Come celebrate Chanukah and be inspired by these cutting-edge musicians from Jerusalem in a special free Chanukah concert with our friends at the Woodstock Jewish Congregation!

Gifted Israeli musicians Daphna Rosenberg and Yoel Sykes play original and traditional Jewish music that energizes and excites their audiences. The ensemble grew out of the shared experience of leading musical prayers at Nava Tehila, a thriving Jewish Renewal community in Jerusalem. Over the past several years they have performed in Israel and throughout the world, in concerts, festivals, conferences and private events. They will be joined by Shir Yaakov on percussion!

Rabbi Jonathan will begin the evening leading us in Chanukah candle lighting — bring your menorahs! — and then in the candlelight, our guests will take us on an inspiring musical journey to celebrate the Festival of Lights. Light refreshments after the concert.

The evening is free and open to all - your donations are welcome, and help us continue to bring quality programs to the WJC!

Daphna Rosenberg – Vocals and Guitar

After traveling the world for many years as a wandering troubadour, Daphna returned to Israel and reconnected to her Jewish roots through music. Daphna composes music to prayers and Israeli poetry and is a main prayer leader in the Nava Tehila Jewish Renewal community in Jerusalem. Daphna has specialized in musically leading Circle of Life ceremonies – such as births, Bar/Bat mitzvas, and weddings. In her music one can hear the influence of folk and rock with a touch of Klezmer. Daphna is active in the area of spiritual care for the ill, in creating heart-to-heart connections between people and in dialogue circles between Israelis and Palestinians. Her compositions to prayers have become popular in communities throughout the world.

Yoel Sykes – Vocals and Guitar

Yoel studied flamenco guitar at the Center for Eastern Music in Jerusalem, and at the Carmen de las Cuevas School in Granada. He is a prayer leader at Nava Tehila community. He has composed tens of melodies to prayers, ranging from simple chants to complex musical pieces. Some of these can be heard on the Nava Tehila album Dancing in the Glory, and on the second album that is currently in production. Yoel's music shows the influence of rock and blues, reggae and flamenco, Arabic, Moroccan and African music. He is a master of improvisation and an extraordinary vocal soloist, as well as a talented leader of spiritual prayer circles.