Women Cantors' Network

FALL 2011 Women Cantors’ Network Robin Anne Joseph, President Gail F. Nalven, Editor From the President’s Pockets “If you’re not hitting some wrong notes, you’re probably not playing hard enough.” ~John Coltrane, jazz saxophonist I play hard. As is evident from the sprain and fracture I sustained on my left foot due to a poorly played ground ball in a softball game just mere days after the WCN Conference this year. I don’t always injure myself when I play ball, but I play not worrying about whether I will. I think about this as we approach another New Year. Have I hit some wrong notes? Have I been playing hard enough? It’s interesting to think that the two might be intertwined"that giving it my all may not necessarily result in the “right notes”, but rather some other unintentioned sound. And that these “wrong notes” might just be the outcome that indicates that we’re living our lives to the fullest. My rabbi has told a story about a time when he facetiously told his piano tuner that he didn’t have to tune the whole piano, only whatever notes were needed to play the four songs from Les Miserables that he knows. The tuner responded, “No, I’ll need to tune all of them, because when you play those four songs, you may hit some wrong notes.” We may hit some wrong notes this year, yet they may have been by-products of all the right notes that we have tried so hard to play. I think that as long as we’re playing our hardest, all of our life’s notes will be imbued with meaning. May you all have a good, sweet, and meaningful New Year! -Robin Anne Joseph Clockwise: Lisa B. Segal, Arlyne Unger, Ellen Allard & Abby Gostein, Judy Ribnick, Monday morning! Torah Reading, outside the museum in Philadelphia PAGE 1 FALL 2011 PHILADELPHIA CONFERENCE WRAP-UP Shir Ha’pa’amon Rings Out at the ready. Standing on the second level, Rosenzweig and Curator Josh National Museum of American overlooking the Museum’s atrium, with Perelman. In the first of several Jewish History Lori on the stairs above, and Abby mystical occurrences this day, Mr. by Laura Lewis Mandeles Gostein on guitar, the voices of the Rosenzweig informed us that museum !It is safe to say that we are all Women Cantors Network truly “rang attendance was unusually high this day, still kvelling at the thought of the out” for everyone in the museum to which just happened to be the day of WCN performance of Lori Sumberg’s hear. The experience of singing Lori’s the first musical performance in the commissioned composition at the new composition in that space was museum. NMAJH. If you haven’t seen it yet, or memorable"our voices filled it We then gathered on the if you would just like to see it again, completely. second floor balcony for the click here: http://www.facebook.com/ And, of course, performance. Lori shouted over the video/video.php?v=10150651153065287. we ended with a crowd of museum guests to explain her We had one hour on “shehecheyanu” inspiration for this composition, giving Monday, June 13th, to learn Lori’s that really raised voice to the Liberty Bell which has wonderful piece, ”Shir Ha’pa’amon.” the rafters. been sitting silently for over 200 years, Lori spent the first few minutes Philadelphia’s just across from the museum. describing the piece and how she public radio Following our performance, we treated thought about her assignment from the station, WHYY, museum guests to a Shehecheyanu, Commissioning Committee, which was was there and Siman Tov U-mazel tov, and spontaneous to write a piece of choral music for broadcast a story dancing. women’s voices built on the words that very Now we were free to inscribed on the Liberty Bell: “We evening. explore the museum. Each floor is proclaim liberty throughout the land It was a spiritual and devoted to a period of the history of and to all the inhabitants thereof,” musical highlight of the conference Jews in America, starting in 1654. At an Leviticus 25:10. worthy of many such inspiring interactive exhibit about the Ellis The Bell, Lori explained, is moments that can only be experienced Island immigration experience, I took a musical instrument that has been with the WCN. an aptitude test that was used to silent for many years, but in its determine if potential immigrants were brokenness and silence are nevertheless WCN Visit to the National of sound mind to be allowed to enter “historical and mystical powers.” She Museum of American Jewish the United States. I passed! thought of the Bell as “a character History Though we explored the looking over the sweep of the country by Diane Weil museum independently, a crowd of and capturing its essence,” and wrote On Tuesday afternoon, we