Jazz in our Synagogue? Absolutely!
On May 3, 2025, TBIPS launched its first-ever concert series, Rhythm Rendezvous, with a sold-out performance by the Greg Abate Quintet. It was an unforgettable night — not just of music, but of meaning.
But what does jazz have to do with this historic synagogue?
This landmark building, proudly listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was shaped by extraordinary people: Holocaust survivors, partisan resistance fighters, American GIs, and local business leaders. After the horrors of World War II, these immigrants came to a quiet town in rural Connecticut seeking refuge. They had lost families, homes, and the simple right to live without fear.
And yet, here — in this sacred space — they found safety. They found the freedom to heal, to rebuild, and to dream again. Welcomed by the Christian community around them, they became part of a new American story — one woven from resilience, hope, and shared humanity.
We’ve often said that this building tells a story — a story of America at its best. The jazz concert on May 3 was a living celebration of that story and of the values that continue to define us as a community and a nation.
Jazz is, after all, quintessentially American. Born at the intersection of cultures, shaped by both suffering and joy, jazz is the sound of freedom — creative, bold, and defiantly beautiful.
As critic Nat Hentoff once said, “Jazz and freedom go hand in hand.” Leonard Bernstein called it “the ultimate common denominator of the American musical style.”
It’s no coincidence that the Nazis banned jazz. They feared its roots in African American culture, its ties to Jewish innovation, and above all, its spirit — one that champions improvisation, individuality, and resistance to control.
In many ways, the spirit of jazz is the spirit of liberty itself.
The story of this building — and of those who built it — is one of resilience, renewal, and the enduring promise of America. That’s what we celebrated on May 3, and it’s a story worth telling, again and again.
But what does jazz have to do with this historic synagogue?
This landmark building, proudly listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was shaped by extraordinary people: Holocaust survivors, partisan resistance fighters, American GIs, and local business leaders. After the horrors of World War II, these immigrants came to a quiet town in rural Connecticut seeking refuge. They had lost families, homes, and the simple right to live without fear.
And yet, here — in this sacred space — they found safety. They found the freedom to heal, to rebuild, and to dream again. Welcomed by the Christian community around them, they became part of a new American story — one woven from resilience, hope, and shared humanity.
We’ve often said that this building tells a story — a story of America at its best. The jazz concert on May 3 was a living celebration of that story and of the values that continue to define us as a community and a nation.
Jazz is, after all, quintessentially American. Born at the intersection of cultures, shaped by both suffering and joy, jazz is the sound of freedom — creative, bold, and defiantly beautiful.
As critic Nat Hentoff once said, “Jazz and freedom go hand in hand.” Leonard Bernstein called it “the ultimate common denominator of the American musical style.”
It’s no coincidence that the Nazis banned jazz. They feared its roots in African American culture, its ties to Jewish innovation, and above all, its spirit — one that champions improvisation, individuality, and resistance to control.
In many ways, the spirit of jazz is the spirit of liberty itself.
The story of this building — and of those who built it — is one of resilience, renewal, and the enduring promise of America. That’s what we celebrated on May 3, and it’s a story worth telling, again and again.
America250 Connecticut Commission meeting
We are a proud affiliate of the America250 Connecticut Commission! Stay tuned for more details about the upcoming conference.
