Cantor Hits Electronic Note

Jewish Exponent
March 6, 2013
by Bryan Schwartzman
Cantor Jordan Franzel of Congregation Or Ami, a Reform synagogue in Layfayatte Hill, has started a family tradition: Every time one of his nieces or nephews becomes a Bar or Bat Mitzvah, he sets a piece of Jewish liturgy to original music and performs the song as part of the ceremony. (Read more)

Worship service for body and soul

Yoga Shalom combines ancient traditions
Winnipeg Free Press
By: Sharon Chisvin

Reform Judaism, as its name implies, is founded on the belief that Judaism must constantly evolve, adapt and reform in order to remain viable and survive in an ever-changing world. (Read more)

In Cedar Park, two religious communities share building, Hannukah

by ACC Member Rabbi-Cantor Marie Betcher
A religious center in Cedar Park is home to two unique but compatible congregations. The signs outside says “Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Church” and “Congregation Shir Ami.” A banner on the the side of the building proclaims “Standing on the Side of Love.” Read more in thestatesman.com.

The Cantor Of Cabaret

Rebecca Joy Fletcher is a messenger of the lost world of European Jewish cabaret. Read more from The Jewish Week.

AMSHI's 40@40 "alumni

ACC Member, Cantor Devorah Felder-Levy, has been chosen as one of Alexendar Muss High School in Israel's featured alumni in their special "40 @40" publication. Click here to see the bios of the alumni.

Convert-cantor’s journey takes her from Israel to Utah

By Lisa Schencker, The Salt Lake Tribune

First Published Sep 14 2012 02:37 pm • Last Updated Sep 15 2012 09:33 am

The story of Tamar, in the Hebrew Bible, isn’t exactly wholesome.
 
The Genesis heroine disguised herself as a prostitute to trick her father-in-law, Judah, into sleeping with her. She did it because he refused to fulfill his obligation to wed her to his youngest son after the deaths of his two oldest ones. She became pregnant with her father-in-law’s children, including one of King David’s ancestors. (Read More)

Back at the ‘beach,’ cantor savors return to pulpit

by Andrew Wingens

Marnie Camhi has gone “back to the beach,” returning to a new role as cantor at Temple Beth Miriam in seaside Elberon after a year-long break following the birth of her daughter. (Read more)

New Cantor Embraces Position's Changing Role

When Cantor Rebecca Moses began her tenure at Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel on July 3, it marked the first change in musical leadership for the congregation since Ted Aronson, now cantor emeritus, began his career there 45 years ago. (Continue reading here.)

Local cantors among the first to be ‘ordained’

Pair welcome change in terminology adopted by Reform seminary

by Elaine Durbach
NJJN Staff Writer

June 27, 2012
Two cantors — one who has worked in the Central community and one new to it — are among the first group of Reform Jewish cantors to be ordained, rather than invested. (Read more)

Change is Inevitable; Growth is Optional

May 23, 2012
by Cantor Susan Caro

While I did not grow up with a female cantor at my congregation, I was fortunate spend many summers at our URJ camps, both as a camper and as a staff member and songleader. It is there that the spark of Jewish music was ignited for me, and where I found numerous female voices bringing new expression to the words and music of our tradition. They were cantorial students and rabbinic students, songleaders and teachers, all of whom encouraged me to find my own way in the Jewish world. My heart has always been touched through music and the arts. Read more.
 

Cantor Angela Warnick Buchdahl - the face of the modern Jew

People enter every encounter with preconceived notions and prejudices. To the majority of people, Angela Warnick Buchdahl does not look Jewish, but as she explains, "just being who I am forces people to alter their perceptions." Angela Warnick Buchdahl, though born in Seoul, Korea, is not only an Ashkenazi Jew but she is also the first Asian American to complete the Hebrew Union College rabbinic programme and cantorial programme.She now serves as the Cantor of Central Synagogue in New York. Read more.

