Choir Music Program
Larry, Janessa, Jan, Bonnie, Linda, Susan, Barbara, Keith, Lisa, Dan, Leona, Ben
A distinct pride of B’nai Israel is our music program, under the direction of Leona Schwartz.
MAKHELA is a group of committed adult performers who have a calling for spiritual music. Our choir prepares a wide range of music, accompanied or a cappella, including classical, contemporary, or jazz styles. Many of the pieces performed have been written by composers within our congregation who are intimately aware of our choir’s strengths. Within Makhela choir members do not need to read music but they need to commit to learning their individual parts via technical tools.
BIMA TEAM A multi-aged, talented group of singers who help Rabbi Eric lead services. Each musician shares his/her talents and beloved musical styles to create an inspiring range of services. Be they mature adults or B’nai Mitzvah age, Bima Team soloists create a special vibe within our worship.
RUACH 'N ROLL is a spirited group of accomplished teens who share their upbeat, contemporary music for some very lively Shabbat services.
HIGH HOLY DAYS ORCHESTRA
B’nai Israel's wind ensemble. An outstanding group of musicians comprised of flute, oboe, clarinet, and bassoon, who create a haunting and intimate sound. These committed individuals provide an inspiring backdrop to our High Holy Days services as well as other special services throughout the year.
Mahkela Choir Bio's
Leona's parents were both in the arts, which gave her great exposure to theater and music. She studied music (piano and guitar), voice and dance for many years. In 2009, Leona received her certification in choral conducting, from Sweet Adeline's International, the worldwide women's barbershop harmony organization. She and her husband Allen moved to Connecticut in 2016 and joined B'nai Israel that year. She has been with the B'nai Israel choir Mahkela since then, learning the music under Linda Goodman's leadership and bonding with the choir members. In the past six months, she served as one of the music leaders, alongside Rabbi Polokoff, at Shabbat services. Leona's parents were both in the arts, which gave her great exposure to theater and music. She studied music (piano and guitar), voice and dance for many years. In 2009, Leona received her certification in choral conducting, from Sweet Adeline's International, the worldwide women's barbershop harmony organization. She and her husband Allen moved to Connecticut in 2016 and joined B'nai Israel that year. She has been with the B'nai Israel choir Mahkela since then, learning the music under Linda Goodman's leadership and bonding with the choir members. In the past six months, she served as one of the music leaders, alongside Rabbi Polokoff, at Shabbat services.
Leona Schwartz, Director
Linda Goodman, Director Emerita
Linda co-leads services and participates in lifecycle events, teaches students Jewish music, and is a pastoral presence within our congregational family. In her current position for a dozen years, her music and vision is grounded in inclusiveness and celebrates community and spiritual connection. Linda also coordinates our highly successful Mitzvah Garden. Linda’s husband Dan is likewise dedicated to our congregation and promoting Jewish life.
Barbara is a retired Senior Vice President of Learning Dynamics, a management consulting firm in Wallingford. Previous to that, she was the Director of Human Resources for People’s Bank. Early in her career, she was a special education teacher in New York City. Barbara graduated from Skidmore College with B.A, in Education and from Columbia University with an M.S, in Special Education. She did post graduate work in Human Resources at Fairfield University. She has been involved in many organizations and commissions including but not limited to Newtown Legislative Council, Newtown Library Board (President), Danbury Child Advocacy Center (President), League of Women Voters, Arts Escape, former President, board member, Society for Creative Arts, Docent, Mattatuck Museum, Choir member, Makela,
B'nai Israel, also member of Caring committee and Traurig Scholarship committee.
Barbara Phillips
Dan Goodman
Originally from New Jersey, Dan graduated from Cornell University
Larry grew up in New Jersey, and fell in love with Connecticut while completing his Masters at Uconn.
He worked as a Recreation Therapist, ran summer camps for the Scouts, served in numerous creative positions at several community colleges and Central Connecticut State University. He earned a Doctorate from UConn and retired after 33 years as Dean of Community and Economic Development, Emeritus.
He served as a cantorial soloist, a member of the choir, and volunteers at the Mitzvah Garden. His volunteer roles at Flanders Nature Center and Land Trust in Woodbury include Vice President of the Board, Chair of the Grants Committee, Development Committee member, and membership on numerous subcommittees and task groups. Larry has diverse interests and activities including: indoor and outdoor gardening; different genres of woodcarving and woodworking; diverse musical interests; reading; action movies; and, cooking.
Larry Smotroff
Lisa Segal
Lisa is reprising her role as B'nai Israel Board of Trustees
Secretary after serving as president for an unprecedented 3 year term (2018-2021). In her free time Lisa enjoys spending time with her family, Scott, Em and Matthew, traveling, reading, walking and going to the dog park with Ruby and Pippa.
