Winter Quarter 2024
with musician-educator Josh Niehaus
Song Circle Fellows will learn and sing Jewish songs — from liturgical selections to niggunim (songs without words) to Israeli folk songs — to lift our spirits, connect with Jewish values and heritage, and create community.
The fellowship — recognized by Hillel International as a Cohort Learning Innovation — is open to undergraduate and graduate students who enjoy singing. No previous music experience nor Hebrew reading skills are required. There is no homework. Students who attend all 5 sessions are eligible to receive a $100 stipend.
If you play an instrument and would like to bring it, please do! Hillel UW also has a keyboard and guitar available to borrow.
The Song Circle will meet on Tuesdays from 6:15-6:45 pm for pizza dinner and 6:45-7:45 pm for singing at Hillel UW on:
- January 30
- February 6
- February 13
- February 20
- February 27
Josh Niehaus will also lead three Friday night Song Circle sessions for the entire Hillel UW community at 5:15 pm on Fridays, February 9, February 23, and March 8. Song Circle Fellows are expected to attend at least one of the Friday evening Song Circles.
Save the date! Musician Batya Levine will be at Congregation Beth Shalom on March 1, and all Song Circle Fellows are invited to join Rabbi Lauren for her dinner at her home (in the North End, very accessible by public transportation) that evening beforehand!
Register here!
Partial funding is supported by the Kol Nashir B’Yachad fund, which was instituted to honor the memory of Asher Hashash, a beloved musician in the Seattle community and Husky alum. Asher brought joy and global Jewish music to the greater Seattle area for close to four decades and enlivened the lives of people of all ages. He cannot be replaced but we can cultivate his spirit in our community through developing song leaders who will share his same gusto with generations to come.
To donate in Asher’s memory to support future Jewish song in Seattle, you can make your donation here; in the “what inspired you to give” section please write, “in memory of Asher and to support Jewish song.” If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Anna Brown, Hillel UW’s Director of Advancement.
