The Temple of the Arts is hosting this shared heritage service in unison with the West Angeles Church of God in Christ and the Tabernacle Gospel Choir. A 50 voice choir will perform.

Friday, March 2, 2007
8:00 PM - 9:30 PM
Wilshire Theatre Beverly Hills
8440 Wilshire Blvd.
(just east of La Cienega Blvd.)
Beverly Hills, CA 90211

Unique intercultural event open to the entire Los Angeles community celebrating the Jewish and African-American cultures with an evening of both Gospel and Jewish music and worship. The service will encourage participants to rejoice in the shared heritage of freedom from slavery with songs of liberty and faith in the historic Wilshire Theatre Beverly Hills.

Program: 

• Rabbi David Baron of Temple of the Arts
• Bishop Charles Blake of the West Angeles Church of God in Christ
• The Tova Marcos Singers of Temple of the Arts
• 50 Voice Tabernacle Gospel Choir led by Justin White

Press Release: 

Beverly Hills, CA, February 5, 2007 -- Temple of the Arts today invited the Los Angeles community to unite for an extraordinary evening of music, worship and brotherhood on Friday, March 2, 2007. The intercultural Shared Heritage of Freedom service will feature the Tabernacle Gospel Choir of the West Angeles Church of God in Christ and the Temple's Tova Marcos Singers.  Imagine the excitement and exhilaration that will be created by combining 50 harmonic Gospel voices and a Jewish Shabbat service!

Rabbi David Baron and his congregation regularly welcome guests to their services and are eager to include the entire African-American community.  The celebration of life and God through art and music has made Rabbi Baron's temple the home to many families in one of the largest Jewish communities in America.  It has embraced artists from many diverse backgrounds to create new expressions of Jewish worship and allows for a heightened experience that is easily accessed by people of any age or background.  Actors, musicians and filmmakers regularly attend and joyfully participate in Rabbi Baron's lively service.

Sharing in this spiritual and musical celebratory event are both the wonderful Tabernacle Gospel Choir and Bishop Charles Blake of the West Angeles Church of God in Christ, one of the most prominent churches in the Western United States, boasting a membership of over 24,000. Bishop Blake is well-known for his messages that minister to the whole person and bring together people of various racial and ethnic backgrounds. Also participating in the service is Cantor Ilysia Pierce, music directors Sharon Farber and Justin White and Associate Rabbi Ariel Hanien.

This service specifically connects with the history shared by the African-American community because, as Rabbi Baron explains: "We relate to the plight of slaves or those unjustly imprisoned and exploited because we were once slaves in the land of Egypt.  In our day, we fully realize the impact of tyranny and that it takes commitment and bravery to free our world from the enslaving grip of terrorism."

The vision of the Temple of the Arts is to reconnect fellow Jews and all people seeking spiritual enlightenment with the beliefs and traditions of Judaism through the arts.

TEMPLE OF THE ARTS -- www.templeofthearts.com

Press Inquiries: For more information or to schedule an interview with Rabbi David Baron or Bishop Charles Blake, please contact Amy Levy Public Relations (310) 444-5250.

Cost : Free and open to the public; parking is next door in the Flint Blvd. for $5. RSVP suggested to (323) 658-9100

www.amylevypr.com

Sponsor(s): The Temple of the Arts in unison with the West Angeles Church of God in Christ and the Tabernacle Gospel Choir. Information about non-ASC events is posted at the request of the sender for informational purposes and does not reflect opinions of or endorsements by African Studies personnel.