Community

'Heart Of Shir Shalom'

Tribute concert to honor Steyer's 20th anniversary on bimah.

Amy Douville

Special to the Jewish News

W

ith music, laughter and
love, members and friends
of Temple Shir Shalom will
honor Penny Steyer on her 20th anniver-
sary with the congregation with a tribute

concert on Saturday, Oct. 9, at the West
Bloomfield synagogue.
"I grew up on Long Island and our
family was very active at my congrega-
tion, Union Reform Temple;' Steyer said.
"I sang with my mom in our temple's
adult choir every Friday night and began
leading children's services when I was

Please join us as we celebrate
the 20th anniversary of Yad Ezra,
the kosher food pantry,
feeding vulnerable families

Margot and
Jerry
Halperin

Honorees

Monday, October 11, 2010
Congregation Shaarey Zedek

Strolling Supper 6:00 pm
Short Program to follow
Couvert $180 per adult

Penny and Harold Blumenstein
Beverly and Arthur Liss
Jane and D. Larry Sherman

Dinner Co-Chairpersons

Ken Bernard

President

of,

0s

-0

,

Yad Ezra

Feeding the Jewish Hungry

Michigan allows an income tax credit for individuals equal to 50% of the amount of the cash
contribution (subject to certain limitations) to organizations such as Yad Ezra that provide food or
shelter to the indigent. The fair market value of the dinner for tax purposes is $60 per person. For
information or reservations, call (248) 548-3663 or email lea@yadezra.org

28

October 7 • 2010

just 14.
"Following high school graduation,
my family moved to Miami, where
I attended the University of Miami.
Both my parents were professional
musicians, and I decided to follow
suit. I graduated with a degree in cho-
ral conducting, music education, voice
and piano."
In pursuit of her music career, she
traveled the world. In the U.S., she
sang at many synagogues, but was
never able to find a place that felt like
home.
After moving to West Bloomfield
in the late 1970s, Steyer began work-
ing as music director for the Jewish
Parent's Institute at the Jewish
Community Center. "I chose Michigan
because I had spent many summers
here visiting my mother's family."
A friend urged her to attend ser-
vices at Shir Shalom; she went the fol-
lowing Shabbat.
"Everyone was incredibly warm and
welcoming," Steyer said. "The service
was beautiful. The rabbi was engaging
and interesting. The space had a com-
fort and ease like being in someone's
home; and the prayer book, written by
Rabbi Dannel Schwartz, made me feel
like I had gone home.
"After services, my friend spotted
me in the crowd, grabbed me by the
hand, took me to the young rabbi
in the white robe and said, 'Rabbi
Schwartz, I'd like you to meet your
new choir director, Penny Steyer."'
A meeting was held the next week.
"He wanted me to build a volunteer
choir from scratch," Steyer said. "I
was writing choral arrangements by
hand with melodies in my head from
my teenage years at Union Reform
Temple. Together, we built a religious
school music program."
She also worked as part-time, then
full-time cantorial soloist.

Penny Steyer brings passion to

her music.

"We at Shir Shalom regard Penny as
our cantor:' said Schwartz, founding Shir
Shalom rabbi. "Many years ago, we com-
missioned her as our cantor based on
her knowledge, experience and love for
Judaism.
"The position of the Union of Reform
Judaism states that you do not need
to be ordained to be an official cantor.
Penny has chosen to continue her stud-
ies with a more traditional movement by
joining the Cantors Association in New
York and has become a CICA (Cantor
Intern at the Cantor Association), and
she has been studying with Cantor Meir
Finkelstein of Shaarey Zedek for many
years."
"It has been an amazing ride:' Steyer
said. "Through the donation of time
and talent of many people, we grew an
unparalleled volunteer adult choir, a gui-
tar ensemble, a klezmer ensemble and
youth choir."
Steyer also trains b'nai mitzvah stu-
dents, directs adult and youth choirs and
teaches adult education classes.
"It was a challenge in the beginning,
but it was fun," she said. "My children
and I had finally found a spiritual home
and an extended family. I knew we were
here to stay."
"Penny was the essential part we
needed at Shir Shalom," Schwartz said.
"The entire concept of Shir Shalom was
based on a spiritual element, and Penny
gave it music. She molded herself into
the ideology of the congregation, and

Shir Shalom on page 29

Festivities begin at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, at Temple Shir Shalom with hors
d'oeuvres, followed by a tribute concert featuring Dr. Andrew Cooperstock,
piano professor, University of Colorado; Dr. William Terwilliger, violin professor,
University of South Carolina; Cantor Meir Finkelstein of Congregation Shaarey
Zedek Southfield; Alfred Heller, composer, conductor, pianist and music
publisher; the Zamir Chorale of Metropolitan Detroit; Tiffany Steyer Green,
cantorial soloist at Temple Kol Ami in West Bloomfield; Matthew Steyer,
musician, teacher, writer and visiting cantorial soloist; Rochelle Barr, Shir
Shalom pianist, and the Temple Shir Shalom Choir. Dessert following. An
encore matinee performance: 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct.10. Tickets are $36 per
person, per event; $10 per student. (248) 737-8700.

