Shir Shabbat in the Garden was a deeply grounding and joy-filled evening — a reminder of what it means to be rooted in community, tradition, and one another. Families gathered across the CRC greenspace as music, movement, laughter, and prayer flowed together naturally, transforming the garden into sacred space alive with connection.
There was something profoundly centering about praying outdoors, surrounded by the warmth of community and the beauty of creation. Children danced freely, friends lingered in conversation, and voices rose together in song as the evening breeze carried melodies across the lawn. The experience felt both expansive and intimate: a community gathered not within walls, but under the wide canopy of the sky, held together by music, spirit, and shared presence.
Lucy Greenbaum, our Artist-in-Residence, brought extraordinary warmth and soul through her vocals and acoustic guitar, imbuing the evening with grace and heart. Rabbi Karen Bogard and Rabbi Daniel Bogard co-led the service with a gentle, reverent and inviting touch, while the expanded ensemble elevated the service with richness and texture throughout. The instrumental accompaniment — from viola to saxophone, mandolin, percussion, bass, flute, and electric guitar — created a vibrant and layered soundscape that felt at once celebratory and deeply rooted.
We are so grateful to the musicians and vocalists who helped shape the evening:
Lucy Greenbaum — Artist-in-Residence, Acoustic Guitar, Vocals
Rabbi Daniel Bogard — Acoustic Guitar, Vocals
David Lazaroff — Bass
Jeff Lazaroff — Guitar
Joey Ferber — Electric Guitar
David Goldenberg — Mandolin
Shlomo Ovadya — Percussion
Robert Fishbone — Percussion
Ben Reece — Saxophone, Flute
Mark Hochberg — Violin
Additional Vocalists:
Bryn Sentnor
Leslie Caplan
Nava Kantor
Jackie Gross
Tara Hoisington
Keira Hoisington
Madeline Black
Together, they helped create an atmosphere that was uplifting, soulful, and profoundly connected — a Shir Shabbat that reminded us how nourishing it can be to gather outdoors, sing together, and feel ourselves part of something larger than ourselves.
