Spirituality
Pra er
Thro
Cantors to assemble
for study, prayer,
song and unity.
SHELLI LIEBMAN DORFMAN
Staff Writer
Lawrence
an
tt
5/12
2000
80
special brand of music rooted in
song will be coming to town later
this month when 300 members of
the Cantors Assembly arrive for its
53rd annual convention.
In addition to North America, cantors are
expected from Sweden, Turkey, England,
Argentina and Israel for the May 21-25 conven-
tion at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Dearborn.
Congregation Shaarey Zedek Cantor
Chaim Najman is president of the 500-mem-
ber Cantors Assembly and chairman of the
five-day convention, whose theme is, "Hear
our Song, Hear our Prayers." The work-
shops, seminars, study sessions and musical
performances all are open to the public.
The 2000 Peter and Clara Weisberg —
The Voice of Alciva concert will take place 8
p.m. Monday, May 22, at Congregation
Shaarey Zedek. Shir Joy, a concert honoring
Cantor Larry Vieder, is scheduled for 8 p.m.
Wednesday, May 24, at Adat Shalom
Synagogue. Both scheduled concerts are
"offered as a gift to the community," says
Cantor Najman.
The upcoming convention is an opportu-
nity for the cantors to get together with col-
leagues, discuss their profession and reunite
with teachers. In this sense, Cantor Najman
calls it "a coming home party."
It is also a time to share skills and learn new
techniques in private coaching sessions and
master classes. "Those stuck in Albuquerque
[N.M.] or Fort Worth [Texas], can't coach. with
a Toronto chazzan," says Cantor Najman.
He adds that those attending will be able to
recruit new cantors in a profession that has "dif-
ficulty attracting young talent committed to the
profession."
don with a CD recording and commentary.
Cantor Stephen Dubov of Temple Beth El
Cantors Samuel Greenbaum of
calls the convention an opportunity "to share
Congregation Beth Shalom and Earl Berris of
the talent in your own congregations." He
Congregation B'nai Moshe are on the conven-
will be attending with a pre-cantorial school
tion committee. Cantor Ralph Goren of
apprentice.
Shaarey Zedek and Cantor Barry Ulrich of
The convention will focus largely on
Southfield head up the management commit-
education, including sessions on newly
tee. Cantor Howard Glantz of Adat Shalom
published Jewish music, a new musical
Synagogue will act as special gifts chair as well as
Siddur for Shabbat and creating musical
co-chair of the concert in honor of colleague
programming for the synagogue.
Cantor Larry Vieder. Other local attendees will
Such programming will be beneficial
include Cantors Harold Orbach and Lori
because "every cantor is somehow involved in
Corrsin of Temple Israel.
the educational component of the profession
The convention committee includes
— in the synagogue, religious school, adult
Richard Wolberg of Fall River, Mass. and
education, confirmation, bar and bat mitzvah
Rebecca Carmi of Brooklyn, N.Y., convention
and teaching music," says Cantor Najman.
co-chairs; Bruce Wetzler of Boca Raton, Fla.,
A two-part workshop will be offered by the
Lance Tapper of Los Angeles and Gregg
co-founders of Synagogue 2000, a national
Yaroslav of San Bernardino, Calif, management
institute working to develop the synagogue of
committee.
the 21st century. Rabbi Lawrence Hoffman,
The Cantors Assembly, the professional orga-
professor of liturgy at Hebrew Union College-
nization
of cantors within the Conservative
Jewish Institute of Religion in New York, will
movement, is housed at the Jewish Theological
lead, "Looking for God in the Year 2000: Why
Seminary in New York City. It partners in
Tefillah is Changing All Around Us." Dr. Ron
recruitment, scholarships and programming
Wolfson, dean of education and vice president
with JTS' H.L. Miller Cantorial School.
at the University of Judaism in Los Angeles, will
Most members of the Cantors Assembly are
speak on "Synagogue 2000: Implications for the
graduates of that program or otherwise affiliated
Future of the Cantorate."
with the Conservative movement, Cantor
Dr. Wolfson describes the institute as a
Najman says, but "membership is pluralistic,
seven-year study in progress in communities
including cantors who serve Orthodox and
around the U.S. He says it deals with such
Reform congregations.
concepts as "learning, prayer, study, social
"The reason we are together is, we share a
justice, healing, the ambience of welcoming
commonality and a love for the Jewish people
and deepening institutions." The study will
and the Jewish tradition:Li
encompass Detroit beginning next year.
"We are bringing very good news to
the cantors," Dr. Wolfson says. "We
IVAVVV: -
have found music is one of the more
an d Clara Weisberg — The Voice of
important elements in what uplifts and
&ice place 8 p.m. Monday, May
energizes people spiritually."
Shaarey Zedek in Southfield.
He plans to address the role of
and Blurna Schechter, the presen-
music for the cantor in the synagogue
celebration of the holiday of Lag
of the future. "The cantor is in a posi-
s of Jewish survival, commit-
tion of doing the work of bringing the
r religious freedom.
depths and variety of both traditional
aarey Zectek and the Cantors
cantorial music and other uses of
includes a performance by
music in the congregation," he adds.
sh Community Singers of
A teacher of liturgy, Rabbi Moshe
Cantor Richard Cohn of
Tutnauer, will conduct daily study
ion Israel in Glencoe, Ill.
sessions during Shachrit, the daily
include Cantors Alberto
morning prayer service. Rabbi
rg and Corey Winter, all of
Tutnauer will focus on different
off of Aventura, Fla.; David
prayers, including text, commentary
da Mendelson of New
and discussion. "He will also play a
iro of Montreal.
key part in the Shabbat Yachad (a
mantel will be presented to
presentation of new Shabbat morn-
esident Larry Berry in honor
ing music), presenting commentary
n s presidency of the Cantors
on the spiritual relevancy of the texts
for congregants," says Cantor
etequired and may be ordered, free of
Najman.
riding a written request and a
An Israeli resident, Rabbi Tutnauer
self-addressed envelope to: Weisberg
is a visiting rabbi at Har Zion Temple
do Congregation Shaarey Zedek, 27375
in Philadelphia. He was the 1996-97
Southfield, MI 48037. Ticket requests
rabbi in residence at Shaarey Zedek in
St be received by May 15. For information, call
Southfield. After completing the
357-5544. rJ
Shabbat Yachad project, the Cantors
Assembly intends to publish the collec-
s
.