Rabbi's Corner... Sing Unto God A New Song The heart of the soul awakens on wings lifting the melodic voice of prayer to God. During the High Holy Days for the last four years Dan Nichols’ voice has inspired our worship and united our prayers. This year, as Dan’s international music career continues to blossom, he will be spending the High Holy Days as a musician-in-residence at a congregation on the West Coast. Devoted to continuing the inspiring music tradition of our congregation, our Music Committee conducted a thorough search to find a suitable replacement to direct Temple’s High Holy Day music for 5769. The results of that search bring back a friend of our congregation, last fall’s cantor-in-residence, Ellen Dreskin. Cantor Ellen Dreskin is one of the foremost leaders in the world of Jewish music and synagogue leadership in the country. Her expertise extends from Jewish music, to synagogue transformation, and mysticism. She has served as Associate Dean of the Cantorial program at Hebrew Union College, on the faculty of the Union for Reform Judaism’s Leadership and Adult Kallot, co-directed Hava Nashira, and as Director of Programs of the Synagogue 2000 initiative. In addition to her national presence Ellen has served as Cantor, Educator and Program Director for several congregations. Our vision in bringing in Cantor Dreskin is to meet both long term and short term goals for Temple Beth Or’s music. For several years we have talked about what a cantor could mean to our congregation. The addition of a professional cantor to temple’s professional staff remains an
integral part of our long term vision. Cantor Dreskin, as one of the leading cantors in Reform Judaism today, gives us entrée into how a full time cantor will one day enrich our community. In the short term, Cantor Dreskin will also serve as a mentor to Temple Beth Or’s new Director of Jewish Music Lexie Hallman. *Zemer Lexie comes to us after an apprenticeship with Cantor Sharon Kohn, at Congregation B’nai Jehudah in Kansas City. While Zemer Lexie has had many opportunities to lead Shabbat and youth worship, she has not yet led High Holy Day music. Cantor Dreskin will work closely with Lexie and develop soloist opportunities for her during the High Holy Days. Under Cantor Dreskin’s direction Lexie will also be leading the High Holy Day Choir
rehearsals, that distance prevents Cantor Dreskin from leading.
Cantor Dreskin, Zemer Lexie Hallman, and I have already begun work on the music for the High Holy Days. We plan to preserve much of the beauty of the music that Dan and our choir has brought us in the past. Cantor Dreskin will work closely with the returning High Holy Day choir to add the depth of knowledge that her professional experience brings to bear. She will freshen our existing music, introduce High Holy Day nusach (Jewish musical tradition), and stretch the breadth of our Holy Day music.
“Sing a new song unto God.” Let us prepare for the New Year with hearts turned to God and music lifting our souls. Rabbi Lucy H.F. Dinner
:: top of page :: |
|
