbat
During this one hour of music-filled prayer, you are likely to hear acoustic guitar, hand percussion, flute, trumpet, violin, upright bass and more, all blended to support the prayer experience of everyone on hand (and on Zoom). Those attending in-person who play an instrument are welcome to join; others enjoy singing along.
Friday evenings from 6:00-7:00pm.
Tefilah B’Kavana (Prayer with intention)
This blend of chant, moments of quiet meditation, embodied prayer, shared conversation and joyful singing, accompanied by acoustic guitar and hand drums, leads into our traditional Shabbat morning service and Torah reading.
Saturday mornings from 9:30-10:15am.
Music Prayer Lab
Ninety minutes of pure musical and prayerful improvisation, the lab serves as a co-created space, inviting everyone to listen to themselves and one another, while taking small risks and experimenting with different ways of artfully and intentionally hearing and seeing the group.
No experience necessary. New participants are always welcome to come, listen, be present, and add their voice.
Select Sunday evenings from 8:00-9:30pm.
30-Minute Morning Music Meditation
When is the last time you just listened to music? Each Wednesday, join in-person or via Zoom to just “be” while Hazzan Harold curates a 30-minute mix tape. A beautiful, mindful way to start and set an intention for your day!
Wednesdays from 8:30-9:00am.
High Holiday Musical Services
On the High Holidays, alongside our traditional service, we also offer a musical experience as a pathway into High Holiday worship, including soul, spirituals, blues, chant, and key Jewish melodies.
Teen Music Jam
All teens, regardless of musical skill level, are invited to this intimate, fun space to learn to play music as a group, teach one another our favorite songs (secular tunes welcome!) and learn key melodies that appear in our worship services.
Select Sunday evenings from 7:00-8:15pm.
Main Line Unity Choir
The Main Line Unity Choir began in the late 90’s as a partnership between Main Line Reform Temple and Zion Baptist Church of Philadelphia. Beth Am Israel joined soon after. Each January, a volunteer choir gathers to rehearse music for the annual Unity Weekend, where the choir leads services on Friday night and Sunday of Martin Luther King Weekend. This annual tradition of song, prayer, and fellowship is an important and joyful connection between our three sacred communities.
Interfaith Music Project of Philadelphia
The Interfaith Music Project of Philadelphia began in 2016 as an offshoot of the Main Line Unity Choir. Faced with rising division in America, Hazzan Harold and James Pollard Jr. of Zion Baptist Church assembled a group of musicians – Jewish, Black Baptist, Quaker, Islamic and Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Their purpose is to demonstrate that song and music are a powerful force for bringing people of different faiths together. Since their formation, the band has recorded two albums and a video of the song, “We Rise”. Today, the band continues to perform and lead worship at various houses of worship across the Philadelphia area, including here at BAI. You can listen to their music here.
Enjoy these audio and video selections to get a taste of the music and prayer that we offer each week and throughout the Jewish calendar.