CONCERT TO CELEBRATE JEWISH SPIRIT.

Byline: Holly Andres Staff Writer

UNIVERSAL CITY - ``Think differently'' is the message behind a concert titled ``Hallelu: A Celebration of Jewish Spirit,'' scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Sunday at Universal Amphitheatre.

The concert is the kick-off event for Synagogue 2000, a nonprofit, national institute in the middle of a three-year program that aims to help clergy and lay leaders revitalize their synagogues into centers where God's presence is felt every day.

``We want to help bring a sense of spirit and spirituality to synagogues,'' said Ellen Franklin, managing director of Synagogue 2000 in Los Angeles. ``Meetings at synagogues, for example, usually don't have a sense of spirituality. We feel they should. We want the meetings and everything else that happens at synagogues to feel sacred.

``We want to remind our community of how much great stuff happens in synagogue life. We want to stimulate the depth and beauty of synagogue life.''

More than a year ago, Franklin and Ron Wolfson, the co-founder of Synagogue 2000, got together with Craig Taubman, a Studio City recording artist and record producer, to discuss ways to publicize Synagogue 2000's program to the Jewish community.

Taubman was involved in the discussion because he had produced the organization's first CD, ``Nefesh: Songs of the Soul,'' a collection of songs heard at Synagogue 2000 conferences.

``Let's put on a show!'' was Taubman's response, and the ``Hallelu'' concert idea was born.

``We need to open our minds and be willing to hear new things,'' Taubman said. ``People want warmer, more inviting synagogues. They're saying, we want something new. Not museums of what was, but laboratories for what can be.''

``One Shabbat Morning,'' held at Adat Ari El in Valley Village, is one example of thinking differently in structuring a synagogue service. Taubman, his band and cantor Ira Bigeleisen lead the energetic monthly service that consistently attracts an estimated 800 to 1,000 people to the Conservative synagogue.

Taubman, who co-created ``Friday Night Live'' at Sinai Temple in Los Angeles, said that these creative Shabbat services are ``symbolic of the extraordinary things going on in the Jewish community.''

``Hallelu,'' with performances by Theodore Bikel, Neshama Carlebach, Debbie Friedman, Danny Maseng, Alberto Mizrahi, Craig Taubman and others, will showcase the depth of diversity of Jewish music today.

``Jewish music can be Theodore Bikel or Rick Recht, or it can be Neshama Carlebach singing the songs of her father from the '60s. It can be cantors or it can be Alan Eder and Friends drumming Sufi music with African drums,'' said Taubman.

``My goal is for people to feel goose bumps. I want them to stand up and dance. I want them to go in with one mind-set and leave with another.''

Using a strategy of tickets sold through synagogues, the combination of big-name Jewish recording artists, dancers, cantors and synagogue participation has resulted in an almost sold-out show.

``The lineup is amazing, from contemporary to Alberto Mizrahi, who is one of the greatest cantors of this generation,'' said Cantor Caren Glasser of Temple Kol Tikvah in Woodland Hills. ``It's involving the cantors from the Valley and the rest of the city to celebrate Jewish spirit.''

Depending upon whom you talk to, Glasser said, the first thing that comes to mind about Jewish music is either the traditional liturgical melodies or songs by Debbie Friedman or her brother, Taubman.

``Jewish music is like a sponge. It isn't just one style or the other,'' Glasser said. ``Sunday is going to be very exciting. Hopefully, it's the first of many of concerts with Jewish performers here.''

``Hallelu: A Celebration of Jewish Spirit'' will be held at 4:30 p.m. Sunday. Limited supply of $20 tickets at the door. Universal Amphitheatre, 100 Universal Plaza, Universal City. Call Synagogue 2000 at [phone] or visit www.doyouhallelu.com

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Jewish recording artist Craig Taubman, left, and actor Theodore Bikel are among the scheduled performers at ``Hallelu: A Celebration of Jewish Spirit'' at the Universal Amphitheatre.

Charlotte Schmid-Maybach/Staff Photographer