Cantor’s Report Finance

Submitted by: Donna M. Azu

This July will mark my four years serving as Cantor at Temple Shalom. I continue to be very happy working with Rabbi Miller, Caren Plotkin, Seyla Cohen, the Temple Board and our fantastic office staff who are committed to our Temple. I consider Temple Shalom my home and I look forward to many continued opportunities to serve our members as clergy, musician and Jewish educator.

B’Shira,

From Bimah to Broadway

As part of our Temple fundraising efforts, with my fantastic committee chaired by Nancy Wiadro, I organized a concert entitled “From Bimah to Broadway”. I was joined by three talented Cantors from around the United States for this evening of music. This was the first time a Cantor’s concert was held at Temple Shalom and the evening was a huge success. We had 600 attendees and raised almost $100,000. I look forward to presenting many more concerts in the future!

Worship and Music

My musical choices have reflected my desire of using eclectic music that aims to please different ages and backgrounds of our congregants. I try to make the services truly upbeat, spirited and soulful at the same time. I like to combine compositions of contemporary American Jewish composers that are becoming standard repertoire of Reform services as well as traditional Jewish folk melodies and Cantorial chants (Hazannut). I also try to engage the congregants to sing a long and to create a more participatory service. As I believe that singing or praying together has a special value and is one of the ways of building a strong community. Between the months of October and May we continue to dedicate the first Friday of the month to our 6pm Shir Joy Shabbat service giving our Religious school students and Jr. choir an opportunity to be involved in leading parts of the service. Jane Galler joins me in in leading this lively service. We have also continued our successful Shabbat and Havdalah services on the beach.

Adult Choir

The volunteer Choir rehearses twice a month on Thursday’s from 6:30-8pm under the direction of Musical Director Peter Lewis. Peter and I work closely together in choosing the music for each choir Shabbat. We currently have 21 members of the choir.

High Holy Days

On the High Holy Days, we engaged 8 professional singers to join the choir and we had 6 weeks of rehearsal dedicated to preparing for the holidays. In addition we had 15 of our students chant Torah during the holiday. I organized the Torah readers, made Torah recordings of what they were chanting, and met with many of them regularly to insure that they were prepared.

I started teaching Torah Trope class last year in our Religious School 6th Grade. The students acquire the necessary skills that will help them chanting Torah at their Bar/Bat Mitzvah services. In the past year I have noticed a higher level of readiness and confidence as students begin the B’nai Mitzvah tutoring process.

B’nei Mitzvah

This year we have 29 students in our B’nei Mitzvah program. Our tutor’s Perry Switzen, Dr. Michael Rubner, Howard Moeckler, and Hari Jacobsen are continuing to teach and contribute their time to the success of our students. Each student receives 28 one hour long tutoring sessions beginning 7-8 months prior to their date. Our B’nei Mitzvah program has always focused on meeting the needs of our individual students. I have loved this special time getting to know Temple Shalom’s students and families and sharing a momentous sacred celebration with them. Our B’nei Mitzvah services receive compliments and praises form the guests and family members.

9th Grade Confirmation

During the year students learned about Comparative Religion. In my class we learned about each of the world's major religions and how Judaism is both similar and different from them. Part of the year was spent learning about Jew’s living outside of the United States. Although there are Jews living around the world, each culture has their own unique way of expressing and celebrating their Judaism. We explored the traditions, music, clothing, and food of Jews around the world.

Rosh Chodesh

Temple Shalom’s Rosh Chodesh Group - a Women’s Gathering meets monthly at 5:30 pm on the Thursday Closest to Rosh Chodesh. Jane Perman and I lead a wide variety of activities and discussions that center around issues of importance to Jewish women, deepening learning and promoting spiritual growth. Together, the group meet’s to celebrate the new month and their lives as empowered Jewish women; learning and sharing as a community

Adult Education

Over the summer I taught Shabbat 101. A three part course using biblical text and music, we looked at the history behind where many of our Shabbat customs come from and how they have evolved over time.

Last year I taught an adult Torah Trope class where student’s learned how to chant from the bible. I’m happy to say that 3 of my students from the class used the skills they learned last year and chanted Torah for the first time at our Shabbat morning service’s this past March.

Purim

Due to the success of last year’s Purim Spiel performed by congregants, we once again engaged Marc Simon to write this year’s Spiel, “Little Orphan Esther” based on the musical “Little Orphan Annie”. Fifteen congregants including myself, Rabbi Miller, and Miss Jane met for a month to rehearse. The entire Purim Spiel team succeeded to create a show that was funny and educational at the same time.

I was happy to once again be involved in various Temple Seders’. I co-led the Women’s Seder with Caren Plotkin as well as our annual Community Second Night Seder with Rabbi Miller. This year also marked the fourth year that I have organized and lead the Children’s Chocolate Seder. It’s always a joy watching the kids sing and dance while their faces and hands are smeared with chocolate!

Community Involvement

In the greater collier county community I was involved in the Catholic-Jewish Dialogue Kristallnacht service, the Interfaith Thanksgiving service, Federation candle lighting at the Mercato, Chanukah Tea, community Yom HaShoa service, as well as PFLAG. Nationally, I serve on the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music Alumni working group.