An Imperfect Leader

By Cantor Lauren Bandman
When was the last time you said to yourself, “I’m so glad I made that mistake”? As human beings, we tend to have a healthy fear of making an error, especially in front of our friends, peers and colleagues. This worry is ageless and classless. Fear of failure is an equal opportunity anxiety.
Read the entire bulletin article here (page 2)

Not All Cantors Raise Super Jewish Kids

By Cantor Rosalie Boxt
Since I’m a cantor, many people assume that my kids will be “Super Jews.” I’m not so sure about that. Read the entire blog here.
 

Jewish Cantor is Secret Weapon for Jesuit School's Winning Basketball

TeamFordham hoops fans are singing the praises of a Bronx cantor after his stirring renditions of the National Anthem preceded three straight home wins for the Jesuit university. (Read more here.)

At Jesuit School, a Pre-game Assist From a Jewish Singer

If you're hoping for a talisman to improve your team's chances of victory, why not make it a man with a tallis? (Read more here.)

Cantor Riselle Bain to share ‘Joy of Jewish Music’ during celebration of Beth Israel’s silver anniversary

Cantor Riselle Bain Cantor Riselle Bain of Congregation Schaarai Zedek in Tampa will be the Scholar in Residence at Congregation Beth Israel in Sun City Center for the weekend of March 23-25 as Beth Israel celebrates its 25th anniversary. (Read more)

Cantor Tracey Scher: Parsha Tetzaveh - Illumining our Souls

In the opening verse from this week's Torah portion, Tetzaveh, God tells Moses to receive from the Children of Israel clear oil of beaten olives for lighting continually; to feed the "everlasting flame" of the menorah, which Aaron is to kindle each day, "from evening till morning." (Ch.27:20-21) Read more.

Cantor Miriam Eskenasy performs during the KAMII Concert

The concert, honoring long-time music director Max Janowski, took place on Sunday, January 29, 2012. Read more and see the photo here.

Cantor Rosalie Boxt Kesher Shir Washington DC ConnectGens 2012 Fellow

My venture is "Kesher Shir" (Connection Through Song), bringing together
Jewish musicians from a variety of backgrounds and stages in their work,
to study, compose, build relationships, and challenge the status quo, both
their own and the community's, in order to foster lasting musical change in communal prayer. Read more.

Cantor Lisa Levine is getting the spirit in shape

Lisa Levine puts the om in shalom. The Olney cantor and yoga practitioner is the creator of Yoga Shalom, introducing a new way for Jews to pray using both body and soul. Read more here.

Katchko donates artifacts to Museum

Debbie Katchko-Gray reports that her archives and those of her grandfather and the Women Cantors Network are now part of the new National Museum of American Jewish History. Two items are now in the permanent collection, and more cantorial items will be displayed in years to come. "I hope it is the beginning of more cantorial stories to be told in the wonderful museum in Philadelphia," commented Katchko-Gray. Read more.

Congregation Beth Israel in Houston honors Cantor Robert Gerber for 28 years of service

When Robert Gerber became the first full-time cantor at the Congregation Beth Israel 28 years ago, he set out to restore some old-fashioned rituals of the Jewish faith.

Cantors Michael Davis, Pavel Roytman, Kim Harris, Ross Wolman, Lynda Dresher and more lead the Holocaust Memorial Ceremony at the Holocaust Museum in Skokie, IL

Several survivors of the Holocaust, who were children at the time of Nazi power, opened a week of Yom HaShoah commemoration by lighting six white candles at the Illinois Holocaust Museum in Skokie on Sunday.
The crowd of some 200 was told that while each candle represented one million Jews who were murdered by the Nazis and their collaborators,

Cantor Miriam Eskenasy interviewed on the radio about how/why she chose to be a Cantor, about the first female Cantors and more

Recently, host Alison Cuddy attended a memorial for someone she considered a friend and mentor. The occasion was sad but as she listened to the service she was moved and intrigued by one of the voices. That voice belonged to Miriam Eskenasy.

