Gili Houpt has flown the coup

Rabbi Gili Houpt leading his farewell kumsitz in Central Park, Sunday afternoon, June 24, 2007. Photo by the Punster.

From an e-mail received June 22, 2007 from Rabbi Gili Houpt:

"After many great years living in Manhattan, my wife Chaya and I are moving across the Hudson to Passaic, NJ. I started this music list back in the summer of 1999 to inform a few friends of a kumsitz I was organizing in Central Park. Since then I've publicized thousands of concerts for hundreds of Jewish musicians, and the subscriber list has grown to well over 3,000 people!

I'm planning some music events for our last weekend in the city: Carlebach davening tonight, tomorrow night musical havdala and melave malka, and Sunday farewell kumsitz in the Park (see below for full info). Hope to see you before we move!"

It was a pleasure to spend some time yesterday afternoon in Central Park singing and, in my case, alternating between dancing and attempting to play harmony on the recorder (baroque flute) with Gili and the gang. Steve Miller was there on guitar, along with Stephanie on violin and Jonathan Zimet on flute. Steve will be taking over the kumsitz--the next one is scheduled for the Sunday after Tisha B'Av.

Best wishes to Gili and Chaya.

And we selfishly hope that Gili will be able to continued to send his Jewish music e-mails:

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NYCJewishMusic-subscribe@yahoogroups.com