Cantors are responsible for the spiritual health and growth of synagogue's members. They prepare and lead worship services, singing, teaching, and help oversee all aspects of the synagogue and its role in the community. They are clergy members who are expected to advise and council congregants. Some may also be psychologists, as I am, or social workers. In the past, rabbis tended to do more counseling than cantors and were much more involved in community affairs, but that is no longer the case. The present day cantor is, generally, as highly educated as his rabbinic partner and is looked upon to participate in all aspects of Jewish communal life. Even those who do not have the additional education in counseling are at least trained to know when to refer congregants to counseling professionals. They visit the ill who are in the hospital and homebound. They, also, officiate at religious rites of passage, such as B’nai Mitzvah, weddings and funerals.

The rabbi and cantor are both spiritual leaders of their congregation. The rabbi’s primary function is that of teacher and in more observant congregations, the one who decides upon the path both the congregation and its congregants should follow through his interpretation of Jewish law. The cantor's primary focus is leading the congregation in prayers and rituals. In many cases based on the strength of the individual clergy the roles of rabbi and cantor often overlap.

Today, the calling of the cantor is going through a number of changes. He is no longer just the expert on the service and Jewish music. The new curriculums at the various seminaries stress a higher level of teaching and counseling skills to go along with the required musical abilities. Smaller congregations are now, as in olden days, turning to cantors to be there sole spiritual leaders, due to their wider skill set.

Cantors are called upon to respond to congregants in crises. Being a clergyman is a people-intensive job, which means having excellent communication skills is a must. Cantors just as much as their rabbinic partners must be able to listen to their congregants, understand their needs, and respond to them in a meaningful way. But the most important characteristics of both rabbis and cantors is that they are compassionate beings with an ability to bring God's presence into their community.

If you are interested in helping others come closer to God and enjoy reaching out to others in need, then maybe becoming a member of the clergy might be the right career for you, as well. I am proud to have been a mentor to one such person since coming to B’nai Moshe. Zachary Mondrow is someone who I have had the opportunity to see grow in his Judaism and help lead him to the calling of Shaliach Tzibbur.

On June 6th of last year, we celebrated the ordination of Hazzan Zachary Mondrow from the H. L. Miller Cantorial School of the Jewish Theological Seminary here at Congregation B’nai Moshe. He was the first cantor to have grown up in our congregation. During the weekend of November 4-6, Ilana and I were invited to participate in the installation of Hazzan Mondrow in his congregation in Boyton Beach Florida, Temple Torah. Zach and I began the weekend celebration with a Kabbalat Shabbat service doing duets together with a live band. Shabbat morning Zach honored me by adding a number of my songs to his service content. On Sunday evening Zach and I were joined by Cantor Propis, Past President of the Cantors Assembly, Cantor Alberto Mizrahi, one of Zach mentors at the seminary and a local Florida Cantor and friend, Steven Heavenstone, in an installation concert and desert reception. In attendance were many Florida Cantorial colleagues who came to honor Zach’s installation, a number of B’nai Moshe members and over 900 people from the community.