Cantor Michael Davis (ACC Social Action Committee) writes about attending Chicago Hyatt's union workers' negotiations on behalf of the ACC  

At a time when collective bargaining is under threat, the workers of Hyatt hotels in Chicago invited clergy to observe their negotiations with management in February. I was honored to attend the negotiations

Cantor Sheldon Merel Releases his second CD "Chants of a Lifetime from Synagogue to Opera"

Cantor Sheldon Merel (HUC-JIR/NY ’52) recently released his second CD, Chants of a Lifetime from Synagogue to Opera, including classical Shabbat and High Holy Day liturgical music, a song by Rabbi Levi Yitzchok (sung in Yiddish) about his 19th century controversy with God

Cantor Angela Warnick Buchdahl is interviewed in honor of National Women's month

Singing in Hebrew is second nature for Angela Warnick Buchdahl. This summer will mark her fifth year as the senior cantor at Central Synagogue on the East Side. It is a long way from home for this daughter of a Jewish-American father and Korean Buddhist mother.

Cantor Ellen Tilem's Congregation is hosting the Regional annual Adult Choir Festival in Teaneck, NJ   

When the recession forced the Union for Reform Judaism to streamline its organizational structure several years ago, the annual adult choir festival sponsored by the New Jersey–West Hudson Valley region was thrown into jeopardy.

A congregant of Cantor Julie Yugend-Green interviewed for her volunteering spirit and for studying for her Bat Mitzvah (with Cantor Yugend-Green) at age 85...  

February 25, 2011 (WLS) -- You can't help but smile when you meet Madeline Kochman. Her warmth, kindness and wry sense of humor really stand out, but at 88, it's the incredible amount of volunteer work she does that is so impressive. "I just feel that I do it from the heart, I can't help it," Kochman said.

An interview with Cantor Rosalie Boxt

Cantor Rosalie Boxt of Temple Emanuel in Kensington, MD talks to Let My People Grow about her experience as both a cantor and professional song leader in helping people find meaningful worship, and connection to one another through Jewish music, as well as trends in Jewish music today...

February 10, 2011 - Cantor Deborah Jacobson speaks at Capitol Hill Event

Government Leaders, Senior Policy Makers, Domestic Violence Experts discuss most effective ways to stop dating violence among  Middle School youth at Capitol Hill Event 

Cantors Riselle Bain and Deborah Jacobson and the Bay Area Cantorial Association perform in Venice, FL.

The Bay Area Cantorial Association will celebrate Jewish faith, life and music with its eighth annual cantorial concert, "Eleven Voices: BACA pays tribute to our Eastern European Jewish Heritage"

Cantor Ted Labow's artwork on display in New Jersey

An exhibit explaining and celebrating the Jewish Sabbath is running through Jan. 31 at Runyon House in East Jersey Olde Town Village in Piscataway...(Ted Labow's Artwork is shown as #3 in the photos)

NFTY’s ‘Glee’ Club

Alane Katzew will lead 30 teens across Europe and Israel in a “Glee”-style choral group. 
 
The members of the glee club on the hit television series “Glee” rarely venture outside their high school music classroom. But this summer the Union for Reform Judaism is searching for the best and brightest Jewish performers to take their own choral act on the road to Europe and Israel.

Cantor Linda Shivers leads a prayer at the inaguration Ceremony for the new Iowa Governor.

"Buenos noches," began Richard Pates, the bishop of the Diocese of Des Moines.
From his welcoming words at Thursday evening's inaugural service of dedication at a cathedral in downtown Des Moines, it was clear that the evening service wouldn't be an average Iowa Catholic Mass.

Local Cantor (Mark Goldman) and Pianist (Alan Mason) Perform at Vatican

Cantor Mark Goldman of Temple Kol Ami Emanu-El in Plantation and Alan Mason, music director of Temple Israel of Greater Miami, will never forget a two-hour performance last month.

A Bar Mitzvah That Misses The Point (Sally Neff)

http://blogs.rj.org/reform/2010/11/a-bar-mitzvah-that-misses-the.html

Roswell Cantor (Nancy Kassel) sings her way to Rome

As a cantor, the musical leader of a Jewish religious service, Nancy Kassel of Roswell has performed all over the country. This week she sang in an unusual venue: an ancient Roman basilica during a conference

Local (San Francisco, Bay Area) Cantors  among Group that sang in Roman Church

From the very first note, “it was an oh-my-God moment,” said Roslyn Barak, recalling the Nov. 16 concert she and 19 other American Reform cantors gave at a Catholic basilica in Rome. “We plotzed.”

