On Friday, March 28, 2025, the Babylon Chorale had the honor of serving as the guest musical artist for the Shabbat service at Temple Am Echad in Lynbrook. This special evening of music and reflection brought together congregants and guests for a service that blended tradition with contemporary themes of environmental consciousness and community.
A highlight of the evening was the performance of Alex Berko’s Sacred Place, a profound and moving work that reimagines the structure of a Jewish service through an ecological lens. Scored for SATB choir, piano, violin, and cello, the six-movement composition weaves together texts from various writers and thinkers, expressing a vision of the natural world as a sanctuary—one that offers safety, comfort, and beauty. At times meditative and at times an impassioned plea for the preservation of our shared world, Sacred Place resonated deeply with those in attendance.
In addition to Sacred Place, the Babylon Chorale presented a diverse selection of sacred and secular works, featuring pieces by Ginsberg, Tsuruoka, Bock, Rossi, Forrest, and Friedman. Each piece contributed to the evening’s overarching theme of unity, spirituality, and the power of music to inspire and uplift.
The Babylon Chorale is proud to have been part of this meaningful Shabbat service, strengthening connections between music, faith, and community. This performance was a testament to the Chorale’s ongoing commitment to bringing exceptional choral music to audiences across Long Island and beyond.