Music...The Soul of our People

This past summer I had an opportunity to travel to Israel as a delegate for the Orthodox Cantor’s Convention entitled “A Festival of Jewish Music.”  This was a wonderful opportunity for me to exchange ideas with colleagues and to learn from some of the great musical minds of my profession. 

Upon my arrival at the conference I was asked to sing in a concert held at the Yeshurun Central Synagogue – an Orthodox synagogue in the heart of Jerusalem.  While quite nervous and apprehensive, I accepted the offer.  On my arrival at the concert, I was overwhelmed by the overflowing crowd standing in the aisles – mostly comprised of Chassidic Jews.  The men had long beards and payot were dressed in long black garments – men and woman were seated separately.  I was dressed in a navy business suit and a flashy tie. 

When it was my turn to perform I sang my music with the passion and feeling I had been taught by my teachers.  It was a daunting task to sing for those who truly understood every word I sang.  When I finished singing, the applause was grand and the appreciation was palpable.  I had communicated with them in a manner that I otherwise could not have achieved.  I realized that beneath the surface we are not so different.  We are all Jews with a yearning to experience something that should never be lost – the chant of our people, the musical message I have been trained to deliver.

During the walk back to my hotel and for days following the concert, people I normally would not have had much to discuss with came up to me and thanked me for my performance.  I felt so honoured to have been given the privilege to stand proud and represent my community and my synagogue.  I was proud to know that the music we sing at Beth Sholom is not the new wave of American Conservatism but rather a true balance of the East European tradition and authentic synagogue chant.  I felt proud that the synagogue that I serve is a place where my grandfather would have been comfortable to daven in. 

My trip to Israel was an opportunity to recharge my “Yiddishkeit batteries.”  I was given an opportunity to reignite the spark to strive to be the best I can be as a person and as a Jew.  This is what Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are all about – a time to set new goals for ourselves to be everything we can be in all areas of life.  Above all, it is a time to set higher spiritual goals to strive to be more devoted to our faith -- the one that has bound us together as one people for 5766 years.  While we come in many different stripes and colours, our passion about Judaism is common amongst us all.  Our constant challenge is to bridge the gap between all Jews so that we can work together in harmony towards a common goal.  On this Rosh Hashana, let’s make a difference together. 

Shana Tovah,

Cantor Eric Moses