Gimbel, and instrumentalists (Photo: Sherrie Rose)
By Sherrie Rose in San Diego
Nusach San Diego was an ambitious, entertaining, and deeply personal exploration of what Jewish prayer sounds like when it takes root in Southern California. Nusach is the combination of Jewish prayer words and the melodies used to sing them in the synagogue.
Featuring Rabbi/Cantor Jeremy Gimbel, Heidi Gantwerk (President & CEO of the Jewish Federation of San Diego), Becca Myers (Jfest Managing Director) and her brother Danny Myers, plus Tasha Koontz, Billy Tiep, and an ensemble of more than 20 local artists, the production balanced musical excellence with warmth, humor, and genuine community spirit. The performance was held at Congregation Beth Israel on Thursday evening, June 18.
Personally, I have long held the belief that music is confirmation that God exists. Thursday night’s Nusach reinforced that belief.
Becca Myers transformed Jeremy Gimbel’s scholarly thesis into a lively musical journey, tracing the evolution of Jewish sacred music while educating and celebrating the diverse cultural influences that make San Diego unique.
Part concert, part cabaret, and part cultural storytelling, the evening moved effortlessly across centuries and genres. Gimbel and his ensemble drew connections between the liturgical works of Max Janowski, Louis Lewandowski, Max Helfman, Pinchas Spiro, and Adolph Katchko and the broader currents of popular music that have shaped American and Jewish musical life. Along the way, audiences encountered echoes of Leonard Bernstein, Woody Guthrie, Jerry Bock, and Debbie Friedman, discovering how sacred and secular traditions continually influence one another.
What made the program especially engaging was its willingness to venture beyond expected boundaries. The commentary was informative without becoming academic, offering just enough context to illuminate the surprising connections unfolding on stage.
One moment featured references to the harmonies of Simon & Garfunkel; another evoked the surf-rock energy of Dick Dale and the Del-Tones. Local and regional influences were equally present, including the sounds of Kumeyaay tradition and the rhythms of Baja California, represented through music associated with Isidro Renteria y sus Aduanales. The result was a musical portrait that felt unmistakably rooted in San Diego.
Several moments stood out as audience favorites. A beautifully rendered Sabbath Prayer, sung to the familiar melody from Fiddler on the Roof, highlighted the program’s playful yet reverent approach to musical reinterpretation. Danny Myers’ stirring shofar blowing brought an ancient voice into conversation with the evening’s contemporary sounds.
Perhaps the evening’s most moving sequence centered on the enduring legacy of Jewish songwriters in American culture. The inclusion of Yip Harburg and Harold Arlen’s Over the Rainbow with a touching rendition of Israel Kamakawiwoʻole’s Hawaiian style offered another reminder of how melodies travel, evolve, and find new homes.
The evening culminated in a spectacular mash-up that brought together themes, melodies, and traditions from throughout the program. What could have felt like a collage instead became a celebration—a joyful musical convergence that left the audience with a renewed appreciation for both the history of Jewish prayer and the distinctive cultural landscape of San Diego.
Becca had the grace to thank all involved by first name: performers, choir, stage crew, director, manager, behind the scenes team, ushers, and the host, Beth Israel.
Nusach San Diego succeeded because it allowed the music to transcend boundaries while remaining deeply connected to its origins. It demonstrated that sacred music remains a living conversation, continually shaped by the people and places that embrace it. The result was a performance that was educational, entertaining, and profoundly uplifting.
The experience filed my heart with love. The music and voices lifted my soul to the heavens.
San Diego Jewish Arts Festival (JFest) runs until July 14.
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Sherrie Rose is an author and masterwork advisor integrating digital legacy with future vision and AI.