Recently, Temple Shearith Israel
hosted the 21st Annual Women Cantors' Network Conference. Seventy women from
California to Maine gathered in Ridgefield, Connecticut on June 15-18, to study,
sing, play, and share stories and situations. For over 20 women, it was
their first conference. For me, it was a celebration of an original vision
I had in 1982. The Women Cantors' Network, or WCN, was my dream back then
as a safe, ego-free, supportive and nurturing environment for women cantors to
share music, knowledge, and experiences in the field. In 1981 I became the
second woman in a traditional conservative pulpit. I had no local
colleagues interested in friendship, camaraderie, or professional
meetings. At a Cantors Assembly convention in 1981 I sat at a table with
other women, some students at the Cantors Institute, some cantors in reform
pulpits and one in a conservative pulpit. I remember thinking, "we
really should get together and share our resources with each other."
Questions that were unique to women ran through my head. "What about
maternity leave?" "How do you manage with your growing family?"
"What is the role of your spouse?", and even the seemingly mundane,
but professionally crucial... "what do you wear on the pulpit?"
There were questions yet to be answered and questions that needed to be asked.
Contracts, accompanists, family time, temple responsibilities, social
obligations, Prayer- Music- Study- Professional Development, time for self
nourishment and growth. I decided to found the WCN and hold its first
conference at Congregation Beth El, in Norwalk, CT, my pulpit at the time.
From that original twelve, we have grown to over 190 from all over. Our
annual conferences are joyous celebrations of Jewish spirit, prayer and song. No
one is aware of your pulpit size, salary or job responsibilities. We are
there for each other- it is a caring environment that we cherish and long for
all year in between conferences. We always leave our conferences refreshed
and eager for the next one.
Our workshops ranged from the one and only Cantor Sol Zim sharing his
newer Shabbat compositions- singable, spirited and masterfully blending
Chazzanut with a pop/folk feel, and yet true to nusach- our prayer modes; Daily
Yoga with my dear congregant Valerie Rich; local treasured Rabbis, Jon Haddon,
Vivie Meyer, Leah Cohen offering words of Torah and wisdom. Our keynote speaker,
Francine Klagsbrun, spoke about her latest book, "The Fourth Commandment -
Remember the Sabbath Day". She shared memories of Shabbat growing up, and
how she integrates Shabbat in her own life and that of her grandchildren.
Francine Klagsbrun, a pioneer feminist, Judaic scholar, and author, graced our
conference and added her wisdom and tremendous experience as a modern Jewish
woman. We had workshops of new music by contemporary liturgical composers,
children's choir music and management, Festival Cantillation and the latest in
Jewish Wedding music by the editor of a brand new anthology. Dr. Margaret Astrup,
head of the vocal department at West Conn, shared her tips for a healthy voice,
and Hazzan JoAnn Rice led a choral singing and conducting workshop. Dr.
Don Gordon shared his knowledge about acid reflux and our vocal cords. Our
conference was further blessed with the talents of 30 women performing
favorite show stopping hits at an evening cabaret - infusing humor, wit,
talent, and spirit into our conference. It was an evening no one will
forget. Cantors need to gather and share just like every other
professional. It is a time to renew friendships and spirits - a time for
learning new music and sharing it with your congregations - an opportunity to be
open to new ideas and get recharged for the coming year. This past
conference was a labor of love- May we continue to share all the good that life
has to offer.