NJC welcomes Cantorial Soloist Cheryl Eitman

Steve McCloskey, President

For the first time in over 25 years, Naples Jewish Congregation is welcoming a new cantorial soloist to grace our bima for the High Holy Days. Our beloved Jane Galler, along with Music Director Alla Gorelik, were our musical anchors in years past. Cantorial Soloist Cheryl Eitman will spiritually enhance our worship experience by uplifting us in song during these upcoming Days of Awe.

Eitman hails from the Cleveland area, where she was raised as a Reform Jew, attending both Hebrew school and Sabbath school. Growing up, she celebrated all of the Jewish life cycle events, including her bat mitzvah and confirmation.

As an adult Reform Jew, she reveled in the experience of witnessing her four daughters become b’nai mitzvot. Family serves to ground Eitman and she derives daily inspiration from her daughters, Blaise, Tanner, Saige and Jolie, who all lead productive and fulfilling lives. Blaise, who has Down Syndrome and lives with Eitman, is a high-functioning artist and theater performer.

Throughout Eitman’s life, connection to her Judaism has deepened over time. One of her first jobs was as activity director at a Jewish nursing home where she helped residents strengthen ties to their faith. She has been fortunate to have formed an indelible bond with Israel in her three trips there. Two trips were with Momentum, which empowers women to change our world through transformational Jewish values. The third trip, with Jewish Federation of Cleveland, celebrated Israel’s 75th birthday.

Eitman’s journey as cantorial soloist began when a cantor from Israel encouraged her to study to be a cantorial soloist. Eitman worked with two different cantors to pursue that goal. She first served as a substitute cantorial soloist and then became a cantorial soloist for the High Holy Days, for Shabbat services and b’nai mitzvot at several synagogues in the Cleveland area, as well as at a Jewish nursing home. Eitman has been singing cantorial renditions at temples and other venues for more than 22 years now.

Eitman’s “day job” is quite unique. She is a clinical trials research nurse at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center. Because of her passion for singing and its therapeutic value, she often sings to her patients. While she is not formally trained as clergy, the spiritual essence of her cantorial soloist work has set her up nicely to support and comfort her patients and families.

Eitman has an extensive background in community theater, performing in musicals — including lead roles in “My Fair Lady” and “Mary Poppins” — as well as an opera that was recorded and broadcast locally on PBS. This other musical outlet has instilled in her the confidence to radiantly project her stage/bima presence and enabled her to keep her calm when things sometimes go awry. Being a dual musical force has enhanced both her sacred and popular singing.

Since Eitman is coming to NJC for her first High Holy Days, her primary emphasis is learning new liturgical music in NJC’s High Holy Days repertoire. Eitman has been working with Gorelik via Zoom. She also met and rehearsed with Gorelik and our choir at the end of May.

Imbued with a beautiful voice and tender soul, Eitman hopes to engage NJC with spiritually meaningful prayer through sacred music. She strongly believes one only grows outside one’s comfort zone. Taking on this new challenge to lead NJC in joyful, solemn and sacred song is an example of Eitman living what she teaches.

Our congregation eagerly anticipates Eitman’s participation in our High Holy Days services, thereby cementing lasting friendships with her.