RE: New member

[Adrian A. Durlester <durleste...>]

Just between us-probably best not to use full names like you did with the 
cantor. We should avoid public criticism and comments of that kinds against 
individuals. Bets just to say "our cantor", "our rabbi" etc.

The let down of coming back to your own congregation is normal. Happens to all 
of us. Don't let it get you down. At the same time, don't expect your 
congregation to ever quite give you the same experience as a Kallah conference, 
CAJE, Biennial, etc.

If the cantor is too good, and people just want to listen, I challenge that 
cantor to look inside and ask whether this is a good thing.

Shabbat Shalom,

Adrian



On Thursday, September 25, 1997 10:05, MHersher (at) aol(dot)com [SMTP:MHersher 
(at) aol(dot)com] 
wrote:
> Adrian,
>
> I agree with everything you've said.  We must be treading the same well-worn
> path.  I am working with Cantor Carl Naluai, Jr.  who is a wonderful musician
> and teacher but definitely of the classical school.  Our relatively new
> rabbi, Brad Bloom, is very consumer oriented and wants an upbeat service, but
> also tends to be more traditional in terms of the amount of hebrew and the
> wearing of kipot and tallisim.  Both have been supportive of my efforts to
> introduce contemporary nusach, but I have to learn it and perform it pretty
> much by myself.  I understand what you said about the classical music being
> amenable to participation, I joined the choir so I could get that experience.
>  The problem is that the music is simply not presented in manner that people
> feel comfortable singing along.  Part of the problem is that the cantor is
> just too good and people want to listen to him.  Another is that he changes
> the melodies a little too frequently and that people don't attend often
> enough.  I am co-teaching an adult class after the High Holy Days on the
> music of the service to try to help folks reach a comfort level that will
> allow them to sing along.
>
> The hardest advice you gave was to be patient and move slowly toward change.
>  My head knows that, but my heart is racing.  I went to Kallah this summer in
> Santa Cruz and had a wonderful experience at the services conducted by Debbie
> Friedman and Evan Kent.  It was hard to come back and gear down to the
> relatively uninspiring services at my shul.  But I have a series of projects
> going that keep my spirit up and will eventually bear fruit.
>
> Thanks for the feedback and the encouragement.  And by the way, what are you
> doing out on the prairie anyway?
>
> Michael
Adrian A. Durlester  -  durleste (at) plains(dot)nodak(dot)edu
Production manager, Festival Concert Hall, North Dakota State University
Director of Music, Temple Beth El, Fargo ND
Alternate EmaiL: aad (at) iname(dot)com    durleste (at) compuserve(dot)com   
adriand (at) aol(dot)com