Synagogue

Shaarey Zedek's Najman
To Lead Cantors Assembly

C7 7

really excited...It's- a life achievement and its an honor.

CATHY SHAFRAN

Special to The Jewish. News

ill

or two decades, Cantor
Chaim Najman has served as
a guiding voice for congre-
Conarea
b b
b gants at Congregation
Shaarey Zedek.
But soon, that voice will add a
new dimension, guiding 500 cantors
from across the United States and
around the world.
Najman has been chosen as the next
president of the world's largest assembly
of hazzanim (cantors). He takes on that
role when the National Cantors
Assembly gathers at its 52nd annual
convention April 18-22 at Kutsher's
Country Club in the Catskill Mountains
of Monticello, N.Y.
"I'm really excited about it," said
Najman, an active member of the
Cantors Assembly for nearly 30 years
and a convention co-chair this year.
"It's a life achievement," he said, "and
it's an honor to lead an organization
dedicated to motivating high standards
of professionalism, ethics, and excellence
among hazzanim."
Word of the cantor's pending installa-
tion has been a source of excitement
around the halls of Shaarey Zedek.
Already, dozens of friends and congre-
gants have signed up to make the trip
along with Najman. As fate would have
it, they not only will have an opportuni-
ty to honor Najman during the installa-
tion banquet, but also be on hand for
gala celebrations, concerts and recep-
tions marking Israel Independence Day,
Yom HaAtzmaut, on April 21.
"The congregation is very honored
by this designation," said Shaarey Zedek
President Dottie Wagner. "His leader-
ship has brought a great deal of musical
heritage to the congregation, and I
know he'll bring his creativity and love
for transmitting Jewish music to the
assembly as well."
"I'm enthralled he's being installed,"
said Cantor Harold Orbach, Naj man's
colleague at Temple Israel.
In fact, Orbach was so delighted by
the news he recently became a mem-
ber of the Cantors Assembly so he

4/16
1999

64 Detroit Jewish News

Chaim Najman of Congregation Shaarey Zedek

could be on hand to honor Najman at
his installation.
"As past president of the American
Conference of Cantors," said Orbach, "I
know that his new role will require a
tremendous commitment. And Cantor
Najman has shown his leadership abili-
ties and commitment to the Cantors
Assembly for years."
"I'm very moved, flattered, thrilled
and a little bit embarrassed by all those
coming on my behalf," said Najman.
"It's a beautiful gesture."
But if the recognition from his
congregation and colleagues ernbar-
rasses him, the thought of taking on
the challenges as president of the
Cantors Assembly, which represents
cantors from Conservative syna-
gogues but is open to Orthodox and
Reform cantors as well, thrills him.
"Over the past 50 years, the assembly

has provided education and guidance to
the membership," said Najman. "But
now the organization is also involved
in an exciting direction.
"Currently, the Assembly is on a
campaign to gain recognition for the
hazzan as a co-clergy with the rabbi.
"And if there's anything I'd like to see
us accomplish in my two years there,"
said Najman, "is the assembly working
to create better interaction between the
rabbi and cantor in all synagogues."
Najman will draw from his person-
al experiences to promote the impor-
tance of the co-clergy concept. "At
Shaarey Zedek, when the rabbi and I
work together, we are able to create a
beautifully orchestrated service," he
said. "It draws in the congregation and
they feel like they are a part of it.
"When we do something like that,
we are at our best."

Shaarey Zedek Rabbi Irwin Groner
agrees that sharing the pulpit between
rabbi and cantor brings a richer expe-
rience to the congregation. He lauds
Najman for the Jewish heritage his
music has brought to their synagogue's
members.
"Cantor Najman has demonstrated
in his work the way historic tradition
of Jewish music can be renewed
through, programs, activities and
events, said Groner. His work has
served to encourage people here to
reach for high standards in under-
standing their Jewish heritage."
Cantors from across the United
States, Canada and around the world
will gather to share that rich heritage
of Jewish music during the conven-
tion in New York.
It's a convention that typically
leaves the hazzanim filled with inspira-
tion and enthusiasm for the challenges
that lie ahead.
"People come back from the con-
vention inspired and excited with new
ideas," said the assembly's president-
elect. "It's a tremendous opportunity
to mix and mingle. It offers all of us
chance to learn from one another, to
study, to chat, to pick up new ideas
and enjoy the camaraderie. It helps
inspire cantors to find new ways of
engaging congregants in prayer and in
involving the family in the syna-
gogue.
The theme of this year's convention
is "Bridging the Centuries: Hazzanut
from the Past and for the Future."
So, in addition to the study ses-
sions, master classes, concerts and ser-
vices for which the cantors conven-
tions have become known, speakers
this year will focus on topics such as
"Judaism in the 21st Century" and
"Breaking the Sound Barrier ...
Challenge of Hazzanut and the
Female Voice."
Leadership of the Cantors Assembly
will be handed over to Najman on
Tuesday evening, April 20, midway
through the weeklong slate of events.
For Najman, his installation as presi-
dent of the organization will be the
culmination of a life spent dedicated

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