Cantors Offer Many Choices; 'Add Immeasurably' to Convention

The human voice is the backbone of our religious services. We come closer as a community and to God when we sing together or are transported by the beautiful voices of the cantors who raise their voices on our behalf.

Different people are most touched by different musical styles; some are moved profoundly by traditional hazzanut while others are more engaged when the music is more participatory.

Some Conservative Jews accept the rule by the Committee on Jewish Law and Standards that allowed the use of some musical instruments at services on Shabbat and holidays, and others are persuaded by the ruling that does not allow them. Some find that musical instruments enhance their religious experience while others find them a distraction.

With all those truths in mind, and knowing as well the importance of the cantorate, whose voices are so crucial to our prayer experience, the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, holding its biennial international convention over Shabbat for the first time in many years, offered a range of musical options. United Synagogue was able to do so because of the enthusiastic support of the Cantors Assembly and many of its members, who shared their music with us, allowing each of us to chose the music that most speaks to our souls.

“The cantors added immeasurably to the convention-goers’ Shabbat experience,” said Rabbi Paul Drazen, the convention’s program director. On Friday night, everyone joined for one service; Hazzan Alisa Pomerantz-Boro led the first part, kaballat Shabbat, and Hazzan Jack Chomsky took over for maariv. Many other cantors sat in the first few rows, unobtrusively adding their voices and spirit. “People were overwhelmed by it,” Rabbi Drazen said.

On the next morning, United Synagogue offered six prayer options, three for shacharit and three for the Torah service and musaf. One shacharit option included musical instruments. “Many of the people at that service had never been to one with musical instruments before, and Hazzan David Propis put the music in the service in a way that made them feel very comfortable. Some now are interested in pursuing whether or not this would be something good for their congregations,” Rabbi Drazen said.

Hazzan Alberto Mizrahi led the traditional musaf minyan, singing in the traditional cantorial style. “It was amazing,” Rabbi Drazen said. “He managed to sing in classical hazzinut style and also to have the congregation participate.” The large congregation he attracted found it a powerful experience.

On Sunday evening, many of the cantors sang in a concert, presenting convention-goers with a completely different view of their tastes and talents.

“The cantors contributed something very important,” Rabbi Drazen concluded. “They gave convention-goers the opportunity to make choices, to experiment with something new, to be deeply moved, to listen to many styles of the music that brings us together.”