Album Notes

Temple Israel of Miami is delighted to announce the completion and release of “Drawing Close,” a compact disc recording of 13 well known sacred songs from the Shabbat liturgy passionately and joyously performed by Karina Zilberman and Alan Mason.

The musical style is far reaching and tremendously varied, with traditional compositions such as the Candle Blessing heard side by side with contemporary compositions such as Hashkivenu. Anonymous folk settings, such as L’cha Dodi are heard next to popular settings of sacred liturgy by Debbie Friedman (Mishaberach) and Cantor Rachelle Nelson (Modim Anachnu Lach). Eight additional Shabbat songs are contained in the recording, all selected because of the important impact they have made on the spiritual life of Temple Israel.

Karina Zilberman is Temple Israel's Cantorial Soloist. With an eclectic repertoire that includes songs from all over the world, she sings in English, Spanish, Hebrew, Yiddish, Ladino and Portuguese. Karina’s singing style is relaxed and intimate and she interprets liturgy, with warmth and persuasive charm.

Karina was born and raised in Buenos Aires, where her family were members of that city's Temple Beth-El, which was then led by the late Rabbi Marshall Meyer, the rabbi who later helped transform New York City's overwhelmingly popular Congregation B'nai Jeshurun. She received much of her Jewish education and love for Jewish music at that congregation.

While she was in her teens, Rabbi Meyer energized the congregation's adults and children to become involved and helped the congregation enrich their Jewish experiences by drawing upon their own musical and other talents. Karina responded with the creation of the Hebrew vocal group "Chavaia" which helped bring Judaism to the hearts of children and adults.

Alan Mason is a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music where he was awarded Bacheor of Music and Master of Music degrees, and the Unversity of Miami where he was awarded the Doctor of Musical Arts degree. Dr. Mason is Associate Professor of Music at Barry University, and Director of Music at Temple Israel of Greater Miami.

Alan is professionally active as an accompansit to Jewish singers and choral ensembles. In this capacity, he has been on staff at the North American Jewish Choral Festival since 2001. He has played at many national and regional conferences of the Union for Reform Judaism, and has performed in concerts with members of the American Conference of Cantors and Chazzan Alberto Mizrahi.

Reviews:

The music is absolutely exquisite and the relationship between you, musician and singer is sometimes like a dialogue with extreme finesse. I love your delicate playfulness in the piano. And Karina's voice is heavenly and grounding at the same time. Yasher Koach! Congratulations!

-Rabbi Marcelo Bronstein, Congregation B'nai Jeshurun, New York, NY


"The piano arrangement is performed beautifully, and delicately accompanied by such emotional and heart-felt singing..."

-Scott Leader, Record Producer, Phoenix, Arizona