WCN members could be found in the her piece in the spirit of two songs that set o% for a field trip to the National post-1945 experience section proudly famously do that very well: “This Land Museum of American Jewish History, standing in front of an exhibit with the is Your Land” and “Yerushalayim Shel which relocated to a new building on WCN emblem. This section also had a Zahav.” Independence Mall in Philadelphia in display of 1960’s artifacts. Included is a “Shir Ha’pa’amon” “gives the November, 2010. The Museum has 1962 letter that Debbie wrote to Sak’s Liberty Bell back her voice . extra significance for us as it houses the Fifth Avenue, complaining about the ‘proclaim Liberty across the land’ is her some of the archives of Cantor Adolf lack of Hanukkah decorations in their prayer.” As the song opens, we hear Katchko, Cantor Debbie Katchko- store windows, as well as the reply from the tears of the Bell"American tears Gray, and WCN, all donated by WCN a Saks o(cial. Also in that display was a and Jewish tears"but as it builds founder Debbie Katchko-Gray. wedding veil and a photo of the bride toward the end, the song turns to the Our expedition began as we wearing the veil. In the second mystical hope that the Bell will one day ring entered the bus after lunch. Singing occurrence of the day, Debbie stood in again. “The Wheels on the Bus” (thankfully) front of her letter, and explained to a The one hour of rehearsal transitioned to Shir Hapa’amon/Song of woman also viewing the display that was all we needed. When we arrived at the Be", as Lori Sumberg valiantly she was the author of the letter. The the Museum the next day, we were rehearsed us in preparation for the woman responded by telling Debbie performance at the museum. that she was the bride in the photo! At our arrival at the In the remaining time, we museum, we were greeted by visited Philadelphia attractions and ate CEO and President Michael dinner. ! PAGE 2 FALL 2011 PHILADELPHIA CONFERENCE WRAP-UP Dr. Dan Gottlieb thoughtful advice within the changing face of by Jan Morrison framework of compassion that he had marriage by Dr. Dan Gottlieb, been discussing. using the words introduced to the conference Dr. Gottlieb’s presence “partners” or attendees by his very dear friend, was both heartwarming and “husband and Anita Hochman, is a psychologist and meaningful. During his time with us, wife” instead of Jessi Roemer author. He began his career as a he quoted a wonderful poet named “man and wife.” family therapist in 1969. But a near Mark Nepo's poem called "Accepting Tfilah Atika in the fatal car this." (marknepo.com). It was a Shalshelet song book can also be used accident wonderful experience to be in Dr. for same sex marriages. Music from in 1979 Gottlieb's presence. Hazzan Charles Davidson was shared, changed Dr. Gottlieb has authored including Ana Dodi. Cantor Raymond his life several books, including The Wisdom Smolover’s beautiful music from the and left of Sam, Learning from the Heart, and Song of Songs was shared by Deborah him Voices of Conflict, Voices of Healing. Jacobson. (His music can be accessed paralyzed All can be purchased from his through the URJ website and in from the website, Drdangottlieb.com. WCN packet). A beautiful and lush chest down. version of El Ginat Egos, written by Dan Gottlieb He has used Sara Levy-Taina and found in TMP’s with Anita Hochman Songs in the Key of Love his skills and by Jan Morrison Kol Dodi was shared. his own personal experience to help Presented by Anita Hochman, The last song of the all- countless others. Deborah Jacobson, Patty Kaplan, too-short workshop was one written Dr. Gottlieb's talk was full Kathy Sebo, and Lisa B. Segal, by Sue Roemer, of blessed memory, of insightful, funny, elegant, and including Meara Lebovitz and Jessi and sung by Jessi Roemer. Nati’s Song profoundly wise comments, inviting Roemer. was written on the occasion us to become more than we are. He !Beautiful songs of the birth of Jessi’s son. used the premise, "What does it mean of love for life cycle There were no dry eyes in to be human, to have a life?" to events were chosen for the room. expand our levels of compassion and our learning and listening So many songs and so little become more open. He suggested pleasure by Anita time: this workshop was that there are four words to making Hochman and her filled with renderings that the world a better place: "tell me a wonderful “back-up gave us possibilities for life story." “What is it like to be you? band.” Deborah Jacobson cycle events to make all feel What is it like to be in your skin? Two versions welcome.

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