"It is an honor to continue serving our amazing congregation while also acting as a lay cantorial soloist in our Makhela and Ritual Committee Chair."
Margi grew up in Long Beach, NY and Michael in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia. They moved to the area from Toronto and have been members of B’nai Israel since its beginning. Margi is a former board member and currently active on several committees including Traurig Scholarship, Music, Pulpit, and Ritual. Michael is a former Federation board member and serves on B’nai Israel Endowment and Israel Advocacy committees. Margi is a retired school psychologist, working with children with learning and behavioral issues. Michael is a retired Orthopedic Surgeon who practiced in the Waterbury area with a special interest in Joint Replacement and arthroscopic surgery. They both have always had a great love of music and participated for many years in our High Holy Day and Shabbat services, Michael singing bass in Makhela and Margi playing her flute. They feel fortunate to have their children living fairly nearby, with David’s family in Mt Kisco, NY and Becky’s in Darien, CT. They spend much of their time these days with their four adorable grandchildren.
Margi and Michael Sermer
Susan Pinskey Bleeks
Susan was born in Philadelphia, but grew up in Montreal, Canada. Going to Jewish summer camp in the Laurentian Mountains every summer was an event she greatly looked forward to and was one of the most profound influences in her life. During high school, she longed to sing in the choir, but her mother said "Jewish girls play an instrument". So as the obedient, dutiful first born, she spent the next 4 years as a very average flute player. She graduated from McGill University, and then achieved a Masters degree in Education from Southern Connecticut State University. She was a teacher and a principal at Westville Community Nursery School in New Haven, the Solomon Schecter Day School in Woodbridge, Temple Emanuel in Orange and was hired in 2011 to become Education Director at Bnai Israel Southbury. Being able to join the choir , thanks to Linda's encouragement, was the fulfillment of an almost 50 year dream. She has also been the Lay Cantorial Soloist at Bnei Mitzvah ceremonies at Temple Emanuel for the past 30 years.
Ben is a dedicated Zionist with a deep love for Jewish life and Israel. Since joining B'nai Israel after October 7, he’s been active in Israel advocacy and has volunteered with the IDF through SAR-EL. An avid adventurer, Ben enjoys aviation, SCUBA diving, kite-surfing, and spending time outdoors. He brings his passion for Jewish culture to life by playing Jewish music on the violin. Professionally, Ben works as a Systems Engineer in the nuclear power industry.
Ben Kugielsky
Jodi Maxner
Jodi moved to Southbury from Stamford with her husband David and their adorable dog, Buddy. She works part-time as a Volunteer Internship Coordinator in Westchester and is a church soloist at a Christian Science Church. An avid volunteer, she is looking for more opportunities now that she is learning the lay of the land here in Southbury. Singing is her passion. She continues performing with the Heritage Singers, the Waterbury Chorale as well as our Temple choir and in the summer The Newbury Musical Theater Company. She has also performed in many operas since the 1990’s and was part of the CGO & O resident chorus in Stamford.
Jan is our keyboard accompanist and has a BS and MS in music education from Western Connecticut University where she was a voice major; a certificate in church music including choral conducting from Garrett Evangelical Seminary in Evanston, Illinois; and an MA in Women, Religion and Spirituality from Hartford Seminary. She started piano lessons at the age of five and as a college student she studied organ with Jesse Walker. Jan's wife Bonnie also joined the choir after retiring after almost 40 years as a United Church of Christ minister. She is grateful to be so warmly welcomed not only to a singing group but also to a worshiping community.
Jan Gregory and Bonnie Bardot
Lindsey Noble
Lindsey began engaging with our congregation and community far more recently, albeit also with great enthusiasm and commitment. Lindsey is the former President of The Jewish Center, LLC, and an active Choir member, Ritual Committee member, Adult Education student, and participant in our Kulanu Initiative to Fight Antisemitism, and co-creator of our “Back to Brooklyn” Klezmer concert. She is now our office coordinator, working closely with Abby and Rabbi Eric to keep our community running smoothly and efficiently
Keith has lived in Southbury for over 45 years. Married to Sherie for 40 years, they raised two children through Region 15 schools and enjoy retired life and each other’s company. He has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Bucknell University and pursued a career in environmental engineering, designing facilities and guiding construction contractors at several sites within the US. He moved into project management, designing, proving and installing industrial robotic work centers for customers in a variety of industries around the US. Then I turned to facilities management at Yale University which focused my activities to one local campus and sustained my interests through to retirement. I’ve enjoyed singing in choral settings since my youth and have been a member of several religious and community choruses throughout the years. He sang with a small choir for the annual Holocaust commemorative service at the State House in Hartford. He continues to be inspired by a body of beautiful, sacred music and is honored to sing with Mahkela
and to be part of this warm and welcoming congregation
here at B’nai Isreal.
Keith Roberts