The High Holidays are approaching fast— Erev Rosh Hashanah is Friday, September 15th! And we have two important updates.
The first is that, after nearly ten years as our High Holiday cantorial soloist, Janet Encarnacion has opted to take this year off in order to spend time with family and on an important work project. We will greatly miss her voice at services. Thankfully, Janet is still leading the choir, and they will help lead our community in song again this year.
The second update is that we are delighted to announce that, following a search led by Rabbi Talya, Rabbi Ezra D. Weinberg has agreed to serve as High Holidays Cantor this year. Rabbi Ezra was ordained in 2009 by the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College (RRC), where he followed in the footsteps of his mother. (He was the first child of an RRC graduate to enroll!) He has a wide range of experience serving Jewish communities. From 2006 to 2018, he served as shaliach tzibur (prayer leader) for High Holiday services at Congregation Kol Tzedek in Philadelphia, leading the musical aspects of prayer and helping develop some of the services. He has served in that same role, as a visiting rabbi, or facilitator for congregations in Pennsylvania, Florida, and New York City. He has also worked extensively with camp and children’s Shabbat and musical programs, originating a “Ukulele Shabbat” at the YM&YWHA of Washington Heights in Manhattan.
Whether he is working as a shaliach tzibur, a Jewish educator, a song leader or a Jewish camp professional, Reb Ezra’s role in the Jewish community and beyond always comes back to his ability to lift spirits and create community. Among his various projects he officiates weddings and B’nai Mitzvah, he teaches courses on connecting to Jewish prayer and he helps communities get unstuck around the topic of “Israel.” He also teaches a course at Fairleigh Dickinson University, alongside a priest and an imam called, “One G-d, Three Paths.” He also runs ReVoice—a Journey of Discovery for Jews Going Through Divorce. He is a native Philadelphian and holds an MA in Conflict Transformation.
Reb Ezra shared these thoughts: “I’m thrilled to be working with CAA for High Holidays. Some of what pulled me toward your community: I’ve known Rabbi Talya for close to half of my life and hold her in very high esteem and feel like I could really complement her. Also, I have heard about CAA for years through knowing Rabbi Elyse.”
Reb Ezra is already meeting with Rabbi Talya and others to help plan and prepare for the High Holidays. I hope you will join us in warmly welcoming him as we celebrate this special time of the year.