Awe-inspiring performance Cantors sing Jewish tunes in Rome church

Cantors Rosalie Boxt and Tracey Scher interviewed by Washington Jewish Week

It was a sacred and historic occasion. That's how two local cantors describe the American Conference of Cantors concert of Jewish music at the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri in Rome last week.

US Jewish cantors share musical tradition with Catholics in Rome

Cantors Claire Franco and Kerith Spencer-Shapiro interviews by Catholic News Service 

ROME (CNS) -- Twenty cantors from U.S. Reformed Jewish congregations filled an ancient Roman basilica with the melodies of Psalms and other Scriptures in an attempt to share their heritage with a Catholic audience.

20 Jewish cantors walk into a church—it’s no joke

ROME (JTA) -- Can Jewish sacred music sung in a Roman Catholic basilica help relations between Christians and Jews? For the Reform movement's American Conference of Cantors, the answer is a resounding yes.

Cantor Riselle Bain in concert - 'In Freedom's Light

"“In Freedom’s Light,” a cantata written in 1954 by Rabbi Jacob E. Segal with music composed by Zinovi Bistritzky, will be performed at Lake Wales Art Center on Nov. 16 at 11:30 a.m., according to information provided by American Association of University Women.
The cantata chronicles the Jewish-American experience resulting from the expulsion of Jews from Spain in 1492.

Cantors Erik Contzius and Sally Neff speak about the trip to Rome 

UPPER NYACK — A group of cantors, including some from the Lower Hudson Valley, will have an audience with Pope Benedict XVI during a visit to the Vatican next week designed to help foster greater understanding between Jews and Catholics

Cantor Don Croll attends Interfaith Chapel Opening

The Interfaith Peace Chapel at Cathedral of Hope opened this morning with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The Rev. Jo Hudson, senior pastor at COH, officiated.“We have many partners here today,” Hudson said.In attendance were representatives of 17 of the world’s religions.

RCC Members Support Hyatt Workers in Downtown Chicago

CHICAGO, IL. Thursday, November 4, 2010. Six Reform cantors, members of Reform Cantors of Chicago, led over 70 interfaith clergy in song and music in protest against the exploitation of hotel workers. During rush hour in downtown Chicago, outside the Hyatt Regency, hundreds of hotel workers, clergy and citizens stood in solidarity against the hotels management’s policies and practice. Read More.
Download the Chicago Tribune article here.
Watch a recording of the rally here.

Cantor Jonathan Grant's Road to Rome

Cantor Jonathan Grant of Temple Bat Yahm was walking out of a seminar of the American Cantors Convention in Memphis during late June when he heard his friend, Cantor Rosyln Barak, shout from a distance away.

Cantor Hasha Perman Enhances Religious Experience for Congregants

Cantor Perman joyously leads Congregation Beth Shalom in song and prayer. Hasha Perman sees herself as a "spiritual facilitator and teacher." As the cantor at Congregation Beth Shalomin Naperville, Perman uses her voice and her spirituality to enhance the congregation's religious experience.

An interview with Cantor Sarah Sager

When Cantor Sarah Sager came to Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple 31 years ago to lead its congregation in sacred song and worship, she was a pioneer

Cantor Raina Siroty Flowers at her new Congregation in Sylvania, Ohio

Cantor Raina Siroty of the Temple-Congregation Shomer Emunim has had just enough time to get settled into her new job and community before the High Holy Days begin

Cantor Donna Mashadi Azu joins Temple Shalom in Naples, Florida

Congregants of Temple Shalom have several new faces leading their Friday night services: Along with their new rabbi, Rabbi Adam Miller, the congregation has its first invested cantor, Donna Mashadi Azu.

