November 2015

This is truly a notable year for our Temple as we prepare to celebrate our 100th Anniversary. Due to the many planned events, some of our annual programs have found “new homes” on our calendar. One such program is our widely-acclaimed “Richard W. Briskin Cantor-in-Residence” Shabbat and weekend, at which time we present a cantorial student from the HL Miller Cantorial School of The Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City. This year and this month we will be welcoming Gil Ezring, a 3rd year student, who received his Bachelor of Music Degree from Appalachian State University. He has taught music in public schools in Charlotte, North Carolina as well as Hebrew and Judaica in various religious schools. One of the founding members of “Rock HaRuach” (now “The Ruach”), a band at Temple Israel in Charlotte, Gil along with his father (the Senior Rabbi) created the “Rock HaShanah” and “Rock HaShabbat” services at which the band leads the congregation. He was the music teacher at Camp Zeke in Lakewood, Pennsylvania and also worked as a B’nai Mitzvah tutor at Camp Ramah in Clayton, Georgia.

Gil has served as cantor for the Young Professional High Holiday services at Sutton Place Synagogue in Manhattan. This year we will experiment by having two concerts….one for families at 11:30 and another following at 3:00 featuring more traditional and artistic settings which are usually associated with the Briskin Cantor-in-Residence concert. We sincerely hope that you will attend one (or both) of these!

We are indebted to Henra Briskin and family for continuing to bring us this incredible initiative each and every year.

I look forward to greeting you for the entire Shabbat and weekend.

Finally, I invite you to join me each Shabbat morning for our study session called L’Chayim. Subjects range from prayer and spirituality to current issues facing the conservative movement. The session runs from 8:45 until 9:15. Hope to see you!

B’Shalom,

Hazzan Martin Leubitz