New Jewish Hospice Singing Group

Shirei Nechama (songs of comfort) is a new, volunteer Boulder County music group whose mission is to bring Jewish music into hospice settings in homes, hospice centers, and senior care facilities — Our goal is to provide comfort to Jewish patients and their families through song and music. This volunteer trio includes Kim Korevaar (vocals), Linda Salvay (guitar and vocals), and Jackie Seltzer (mandolin and vocals). We are preparing repertoire that includes liturgical, oldies (“Bei Mir”, for example), and contemporary beautiful Jewish works. We can be reached at kimrkorevaar@gmail.com.

Kim’s personal calling that drew her toward this sacred work:

What I discovered through the deaths of my grandma and parents was the power that music had for both them and me. Music is healing for those who are passing and those who are grieving. Music is a language that remains when conventional speech is no longer possible. My mother, who had stopped speaking due to Parkinson’s and Lewy Body Dementia, immediately started singing all the words to “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning” when my husband played the introduction. It was astounding. The last thing to go in a brain is hearing because music lives in a different part, unaffected by coma or dementia. 

Shirei Nechama hopes to provide to that part a final, sweet musical connection.