"You Have a Voice!"

“I’m not a cantor.”

Surrounded by more than 200 cantors at the American Conference of Cantors (ACC) Convention 2025 in Washington DC earlier this month, this was my mantra as I introduced myself throughout the gathering.

Thank you, thank you, thank you WRJ for honoring me and Andrea Stillman by inviting us to represent WRJ at the ACC Convention and Kolot HaDorot Concert.

First on our agenda was Shacharit (morning prayer) in the ballroom of the convention hotel. The acoustics in the room were perfect for the voices of all cantors and Guild of Temple Musicians (GTM) to fill the room. I still get chills thinking about the melodies, harmonies, piano, guitars, and percussion instruments during T’filah (the prayer service). It was the ultimate experience of surround sound. And this was just the beginning!

Cantors flowed into the room, each with the Convention and musical apps on their personal iPad and sat wherever they wanted, resulting in voices of different ranges all around me. Can you imagine the Sh’ma in multi-part harmony? I felt intimidated to sing during the service, vacillating between a timid participant and awe-struck observer. It took me a while to figure out that I might as well sing, because nobody would notice my tiny voice in a room so full of talent.

My usual expectation for a “keynote speaker” is a speaker. In this setting, I should not have been surprised that Michah Hendler, “Musical Changemaker,” founder and artistic director of the Jerusalem Youth Chorus (JYC), was presenting an exciting musical keynote – “Leading With Our Voices” - with everyone’s participation. JYC is an Israeli-Palestinian music and dialogue project, working to build bridges with youth in Israel.

Following the keynote was a rehearsal for “all sing” Shehecheyanu. I can still feel the room vibrating with the energy and voices of the cantors and conductor. This prayer has taken on a very special meaning and “voice” for me.

The workshops followed themes familiar to Jews today. They included “Harmonies for Change: Using music to facilitate discussion of social change in your community” with Micah Hendler, “Min HaMeitzar: Moving Toward a Gender-Expansive Practice” with Cantor Ze’evi Tovlev, “Exploring Leadership Through Three Theories of Social Change” with Yolanda Savage Narva from the Religious Action Center, and “See Humanity from Across the Divide” with Rabbi Rachel Schmelkin from Washington Hebrew Congregation.

Throughout the week we participated in convention events: a presidential address from Cantor Seth Warner; convention preview and greetings from HUC-JIR; a dessert reception sponsored by the first female cantor, honoree Cantor Barbara Ostfeld, and Todd Joseph; installation of ACC and GTM officers; presentation of the Kolot HaDorot publication; greetings from Rabbi Josh Weinberg of ARZA; a final keynote panel discussion: “Using Your Voice to lead with Passion;” and Union for Reform Judaism Board Chair and WRJ Board Member Shelley Nicely Groff leading HaMotzi at the dinner before the concert.

Wednesday was a long day, and my plan was to go home to Maryland and rest after the workshops ended. I was thinking that I would attend the dinner and concert, and rest at home instead of attending Ma’ariv (evening prayer). I am a music person. As I was driving home, all I could think about was that I would miss the voices of Ma’ariv. I was so taken in by the melodies of these cantors, that I changed quickly and went directly to Washington Hebrew Congregation.

The Ma’ariv, “Celebrating 50 Years of Women in the Cantorate,” in the small family chapel at Washington Hebrew Congregation added another unforgettable experience to this convention. The chapel was filled with cantors, GTM members, and friends from the musical community. This is my home congregation, and I’ve spent many hours in that chapel. It’s a small space, but it seemed so much larger with so many vibrant, beautiful sounds filling every space, from the seats to the ceiling. Maybe because I was comfortable in my home synagogue, or maybe because I spent three days being surrounded by passionate cantors, I was easily swept up by the music of the prayers and put my fear of singing to rest.

WRJ was highlighted throughout the convention and concert. There were pop-up banners displayed in the convention area and at WHC, with WRJ and our colorful logo boldly displayed. We were the top name on the Concert program cover, and there was a large logo on the inside cover, thanking us as donors. Andrea and I were thanked so many times for representing WRJ at the Convention and Concert. We were equally thrilled to be there.

When I introduced myself as a former WRJ Board member to our first female cantor honoree, Barbara Ostfeld (in the ladies’ room, of course!), she grabbed both of my hands and brought them to her heart in a loving and appreciative gesture. She told me how much WRJ and our support mean to her and to the ACC. WRJ had an even bigger presence as former WRJ Board Member Rachel Roth is the Chief Operating Officer of the ACC! She was grateful that we were attending.

KOLOT HADOROT, Voices of the Generations, Celebrating 50 Years of Women in the Cantorate – The Concert

This outstanding work of music, chaired by Cantor Susan Bortnick from Washington Hebrew Congregation and Cantor Sydney Michaeli from Temple Rodeph Shalom in Virginia, was a masterpiece. It featured choirs made up of “the First Generation of Female Cantors,” “Kolot Zahav (First Generation Female Cantors, Retired Cantors, and Cantors Ordained prior to 1995)” choir, an “Eight Voice” choir, “Sixteen voice” choir, and the Local Metropolitan DC area and Baltimore Choir.

As taken from the concert program, “The first half of our concert this evening presents music that underscores Barbara Ostfeld’s path to the Cantorate. The first to open the gates of the Cantorate to women (Pitchu Li), Barbara paved the way for others to follow (L’dor Vador). While Barbara’s path was not easy, she persevered, as did the first generation of women who followed her (Adonai S’fatai Tiftach). While not everyone welcomed women in the Cantorate, Barbara found support and mentorship in her childhood cantor and others at Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion (Ozi Vzimrat Yah).  Change is never easy, however the welcoming of women into the Cantorate eventually led to the diverse Cantorate we have today, a Cantorate in which our communities see themselves as justly represented in their clergy (Al Shlosha D’varim).”

Preceding the choirs and soloists singing each of the five parts of the concert – “Opening the Gates,” “Women’s Voices Prior to Ordination,” “Entering the Cantorate,” “Highlights from the Jewish Musical Canon,” and “Celebration” – Cantor Ostfeld led us through her personal experiences matching each theme. Yes, her journey to the Cantorate was challenging, but she also shared her delightful sense of humor in these vignettes.  

Throughout the convention leaders and participants shared personal thoughts and created emotional spaces. Micah Handler’s theme song was “Put one foot in front of the other and lead with love.” Someone else shared, “We experienced beautiful sounds in a time and place where there’s so much sadness in the world, people need to cry.”  

As the concert ended, I was overwhelmed by the voices of these dedicated, talented cantors, musicians, and Cantor Ostfeld. Their voices are a reminder that “You Have a Voice!”

Thank you for listening to mine.