High Holy Day Greetings from Community Synagogue

Cantor Claire Franco and The Community Synagogue, Port Washington, NY hit the airwaves with a High Holy Day Ditty

Honorees from the 2010 Convention

Cantor Linda Shivers honored for 25 years in the Cantorate

Click here to read the article about Cantor Shivers' 25 years of service  

Cantor Sergei Schwartz honored for 10 years of service at his Temple

Click here to read about Temple Beth Sholom's special tribute to Cantor Schwartz

Cantor David Wisnia speaks of his experiences as an Auschwitz survivor

Click hear to read about the WWII program at a NJ high school

Cantor Tanya Greenblatt participates at a rally to support a GLBT rights ordinance

Click here to read about this clergy rally in Tallahassee, FL 

Cantor Marie Betcher sings the lead in a very unique show in Austin, TX

Click here to read about this unique performance called 'Byna - Life Songs of a Southern Appalachian Woman of Cherokee Descent'

Purim at Cantor Tanya Greenblatt's Congregation

Click here to read about the celebrations at Temple Israel, Tallahassee, FL

Cantor Shayna Peavey speaking about memories from her Grandmother and about her own life

Click here to read the article and see the video

Cantor Mark Goldman participating in a unique 'Five Faiths, One Calling' Valentine's Day concert

Click here to read about the concert at Temple Kol Ami Emanu-El in Florida.

Cantors Sharon Brown-Levy, Lee Coopersmith and more participate in a concert celebrating the 150th anniversary of Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple in NJ.  

Click here to read about the concert

Cantor Sol Zim participates in a Holocaust commemoration event

Click here to read about the event commemorating the 65th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp

Unique fundraising concert for Cantor Ellen Stettner's Temple

Click here to read about the Temple and the rock 'n' roll concert

Cantor Debra Stein helps the homeless in East Hampton, NY

Click here to read about the moving shelter and outreach program 

Cantor Marcy Kadin - the first invested Cantor at Temple Beth Am, NY

Click here to read about Cantor Kadin and her new pulpit
  

Cantor Roz Barak answers Hannukah questions

Click here to read the article in San Francisco's Classical Voice

Cantor Shira Ginsburg performing at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York

Click here to read more about her Recital, titled 'Bubby's Kitchen'.

Cantors Richard Cohn, Roz Barak and Mo Glazman - A Celebration Concert

Click here to read about the "Cantor Cohn and Friends" concert on Dec 13 2009

Cantor Jessica Fox Epstein presenting "Sing to the Lord; Music In the Time of the Bible"

Click here to read more about her concert at East Stroudsburg University, PA

Cantor Steven Weiss's Congregation celebrates 50

 Click here to read about Congregation Sha'arey Shalom in Hingham, MA 

Cantor Jennifer Werby - first Cantor to join Temple Beth Shalom of Vero Beach, FL

Click here to read about Cantor Werby's new pulpit

Cantor Jon Sobel's Certification Celebration

Click here to read about his Georgetown Congregation and the Certification celebrations

Cantor Zoe Jacobs at Finchley Reform Synagogue, London UK

Click here to read about this recent SSM Alum

Cantors Tamar Havilio and Mikhal Shiff Mater lead a first time ever project at HUC Jerusalem

Click here to read about their High Holy Days project.

Cantor Sheldon Merel writes about Cantor Richard Botton

Click here to read about Cantor Botton and his new Ladino CD. You can also listen to him sing Yo M'Enamori D'un Arie. 

Cantor Jacqueline Shuchat-Marx's Journey to Temple Emanu-El in Edison, NJ

Click here to read about Cantor Schuchat-Marx's Cantorial journey  

Cantor Sharon Brown Levy Triumphs with Trope Aerobics

Click here to read about her wonderful idea for bnai mitzvah classes

Cantor Sheldon Merel writes about Cantor Jonathan Grant

Click here to read (and listen to) about Cantor Jonathan Grant and the song 'Shnei Michtavim' 

Music in Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist and Orthodox Congregations

Click here to read the interview with Jayson Rodovsky

Cantor Sheldon Merel writes about Cantor Mikhail Manevich

Click here to read about (and listen to) Cantor Manevich's 'Modim Anachnu'

Cantor Linda Shivers Honored for 23 Years of Service

Click here to read more information about the event.

New songbook-CD: 3 Generations of Cantorial Art

Click here to read about Cantor Deborah Katchko-Gray's amazing project

A unique upcoming Concert of Ethiopian music with Cantor Shayna Peavey

Click here to read more about Cantor Peavey and this unique concert   

Huntsville, Alabama native  - recently graduated Cantor

Click here to read about Cantor Sharon Kunitz 

ACC Cantor & Family were honored 'Family of the Year'

Click here to read about Cantor Beth Garden's family and the award they received.  

