Notes from the Cantor

     These eight years have been a wonderful period of my life. I have enjoyed being your Cantor, as well as teaching the Adult B'nai Mitzvah students, teaching trope to the 6th and 7th grade children, teaching Adult education courses, performing in Cantors' Concerts for fund-raisers for the temple, teaching the Junior choir and having the Jr. choir perform for several Jr. choir festivals in the area and working with the Or Chadash singers for various programs-sermons in song, the Composer in Residence program last year with Simon Sargon, performing with the region's choirs from the Jewish community for the Jose Bowen Klezmer and Jazz Services, one for the American Conference of Cantors' convention in 2001 and the second at Gaston Hall at Georgetown University with Mr. Bowen as the Scholar-in-Residence.
     The two Shabbat services with the choir from Congregation B'nai Abraham (my home temple) was also a thrill for me and was the first combination choir program in which the Or Chadash singers participated.  The concert in 2005 at Strathmore Hall was an exceptional one since the concert hall had just opened one month prior to our performance there.  Our recent concert for Israel's 60th birthday was also a positive one.
     I appreciate having the opportunity to know you and learn with you.  My life has been full and rich due to being your Cantor for these last eight years.
     If you would like to contact me after I leave, my email address and phone number will remain the same.
     I would like to thank the Board of Directors, Pat Schrock, Rabbi Tuchman, Marcy Bixby, Ron Isaacson, Cantor Margaret Brenner, Roxanne Schueller, Nina Blecher and Kimberly Hess.

L'hitraot,
Cantor Susan Berkson

Rabbi’s Column  April May 2008    

Our Epic and Our Cantor

     In ancient and medieval times there were works or epic literature, usually poetry, which came to be recognized as national epics.  They usually had to do with the founding of a nation, like The Aeneid  for Rome or The Song of Roland for France.
     It has been said that the Bible is the Jewish epic, and within the Bible, the foundation story is the Torah.  This story takes us from the life of Abraham to the death of Moses, with the Israelites poised to cross the Jordan River into the Land of Promise.
     And among the pivotal events in the Torah, two of the most important are the Exodus from slavery in Egypt and the making of the covenant between God and the Jewish people, whose symbol is the Ten Commandments.
     Two of our major festivals, Pesach and Shavuot, commemorate these events.  On April 19 we will gather around our household Seder tables to tell the story of the Exodus, and to eat the foods and sing the songs that help us to imagine ourselves in the company of our ancestors leaving Egypt.  The next evening is our Temple Seder and I hope to see many of you there.
     As a little bonus, on Sunday morning, April 20th, Temple Shalom in Chevy Chase will host us and two other congregations for a service at 10:30 AM.  It is preceded at 9:00 by the annual Rabbis' Matzah Brei Cook-off.  I am a proud participant and I will again be making my signature dish, Matzah Brei Mexicana.  So come early and we'll have breakfast together!
     Shavuot begins on the evening of Sunday June 8 and we will celebrate it with our 10th grade confirmation students who are completing their individual journeys of deepening their Jewish identities.  They will lead the service and will share their thoughts with us.  This is a festival for us all, and not just for families and friends of the class.  You will be impressed, as I am each year byt the great understanding and appreciation they show for their Jewish heritage.  Let's make this a major Temple event and enjoy their accomplishments together.
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     I join all of you in regret in saying "L'hitra'ot" (we'll see you again) to Cantor Susan Berkson.  For eight years she has made our worship richer and more meaningful with her beautiful voice, her solid musicianship and the depth of her knowledge.  She has taught us in the Sanctuary and the classroom and helped to guide us in our Jewish journeys.  Music, sung and chanted is such an important part of Jewish spirituality and Cantor Berkson has shared so much with us.  We will all miss her and all that she has brought to Congregation Or Chadash.
     Personally, this has been the first time in my career that I have worked with another clergy-person on staff and the first time I have had the good fortune to work year-round with an invested Cantor.  All of this has enriched my rabbinic experience.  I place a lot of value on having such a dependable "team mate" on the bimah.  In addition, Cantor Berkson has excellent taste in music and a fine sense of what will "work" in a given service or situation. 
     Along with all of you, I wish her well and hope that our paths will cross again.

L'shalom and Chag Sameach,
Rabbi Paul Tuchman
                                                                   

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