Whether it's before the closing the gates of repentance at the end of Yom Kippur, or after we have completed the work of atonement, in the words of the classic Yiddish vaudeville song by Aaron Lebedef brought up to date by Yiddish singer/songwriter Yosl Kurland, everyone needs to be a shtikl mentsh- at least to some small extent, a decent person. Yosl, accompanied by Accordionist Aaron Bousel, will present a program of songs in Yiddish, Hebrew and English to prepare for the High Holy Days. Translations and explanations for all songs in Yiddish and Hebrew will be provided.

Yosl and Aaron will take us on a musical journey of laughter and tears, satire, seriousness and celebration to put us in the frame of mind for the Days of Awe ahead. Included in the program are a skit about three candidates for the position of High Holy Day Cantor trying out before a synagogue search committee, the story of a poor family who squander the blessings brought by Elijah the Prophet, a vaudeville song about a Synagogue financial appeal, a modern interpretation of Who by Fire (B'rosh Hashono) and a heartfelt Yiddish song from Hungary reassuring us that God hears our prayers and will redeem us.

Vocalist, educator, and composer Yosl Kurland, a founding member of the Wholesale Klezmer Band (www.ganeydn.com) since 1982, performs and writes Yiddish songs and synagogue music. He founded the Wholesale Klezmer Band in 1982. He teaches adult education classes and workshops on Yiddish language and literature as well as klezmer music and has been a cantor for Temple Israel of Greenfield, Temple Israel of Athol and a guest cantor at synagogues around the country. Yosl's songs were twice selected for the Shalshelet International Festival of New Jewish Liturgical Music.

Wholesale Klezmer Band accordionistAaron Bousel began playing the instrument at age ten, though it wasn't until 1995 that he began to play klezmer. He has participated in workshops at KlezKanada in Quebec and Yidstock at the Yiddish Book Center in Amherst. Soon after moving to Amherst in 1997 he became accordionist for the band Hu Tsa Tsa with which he has played for life-cycle celebrations and local synagogue functions. He is also accordionist for the Yiddishkeit Klezmer ensemble and has accompanied Mak'hela, the Jewish chorus of western Massachusetts.