“From the Other Side”

One of the things I enjoy the most about being a cantor is the opportunity to lead worship on a weekly basis. Some people might think that this is just another required, routine part of my job. But for me, it is the highlight of my week. No matter how tired I might be or how stressful a week I might have endured, worship is, for me, an oasis - a calming and rejuvenating experience.

In Jewish tradition, worship is not intended to be a solitary experience. In fact, some of the most essential prayers of the liturgy are supposed to be eliminated if there are not at least ten participants: a minyan. We are a communal people whose customs bring us together both in times of celebration and in times of sorrow.

Yet there is always an opportunity for individual prayer. The dichotomy of traditional Jewish worship is that we are instructed to come together as a community in order to pray as individuals. There are portions of a traditional service in which the leader's primary function is to keep the sea of individual worshippers more or less moving together as one through the words of the liturgy. In Reform worship, we set aside specific rubrics in which we break from the communal words of the prayer book in order to give each of us a chance to express our inmost and heartfelt thoughts and prayers to God.

I count myself very lucky that I get to express my most profound thoughts and prayers publicly through music. There is an old saying about worship: the one who sings prays twice. For me, the music magnifies what the text of the liturgy inspires in my heart. I try to share this with all of you in a number of ways. The music of our service stays essentially the same every Shabbat so that, as the melodies become more familiar, they become personally expressive for each of you. And the transliterations of our service music appear each week in the Order of Service so that, even if you aren't entirely comfortable with the Hebrew, you are still able to participate fully.

Members of our Adult and Youth Choirs have a special opportunity to lead congregational worship through music. Weekly training brings a mastery of the words and music so that each participant can enhance his or her own personal prayers through singing. And there is a special sense of the spiritual when you are able to express your prayers through song as part of a group. While being a member of one of our Adult or Youth Choirs takes serious commitment, the rewards, too, are significant.

Once a year, we have a special opportunity for everyone to be part of a singing group leading worship. The Family Choir, which for the past four years has led our Hanukkah service, gives everyone from the serious musician to the shower singer a chance to share in the special experience that is choral singing. It is, in part, an opportunity for entire families - who are often scattered in different directions both in Temple and home life - to participate in an activity together. It is also an opportunity for those who love to sing but can't make the commitment to one of our regular choirs to share in this wonderful choral experience. There are only four half-hour rehearsals and one quick run-through in the Sanctuary for anyone who wishes to participate. Families and individuals alike are welcome and encouraged to join us.

Now I've heard time and time again from many of you, "I'm not much of a singer - you wouldn't want me in your choir." Wrong!! The only requirement to be part of the Family Choir is that you bring your enthusiasm. In fact, this is the one time of year that even those on our staff lovingly referred to as "the cantor's job security" are encouraged to sing. Anyone who wants to have the magical experience that comes from being part of a congregational choir is invited to give it a try.

Rehearsals take place at the JCC on Sunday mornings from 10:30-11:00am (during the break between sessions of Religious School) beginning November 16th. We will lead services on the first night of Hanukkah on Friday, December 19th.

You're invited. Yes, you!

B’shalom,
Andrew Bernard
Cantor