About Shabbat Resouled

Shabbat Resouled – The Service: is a Musical Friday Night Service held at Finchley Progressive Synagogue.  It began with a conversation in November 2006 between Rabbi Neil Janes and a few members of Finchley Progressive Synagogue about how to bring a new spirit (ruach) to Friday night services at the Synagogue.  The first service was held in April 2007.  Gradually it has evolved into a service attended by at least 150 people each month (of all ages) and with a band of 15 musicians, including: acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass, keyboard, flute, clarinet, percussion and drums, mandolin, banjo, harmonica and the occasional trombone.  Shabbat Resouled has already visited Zurich, Adelaide, Birmingham, Woodford Liberal Synagogue, Manchester Limmud and Limmud Winter Conference and the music is used in some communities in the USA.

Shabbat Resouled – The Musical Project: has evolved out of the highly successful eponymous Kabbalat Shabbat service held on the third Friday of each month at the FINCHLEY PROGRESSIVE SYNAGOGUE in North London, which has been attended by over a thousand people since its inception in April 2007. With new music composed by DEAN STAKER (9½ Incas, Asylum Nation) and performed by a live band of talented musicians. Whilst acknowledging the contribution of the pioneers of Jewish contemporary music such as JEFF KLEPPER and DAN FREEDLANDER (KOL B’SEDER), DEBBIE FRIEDMAN, SAFAM and CRAIG TAUBMAN, SHABBAT RESOULED takes its inspiration from mainstream British artists such as THE BEATLES, CAT STEVENS, PINK FLOYD, THE MOODY BLUES and JETHRO TULL, giving the project a ‘British’ feel and establishing the ‘Anglo-Jewish sound’! With a full-length album scheduled for completion in 2010 and a burning ambition to take the project beyond British shores, Dean is currently working on new songs, demo versions of which are featured on this website. The band is also available to perform for services at synagogues throughout the UK – please contact us for details (rabbi@fps.org).