From Jeff Bleiweis, Search Committee Chair
April 5, 2023
What a way to start a holiday!
It is with great pleasure and excitement that I can announce that Am Yisrael has a new Cantor. We reached an agreement with Cantor Dara Rosenblatt late yesterday afternoon, and her contract is signed, sealed and delivered.
We are very happy that we found Cantor Rosenblatt. She will be a welcome addition to the Am Yisrael family. She has an exuberance on the bimah which is palpable and infectious. She connected with our congregants, both during services and socially. She spent some time in SJS and was a hit with our kids. She has a beautiful voice and will be a great partner to Rabbi Newman Kamin. Most importantly, she will be a fitting successor to Cantor Simon and will continue his legacy and commitment to engaging with our members.
Hiring Cantor Rosenblatt is the easy part. Now comes the hard part. When she joins us on July 15, 2023, it will be our responsibility to welcome her and help her transition to her new role. I hope that you will help support her once she becomes our Cantor, as you did when she visited Am Yisrael in February. More details will be forthcoming as we get closer to her start date.
In closing, I want to say that it has been an honor to serve as chair of the search committee. My father was involved in the search for Cantor Simon, and, now, forty years later, I have been involved in the search for his successor. Nothing would make me happier than, if forty years from now, my children are involved in the search for Cantor Rosenblatt’s successor.
Chag Sameach.
Jeff Bleiweis
Please note that Cantor Simon will not retire until June 30, 2024. Cantor Rosenblatt will begin on July 15, 2023, so we will be blessed to have two amazing Cantors for the entire 2023-2024 fiscal year. The Cantors will share the pulpit and the davening and other responsibilities throughout the year.
