Volunteer of the year for 2014: Cantor Jonathan Comisar

Cantor Jonathan Comisar being presented the VOTY award at the Israel plenary by ACC president, Cantor Mark Goldman.

Cantor Jonathan Comisar was ordained at HUC-DFSSM in 2000. He served as Cantor of Community Synagogue in Rye, NY, music director at Congregation Kol Ami in White Plains, NY and has been on faculty at HUC-DFSSM since 2009. An internationally acclaimed composer and arranger, Cantor Comisar is currently preparing to further his graduate studies in music composition at the Manhattan School of Music.

In what capacity have you volunteered for the ACC?

I was tapped to accompany numerous concerts, workshops, and programs at several conventions. My first experience as a volunteer: I have a distinct memory of the ACC/CA Mission to Israel in 2002, during the 2nd Intifada, when tourism was reduced to barely a trickle. The streets of Jerusalem were hauntingly empty. A group of 50 Chazanim decided to show our support and give the humble and beautiful gift of music. The scheduled Israeli accompanist was not up to par and I stepped in at the last second to save the concerts. There we were in the lobby of the Dan Panorama gathering around the piano at a dark time in Israel's history...trying to get our program together. I felt gratified to be part of a collective cantorial endeavor to use music as a vehicle for healing.

I also served on the WMRL (Worship Music and Religious Living) Commission shortly after ordination and currently serve on the HUC Alumni Association. Just this last week, I returned from Mifgash Musicale in Cincinnati as one of the faculty members. It is a wonderful program that reaches out to cantorial soloists and synagogue musicians and gives them skills and resources to enhance their professional work.

I was commissioned to write the composition V’al Kulam commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the American Conference of Cantors which was presented at the 2013 URJ Biennial in San Diego. I also served as co-chair, along with Robbie Solomon, of the Haifa and Jerusalem Concerts at the ACC Israel Convention 2014

What have you found most rewarding about doing volunteer work?

The last two experiences were incredibly rewarding because I could bring a high level of creativity and imagination to the table. It is my greatest joy to create Jewish music that is joyful, nuanced and transcendent. I strive for that.

The opportunity to compose for the ACC 60th anniversary reflected something I believe in -- my love for cantors and the cantorate. In the past, cantors may have felt as cordially acknowledged step-children, and although the good will was always there, we were not fully appreciated for all we, as cantors, bring. When Susan Caro called me to commission the work, I felt awed by the task. I soul searched for a long time before arriving at the idea: a choral work that would portray different genres of music our cantorate represents. It was with this sense of collective pride that the gift of V'al Kulam was given to the Biennial.

It was wonderful working with Robbie Solomon on the Jerusalem concert. The final gala concert was entitled Kaleidoscope for a reason. The depth and breadth of our Jewish musical heritage so rich, deep and varied- indeed a musical kaleidoscope of chazzanut, Yiddish, Ladino, jazz, contemporary classical music, folk, pop, Israeli music, and more.  Our Jewish music legacy transcends time and place and includes a variety of different cultures, both ancient and modern. This jazzes me the most- when all the colors of our music can dance together...at a sophisticated level. Thus it is fitting to say "Mah yafah yerushateinu--how beautiful is our inheritance."

How did you get involved in volunteer work? Did you ‘raise your hand’ or did someone ask you?

I think I was always eager to get involved. During my 1st year at HUC in Jerusalem, I brought together my classmates and young conservatory musicians to create a special Shabbat Shirah. I am always excited to encourage others musically and this has continued with all of the many musical projects connected with the ACC since then. The first time I was asked to serve on a committee was probably WRML shortly after ordination.

What influenced you to become a Cantor and what do you enjoy most?

What was the first? I enjoyed being part of the worship experience and realized that I had something to give. Before I became a cantor, I became very active at Congregation Sha’ar Zahav, the LGBT congregation in San Francisco. They had a rabbi but no cantor and I realized how much I loved leading services. I got very involved musically and it was a creatively rewarding experience--composing and arranging new settings of liturgy, helping to create a klezmer band and then organizing a float with Jewish music and dancing to march down Market Street during San Francisco's famed gay pride celebration. Being part of a vital synagogue community and seeing how the music was at the heart inspired me to apply to cantorial school.

I served my pulpit in Rye until 2008. When I left it freed me up for more creative pursuits--including writing for musical theater in NYC. (I am working on several projects right now). So, even though my path as a cantor has not been a typical one, I have still maintained a strong connection in the Jewish music world. I was invited to teach music theory and arranging as faculty at HUC in 2009--something I love. I feel I have something to offer the students. I worked with Mo Glazman as Music Director at Kol Ami. We had a great personal and creative collaboration and brought some wonderful programs to the community. And I have had commissions and artist residencies at synagogues all over North America. The diversity and creativity has been very rewarding.

What in your opinion is the biggest challenge facing the cantorate today and looking into the future?

I alluded to the breadth, depth and multicolored mosaic that is Jewish music. All genres of music are part of this tapestry, but importance should be placed on better balance in the future. Exposure to the richness and diversity of our Jewish musical heritage is important.

Tell us one thing about yourself that you’d like us to know about you.

One of the things that inspires and grounds me is my practice of meditation, tai chi, and Feldenkrais. Bringing body, mind and spirit together through this daily spiritual practice is essential for me.