By Deborah Ashin, Special to JTNews
With its roots in mysticism and meditation, Tiferet is a Jewish vocal ensemble that defies musical classification. The music it performs isn’t Klezmer, cantorial or folk, yet it blends elements from these traditions as well as chants into an experience that could be described as heartfelt “Jewish fusion.”
Ranging from haunting meditative melodies to uplifting and joyful niggunim (songs with no words), Tiferet’s repertoire includes original compositions as well as fresh interpretations of traditional Jewish music. The group’s powerful melodies and unique harmonies are intended to engage a broad interfaith audience in addition to people not familiar with meditation or mysticism. Even a cynical listener will likely find Tiferet’s captivating sound difficult to resist.
Established four years ago as a Jewish chant group by Rabbi Ted Falcon of Bet Alef Meditative Synagogue, the 24-member group includes vocalists as well as violin, accordion, drums, guitars and synthesizer. Now an independent organization, Tiferet (pronounced like the furry rodent) is named after what could be considered the central “heart space” on the Kabbalistic — or mystical —Tree of Life.
The ensemble does not have any particular point of view. Instead, it creates music that is inclusive and comes from the heart, according to its music director, Stephen Merritt.
“Our focus is to just be present and to let the music, like meditation, make an emotional connection for each person. We have a vision to be a voice for healing and connection, to bridge different faiths using Jewish tradition,” he explains.
Composed entirely of volunteers, Tiferet does not perform as much as “share” its music with audiences, and Merritt’s goal is to utilize music to reach places where talk fails.
“If I start to talk, it is positional, such as between Jews and Muslims — but if it has no words, such as a niggun, the joy can just flow,” explains Merritt, who also serves as Bet Alef’s music director.
For Mark Bonyhadi, singing with Tiferet is a wonderful balance to his work as vice president of research for a bio-tech company. A self-described “hard-core scientist,” his focus is not so much the group’s healing message but the exquisite quality of the music. He especially enjoys singing Tiferet’s haunting renditions of traditional Jewish music, which range from deeply spiritual to joyful and uplifting.
Although Tiferet’s roots are in mystical Judaism, Merritt has been delighted by the group’s remarkable interfaith appeal. “It strikes an incredible emotional chord with non-Jewish audiences, who are touched by the spiritual quality and humanness of our music,” he says. “It is so gratifying to share our music and joy and to experience people feeling it.”
And as member Carolyn Browne Tamler says, “It’s not just a Jewish thing, it’s a spiritual thing.”
Tiferet frequently sings at worship services at Unity of Bellevue Church. Reverend Max Lafser describes Tiferet’s music as “deeply moving — like walking through shadow and light.”
“They integrate who they are into the music,” Lafser adds, “They reach out and touch the spirituality within other people, and they lift people and lead them into their own inner space.”
The group, which often participates in Bet Alef Shabbat services, also performs at the Center for Spiritual Learning in Seattle. It has appeared at the “Jerusalem Conference in the Heart” concert in Portland, Oregon, the International Sufi Conference in Bellevue and the first Seattle Sacred Music Festival.
“We perform to relay a message and to give a loving, healing experience,” says member Deborah Luger. She believes the title of one inspirational song, “I Open my Heart To This Moment,” captures the essence of what Tiferet is all about.
Tiferet’s ability to generate a spiritual and emotional response often associated with gospel music may owe something to Merritt’s experience of being raised in a conservative Christian church, one he describes as having “holy roller” gospel music. A professional performer and musician who studied opera and plays several instruments, Merritt recently converted to Judaism, although he has been Bet Aleph’s music director for almost 10 years.
Tiferet’s members range in age from 35 to 80 years old, representing a broad spectrum of Jewish thought. Not all of its members are even Jewish, though they do all belong to Bet Alef. Members of the ensemble pay monthly dues to cover their costs and come from as far as Whidbey Island and Puyallup to their weekly rehearsals in Bellevue.
Tiferet also represents a range of as musical training: while some of its performers have professional credentials, others don’t read music. Some of the trained professionals include accordionist Carol Robbins, formerly with the Mazeltones; drummer Simme Bobrosky; violinist Talia Marcus; and guitarist Jon Ramer, the music director for Temple DeHirsch Sinai in Bellevue. Marcie Howard sings with the Seattle Symphony Chorale, and both she and Shari Rosner are soloists at Bet Alef.
This Sunday, Tiferet will be performing, but they will also be recording a live CD, called Music of the Heart, at Temple Beth Am in Seattle. The concert also will feature internationally recognized singer Rabbi David Zeller, an orthodox rabbi from Israel who Merritt says has been described as “having the voice of an angel.”
Zeller will also be producing individual CDs from this event. He and Tiferet will perform several pieces together.
Instead of recording in a studio, Merritt wanted to make the CD with a live audience because, he says, “We get joy from communicating with the audience — we get our energy from them.”
Tiferet performs at 2 p.m. on Sun., June 22. Tickets are $18 in advance or $22 at the door, with all money going to support Tiferet’s recording costs. For ticket information, contact Bet Alef Meditative Synagogue at (206) 527-9399 or [email protected].