"Shir Artistry - The many faces of the Modern Cantor" Concert

Click here  to read an interview with Cantor Richard Botton regarding a May 4th concert featuring himself, Cantors David Lefkowitz, Jill Abramson and Mo Glazman.

Jewish Center of Northwest Jersey celebrates Cantor's senior recital

Click here to read about the SSM recital

Concert is Homecoming for Cantor

St. Louis Jewish LightCantor Rosalie Will Boxt will perform with Cantor Susan Bortnick, Cantor Steven Weiss, and Rabbi Cantor Alison Wissot in April 5th St. Louis concert organized by Cantor Seth Warner.

Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Center

May 4, 2009
8:00 PM
SHIR. ARTISTRY: THE MODERN CANTOR
Goodman House 129 West 67th Street New York, NY 10023
merkinconcerthall.org
Box office- 212- 501- 3330

Presented by Kaufman Center and the America-Israel Cultural Foundation. Rounding out Merkin celebration of Israel's 60th, we will spotlight the long history of cantorial music, which has produced some of the greatest singers the world has ever known. The tradition continues to this very day, as shown by this concert- hosted by and featuring Richard Botton, along with Jill Abramson, Mo Glazman, David Lefkowitz-four of the best cantors from New York's dynamic, diverse Jewish community. They'll be joined by a cast of young Israeli musicians and accompanied by Jayson Rodovsky.

SINGLE TICKETS: $30 (MEMBERS $20)

WRJ Women's Torah Commentary wins National Jewish Book Award

Cantor joins in 'musical good will'
Like most people, Cantor Erik Contzius knew little about what the Bulgarian people did to save their Jewish neighbors from the Holocaust. But he learned quickly after seeing an announcement that a musical festival planned for Bulgaria and Israel from Nov. 21 to Dec. 1 was looking for someone to sing Ernest Bloch's "Sacred Service," a musical setting for the Sabbath liturgy that has played a recurring role in Contzius' life.

Bernstein's biggest fan to sing tribute to him Jesse Hamlin, Chronicle Staff Writer
Growing up in a music-mad New York family in the 1950s, ACC Cantor Roslyn Barak was infatuated with Leonard Bernstein. His prodigious talent and flair - as a conductor, pianist, composer of classical works and Broadway shows, TV personality and public intellectual - made him a cultural idol. For Barak and other Jewish Americans, the maestro called Lenny was also a source of pride.

Jewish Herald Voice - First Jewish CCTV network launched in Houston
Sid and Pearl Altman are the founders of Friends of Cantorial Music, an organi­zation that provides hospitals with prerecorded Shabbat services, as well as local cantorial concerts and special Jewish meditation-healing programs. The only Jewish closed-circuit television broadcaster in the United States, it broadcasts recordings including ACC members Cantor Vadim Tunitsky and Cantor Robert Gerber.

Jewish Standard - A Chazzan Named Caitlin
ACC Member Caitlin Bromberg's journey to Judaism, through Albuquerque and El Paso, making deep connections with the crypto-Jews and conversos from Mexico and other Spanish speaking nations. 

JewishNews.com - iGod? Reform movement digitizes Torah
The Reform Movement has digitized the Torah as downloadable sound files. Cantor Alane Katzew, director of music programming at the Union for Reform Judaism, headed a 22-month project to digitize all 5,845 verses of the Torah as downloadable soundfiles, using Reform movement cantors and cantorial students.

NewsOK.com - Part-time cantor brings musical dimension to temple
ACC Cantor Adele Nicholson makes life-time impact through a part-time position.

Washington Jewish Week - Israel at 60,500 voices strongStrathmore concert to feature 27 area choirs
ACC Cantor Rosalie Boxt and other Reform Cantors organize a 400 voice volunteer choir concert in honor of Israel's 60th Birthday.

Cantor Jodi Schechtman: A Celebration of 20 years
ACC Cantor Jodi Schechtman was honored this past September for her 20 years of service to Temple Beth Am in Framingham, MA.