Dear Congregation Beth Ohr,
This week I was privileged to join with Conservative and Masorti cantors from around the world at the Cantors Assembly convention in Florida.
What do cantors do at a convention? We sing, obviously!
We start each day in prayer. There are a variety of morning minyan options, from traditional to creative. I love davening with cantors. The music is so beautiful and the kavannah (intention) deeply heartfelt.
In addition to praying together, we had educational and reflective sessions each day.
There were lectures addressing liturgical aspects of certain specific prayer texts, and there were practical presentations of model services for each of our holy days.
We had assembly meetings that included presentations to those members, such as me, who have served communities for three years following investiture, and have now officially been “commissioned” by the CA.
There were pastoral seminars on hospice care, “healing arts,” and other topics.
There were several sessions exploring how the #metoo movement is impacting our communities and what are our roles as clergy.
Of course, there were multiple recitals, concerts, and late night open mic sessions, as most of our members love to perform for each other!
I was honored to be asked to perform one of my own songs as part of a concert titled Treasures of Yiddish Song. The concert was live streamed, and I’ve heard that several of our congregants enjoyed the opportunity to watch it on Facebook. Thank you for your support! I hope you enjoyed it.
The song I sang is called, A Khazn, A Froy. I wrote it as part of Yiddish Summer Weimar’s New Yiddish Song workshop in 2014. It is a humorous take on some of the things that people ask me, in my capacity as a female cantor. Here is an English translation of the lyrics:
CLICK HERE to watch A Khazn, A Froy
Composed by Cantor Sarah Myerson (music and lyrics)
Performed by Cantors Sarah Myerson, Jeff Warschauer, Ken Richmond, Sheldon Levin, Luis Cattan, Steven Walvick, Barbara Haimowitz, and violinist Deborah Strauss.
What do you mean, you're a hazzan [cantor]?
Do you mean a hazzante [feminine Yiddish but also traditionally a cantor's wife]?
A hazzanit [feminine Hebrew but also traditionally a cantor's wife, and a diminutive]?
Because, you're a woman.
You're correct, I'm a woman,
a woman-hazzan, a hazzan-woman.
Not a hazzante,
because I don't have a husband who's a hazzan.
Not a hazzanit,
though I'm a small hazzan.
A hazzan-woman, a woman-hazzan.
Madam Hazzan, you don't look like a hazzan,
with your purple suit, red shoes,
and manicured fingernails.
You're correct,
I lay my prayer shawl over a purple suit,
I pray standing in red shoes,
I wrap my phylacteries
around manicured fingers.
Tell me, Madam Hazzan,
why did you enter
a male profession?
You're correct,
I entered a male profession,
just like all of today’s female
doctors, lawyers, architects, police officers,
engineers, postal workers, astronauts, musicians. . .
(a ha!)
Tell me, Madam Hazzan,
may a woman-hazzan marry?
I have a nephew whose brother's a doctor.
You're correct,
a hazzan, of whatever gender,
may marry.
Your nephew should find his partner.
Perhaps I'll be a witness at his wedding.
Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom,
Cantor Sarah Myerson
Affiliated with United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism