The holidays have changed, but the music at Congregation Beth Tikvah has not stopped.
When Cantor Sol Zim arrived in Wantagh for the High Holy Days, he brought decades of experience and a voice familiar to generations of Jewish worshippers. But over Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, it was the voices around him — longtime congregants, children and choir members — that helped create what members described as a particularly meaningful holiday season.
Now, as the congregation moves into Sukkot and the festivals that follow, that sense of togetherness is continuing.
The transition was evident Sept. 23, when Beth Tikvah hosted a Pre-Sukkot Celebration for members, families and friends. The afternoon event brought generations together for music, laughter and fellowship, with the CBT Band providing the soundtrack as children and adults gathered to celebrate the beginning of another important chapter on the Jewish calendar.
The celebration came after weeks of preparation. The congregation’s Men’s Club built the community sukkah on Sept. 6, and members of Sisterhood and Hebrew School students added colorful decorations. The finished structure became more than a temporary shelter — it became a place for the congregation to gather.
The idea of generations coming together has been a recurring theme at Beth Tikvah since Zim’s arrival last month. “What touched me most was seeing generations come together as one community,” Rabbi Moshe P. Weisblum said after Rosh Hashana. “It was a joy to work alongside Cantor Sol Zim and to share these meaningful days with such warm and caring people.”
Zim felt that same connection from the bimah. “There was a beautiful feeling in the sanctuary,” he said. “The choir sang from the heart, the children brought such joy, and the congregation responded with tremendous warmth.”
For Religious Vice President Leah Hartman, the young singers were an especially important part of the experience. “There was a wonderful spirit throughout the services,” Hartman said, noting the sermons, Zim’s voice, the choir and “especially the participation of our young people” as elements that made everyone feel included.
Board Chair Ab Roher, who has attended High Holiday services for years, said this year stood out to him. “The music was magnificent, the sermons were inspiring, and there was a warmth in the sanctuary that brought everyone together,” Roher said.
For 14-year-old Ella Cook, the experience was personal. Cook sang a duet with Zim as well as a solo during the High Holy Days — an opportunity she said she would always remember. “I could feel the support of the congregation, and that made the experience even more special,” she said.
If Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur offered a time for reflection, Sukkot brings a different energy. The festival, which began last Friday, is traditionally a time of gratitude, celebration and togetherness. Families gather in sukkahs, sharing meals and time together while recognizing the blessings in their lives.
At Beth Tikvah, that celebration began before the holiday itself, with the Sept. 23 gathering offering a chance for members to step into the sukkah, hear music and simply spend time with one another.
The holiday season will continue through Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, which will conclude the festival period on Sunday.
And so the music continues. The melodies may shift from the introspective sounds of the High Holy Days to the more celebratory songs of Sukkot and Simchat Torah, but the role they play at the synagogue will remains much the same: giving people a reason to gather, participate and feel connected.
For a congregation that recently welcomed a legendary cantor, perhaps the most fitting measure of his visit is not simply what happened while he was singing. It was what continued after the songs ended.
