Beth El Cantorial Candidate Priorities
After discussion of our personal commitments and the qualities expressed by congregants at the town hall meetings, we set the following priorities in the candidates we will consider for our position:
- Knows liturgy and is able to lead ANY religious service with the proper nusach; this includes the ability to read Torah,
Haftorah, and megillot
- Has a pleasant (or even glorious!) voice that we can sing with
- Has the experience/ability to work with b'nai mitzvah students (teaching experience)
- Makes a connection with all congregants; motivates/challenges/inspires/nurtures us;
serves as a role model and has a vision; is a 'people person'
- Is able to control his/her schedule and has solid organizational skills; this is necessary in order to: manage the b'nai mitzvah process and manage the Torah/Haftorah/megillah reading (both to manage schedules and individuals' skill sets)
- Is innovative in programming with things like concerts and maintaining a choir
As part of our ongoing process to keep the Congregation informed as to the processes in place to evaluate candidates for the position of Cantor at Beth El Synagogue, the committee wanted to share the evaluation forms being used as we move forward in our search.
Click here to see the Cantor Application Review Form.
Click here to see the Cantor CD Evaluation form
Thank you for your input at our "Town Hall" meetings and we look forward to hearing from you.
Kol Tuv,
The Committee
Hazzan Sarah Alexander
We are pleased and happy to announce a visit from our first Cantorial candidate, Hazzan Sarah Alexander. She will be joining us for the weekend of April 4th - April 6th to participate in the weekend's activities, including assisting with Men's Club Shabbat.
Hazzan Alexander currently resides in the Chicago metropolitan area with her husband Daniel and their son Aaron.
Kol Tuv,
The Committee
(The photo is of our Cantorial candidate, Hazzan Sarah Alexander, with her mentor Hazzan Shuster.)
Click Here for the Feedback Form for Hazzan Alexander!
Feedback DUE by April 16!
Brief Bio Of Hazzan Alexander
Schedule of Events Open to the Congregation with Hazzan Alexander
4/4 - Daven Kabbalat Shabbat with Rabbi Levin and Deliver D'var Torah
4/5 - Daven Shacharit at 9:45am (Thanks to Men's Club for sharing the bimah!)
Chant two Torah portions
Congregational Kiddush luncheon to follow - Please introduce yourself to Hazzan Alexander & family!
Daven Mincha/ Ma'ariv/Havdallah and chant Torah portions
4/6 - Daven Shacharit at 9am
Cantor Beth Schlossberg
We are pleased and happy to announce a visit from our second Cantorial candidate, Cantor Beth Schlossberg. Cantor Schlossberg will be joining us April 9-10. The schedule of events during her visit will be announced shortly.
Kol Tuv,
The Committee
Click Here for the Feedback Form for Cantor Schlossberg!
Feedback DUE by April 16!
Brief Bio Of Cantor Schlossberg
- Graduating Jewish Theological Seminary in May 2008
- Bachelor of Music with a Major in Voice Performance from University of Michigan
- Children's Musical Director at Park Avenue Synagogue in New York
- Current Student Cantor at Beth Chaim Synagogue in Malvern, PA
Schedule of Events Open to the Congregation with Cantor Schlossberg
4/9 - Daven Mincha/Ma’ariv at 5:30pm
4/10 Morning - Morning Minyan, Daven Shacharit & Read Torah at 7am
4/10 Evening - Musical Presentation at 7:30pm with dessert reception to follow - Please introduce yourself to Cantor Schlossberg!
Search
Committee Statement
We are grateful to Cantor Bogomolni for the six years of dedication, enthusiasm, and inspiration he has shared with the Beth El community, and wish him and his family nothing but the best as they make the transition to this new chapter in their lives. L’hitraot – until we see you again.
While we will miss Cantor Bogomolni, this is an exciting opportunity for Beth El Synagogue. We have a warm, vibrant, active, and welcoming Conservative Jewish community, and this is our chance to attract the best and the brightest to our doors.
To that end, we have completed an attractive job description and application to the Cantors Assembly, the primary professional organization of cantors in the Conservative Movement. The application process was completed by the Executive Committee in late February to ensure that Beth El was on the list of job openings that was distributed to candidates.
Beth El President Sally Zipursky has appointed
Toby Schonfeld to chair the Search Committee for the Cantor. Toby has been hard at work preparing the documents for the Cantor’s Assembly and assembling the search committee to assist her with the remaining tasks of choosing Beth El’s new cantor. The search committee includes:
• Toby Schonfeld, Chair
• Carol Gendler
• Cary Grossman
• Sara Juster
• Gloria Kaslow
• Lisa Lieb
• Stanley Mitchell
• Ozzie Nogg
• Alan Parsow
• Steve Pitlor
• Nancy Rips
• Ben Shapiro
• Holly Weill
• Sally Zipursky (ex officio)
• Rabbi Levin
As the committee completes its various tasks, Toby will update this website with information, so please check back frequently.
We are hopeful that we will be able to recruit a first-rate cantor to Omaha rather quickly, and have prepared an attractive package to facilitate this aim. However, in the event that we are not successful in a timely fashion, please be assured that there are contingency plans in place to ensure a smooth transition, both in terms of religious services and in the training of our children for b’nai mitzvah. More details are forthcoming about these plans as the situation warrants.
Finally, any questions about the process of the Cantor Search should be directed to the Search committee chair, Toby Schonfeld, at
tschonfeld@unmc.edu or at 402-861-1811. She is happy to talk with you about your suggestions in selecting the new Cantor.
Click here to see what came out of the three Town Hall Meetings!
