Klezmer Music and Hanukkah Celebrations to be Held at The Atrium

Dec. 8, 2011 - PRLog -- From a Yiddish-based music history discussion to a traditional Hanukkah candle-lighting and prayer service, The Atrium at The Allendale Community for Mature Living is celebrating Jewish culture and traditions this December. The senior campus offers a full roster of religious, cultural, educational and social programs that are free and open to the general public.  

Learn about music theory and savor the traditional instruments and lyrics of centuries-old Klezmer music on Monday, Dec. 19th at 2 p.m. Guest speaker Norman Laster will provide an informative overview and demonstration of this Eastern European folk music.

Inspired by secular melodies and popular dances performed at joyful Jewish events, Klezmer music experienced a revival in the 1980s in the United States. The genre originated in the villages and ghettos of Eastern Europe in the early Middle Ages and has evolved over the years. Today, Klezmer music expresses a wide range of human emotions, from joy and despair to devotion and meditation.

The Klezmer music program will be followed by a holiday choir performance by the Solomon Schechter Day School of Bergen County on Thurs., Dec. 22 at 10:30 a.m. and a traditional Hanukkah candle-lighting ceremony and prayer service on, Fri., Dec. 23 at 2 p.m. Rabbi Gerald Friedman of Temple Beth Shalom of the Pascack Valley, who will lead the candle-lighting ceremony, encourages people of all faiths to join in the services.  

"Each of these programs, and others like them held throughout the year, allow attendees to gain a new historical and inter-faith perspective, especially during the holidays," said Mary Stampleman, ADC, Director of Therapeutic Recreation and Community Relations for The Atrium.

Other on-going "soulful" offerings at The Atrium include a weekly Bible study program, "Religion: Think and Talk" program, religious services, masses and holiday celebrations.

The Atrium at The Allendale Community for Mature Living is conveniently located with private driveway access off of Route 17 South at 85 Harreton Road in Allendale, N.J. Developed in stages beginning in 1967, The Allendale Community pioneered modern-day eldercare. Today, the campus includes three full-service senior residences that offer a continuum of care, should a resident's needs change: The Atrium, Carlton Court and The Allendale Nursing Home & Rehabilitation Center.

To pre-register for these events, or for more information about upcoming programs open to the public, please call Mary Stampleman at (201) 818-7979.

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About The Allendale Community for Mature Living: The Allendale Community for Mature Living is located on 12 acres in a scenic, quiet suburban neighborhood, with direct access to Route 17 South. The physician-owned Community offers three levels of residency and a continuum of care on campus: The Atrium, where independent seniors enjoy residential living; Carlton Court, which offers assisted living; and The Allendale Nursing Home & Rehabilitation Center, a skilled nursing facility focusing on rehabilitation. In addition, the Community offers the Senior Social Club, an adult day program that provides a variety of dynamic activities. For more information about The Allendale Community for Mature Living, call (201) 825-0660 or visit its web site at www.allendalecommunity.com.