A Bunch of Guys Sitting Around Singing

When I was on Kibbutz in 1995, we used to play a lot of basketball during the off-hours. Due to the rather high temperatures (often cooling down to around 35 degrees in the evenings), we stopped inviting each other to play ball. We just asked the other if he would like to run around and get sweaty with a bunch of guys. But that's not what I wanted to talk about today.

I remember sitting on a Shabbat afternoon with about 10 or 15 other people (at that time we were probably 19 or 20 year-olds). We were having lunch during our self-organised Shabbaton. It wasn't arranged by any particular organisation, just a bunch of friends who wanted to spend Shabbat together. I recall thinking to myself that I didn't know of any other group of 19 or 20 year-olds who would willingly give up a sunny Saturday afternoon to eat a formal meal together and sit around singing songs.

Tonight I went to a Motzei Shabbat kumzitz. The word kumzitz is Yiddish for "come-sit", in our case referring to a "sing-along"around the camp-fire. However for us it was without the camp-fire...indoors...no marshmallows. There were only about six of us, including one on the guitar and the other on a keyboard. It was really quite enjoyable - just a bunch of guys sitting around singing.

Actually, I often go to these singing evenings, but without the musical accompaniment. Often on a Friday night a particular person (who happens to have a very pleasant voice) from shule has an "oneg Shabbos" - basically, a bunch of guys sitting around singing. Surprisingly, its fun. You wouldn't really think so, but sitting in a room with a bunch of guys singing is not only a cheap form of entertainment, but it is good, wholesome fun (and you don't sweat like we did playing basketball, well, not usually). What makes it even more fun is that since you are a bunch of guys sitting around singing, if you don't know the words, or are just learning the tune (and you are quiet enough(!)), you can sort of fake it by hiding behind the other voices. That way you get the benefits of singing in the shower (ie: singing as off key, out of time and the wrong words without anyone giving you dirty looks) without getting wet.

During the course of the evening, there was some discussion about the origin of a particular tune - was it composed by a 17th century Chazzan in Portugal, or was it composed by Shlomo Carlebach? The discussion ended when one of the guys said, "It's a London Pirchei tune. One of the early ones." (London Pirchei being the name of the choir). I was astounded. He said it so authoritatively that nobody argued. Of course, if it is a London Pirchei tune, who can argue? And even if you are familiar with London Pirchei, what are the chances that you know all of the tunes, especially the early ones? I liked the answer so much, I'm going to use it myself. Next time someone says, "Is that an Elton John song?" I'll simply reply, "No. It's London Pirchei. One of the early ones". I'm sure it will floor them all, as long as I can keep a straight face.