If a serenade sounds like the perfect way to say happy Valentine's Day to that special someone, imagine a singing valentine by a rabbi and a reverend.
On Feb. 14, Rabbi Chava Bahle of Suttons Bay and the Rev. Robin Long, pastor of Suttons Bay's Congregational Church, will join to offer valentine duets in exchange for donations to their favorite charitable causes.
"I liked the alliteration," Long said, referring to the name of their group. "And I was looking for an excuse to work with Chava." The two have been friends for years. "She's definitely the lead," Long said of her friend. "I'll sing backup."
Billing themselves as the "hottest female clergy singing duo in Leelanau County," and no doubt the only one, they plan to visit individuals and couples to offer love serenades, with a twist -- their songs are drawn from religious sources.
"What we thought would make this unique and interesting was to choose songs that keep the focus on sacred love," Bahle said. Rather than romantic songs from the secular culture, the two decided to use music selections from the "Song of Songs."
"'Song of Songs' is a shared text between our two traditions, and in Judaism is considered the holiest of love songs, how we love God through the romantic love we share with other people," Bahle said.
The two have discussed doing something fun together for some time and held on to the singing valentine idea since last summer as a way to raise funds and to show others that gifts and talents come in many varieties.
"People think they have to serve on a church committee or as a church officer as ways to give time to their church. We hope to show them that they can serve their community and do things they love," Long said.
They also have selected several Willie Nelson tunes for their repertoire after realizing that lyrics from some of his best tunes would work perfectly, specifically the one that begins with, "I bless the day I found you." Technically it's a love song, but they agreed that it has that kind of elevated message that could be a reference to God.
The clergywomen said that the holiday is not recognized in Judaism, and special services for the holiday are not a part of the Congregational church's religious tradition, so they found that using the day to work for causes that are important to them and being together in community was an exciting proposition.
"What's better than to set aside a day in winter to think about warmth and love and joy," Bahle said.
Their special valentine messages will include a printed keepsake of the selected song passage as well as a chocolate kiss rose and they'll even snap a Polaroid photo of the event for the recipient.
"The idea of bringing joy to our spirituality is really important and helpful in a world that needs more mercy and a little more joy and harmony -- not that we intend to create any actual harmony," Bahle laughed
Bahle, the former rabbi of Traverse City's Congregation Ahavat Shalom, currently serves as director of Or Tzafon (Hebrew for Northern Light). She offers programming and classes in Jewish mysticism and meditation for people of all traditions.
Proceeds from their singing venture will go to support Or Tzafon and the missions program of the Suttons Bay Congregational Church that includes Leelanau Christian Neighbors, the Women's Resource Center and food, health and clean water programs throughout the United States and the world.
The two will travel throughout eastern Leelanau and northern Grand Traverse counties with their singing valentines. Phone serenades also are available.
To make a reservation for The Rabbi and The Reverend, call Suttons Bay Congregational Church. 271-6036.
Reach Gretchen Murray at gmurray@record-eagle.com
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