I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Rabbi Sarah Freidson-King to our community and temple. I have eagerly awaited her arrival with high expectations of her helping to provide much needed congregational services and programming. I am confident that she will do just that. Synagogue life, as you are aware, is multi-faceted. We, as leaders, are constantly attempting to improve our programming for members of all ages.  Typically, a new rabbi or hazzan begins in the late summer.  This provides precious little time to become acclimated before the “busy season” arrives.  The High Holidays, this year, will be especially challenging in that they are “early” this year..(not exactly sure if they’re ever “on time”!)  In any event, I sincerely hope that you will join Rabbi Field and me in helping to make both Rabbi Freidson - King and her husband, feel at home.

I recently attended the annual national convention of the Cantors Assembly, held in New York City.  Each and every year, these few days, spent with hundreds of fellow hazzanim from around the country prove to be days of education, amazing concerts, lectures, and opportunities for sharing with my colleagues, many of whom have been friends of mine since my days at the Cantors Institute. I especially enjoyed spending time with the recipients of our Richard Briskin Cantor-In-Residence award program. They are doing quite well in their respective positions and speak highly of their time with us, here in Rochester.

I want to be sure that you are aware of the musical and educational events that are coming up very soon:

In search of spirituality

We are often asked how one goes about experiencing a stronger and lasting sense of spirituality and holiness within our worship services. How does one find renewed meaning within the pages of our siddur or mahzor?  How do we connect to the liturgy?