I. PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY
Cantors must do everything in our power to uphold the highest standards of moral behavior in our society, behaving at a level worthy of emulation, both in our professional and personal lives. Cantors must also be scrupulous in avoiding even the appearance of misconduct.
A. BALANCING PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITIES
Congregational duties sometimes compete with a cantor's personal or family responsibilities. Valuing both, the cantor must make every effort to find the proper balance, so that neither is neglected. The Jewish commitment to sh’lom bayit must be applied equally in the congregation and in the home.
B. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
As cantors, Jewish leaders, and pastoral guides, vested with real and symbolic religious authority, we have the responsibility to adhere to an exemplary moral code and to recognize the vulnerability of those whom we teach, counsel, and serve. It is our obligation to ensure that boundaries are scrupulously respected in all social situations and settings and in all our relationships with the men, women, and young people who turn to us in trust. Any relationship which raises doubts as to its ethical propriety, or which a cantor wishes to keep clandestine, ought to give the cantor serious pause and motivate him/her, at the very least, to seek moral counsel.
Sexual Misconduct and Harassment
Sexual misconduct by cantors is a sin against human beings and a hilul haShem (profanation of God's name).
a. A cantor must not engage in any form of sexual misconduct, including but not limited to, all forms of sexual harassment and intimidation, requests for sexual favors, and any unwelcome verbal, physical, or visual conduct of a sexual nature.
b. A cantor must not engage in any act or behavior, even if it appears to be consensual, which exploits the vulnerability of another, and compromises the moral integrity of the cantor.
c. Cantors are also expected to honor the sanctity and fidelity of committed relationships, their own and those of others. A cantor must not engage in any sexual activity that betrays those relationships, or leads others to betray like relationships.
Other Abusive Conduct
Cantors must not engage in other conduct which abuses or exploits others or themselves, including but not limited to, physical or emotional abuse and chemical or alcohol abuse.
Responsibility to Seek Help
As role models, cantors have an affirmative responsibility to seek professional help for any need or tendency to exploit or abuse.
C. FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Cantors must conduct all of their personal and professional financial affairs with complete honesty and ethical integrity. Financial impropriety includes, but is not limited to, embezzlement, nonpayment of just debts, inappropriate use of discretionary funds, tax evasion, and any other illegal monetary dealings.
D. PROFESSIONAL INTEGRITY
Cantors must maintain the integrity of their own credentials and never misrepresent their status or achievements.
1. The title “cantor” must be used only by individuals who have graduated from a bona fide cantorial training institution or have been certified by the Certification Committee of the ACC/School of Sacred Music. Cantorial interns must not use the title “cantor” until they have successfully completed the Certification process.
2. Cantors must not claim the work of others as their own. Adhering to the principle of b’sheim omro (saying or presenting something in the name of its creator or originator) demands that we not plagiarize or illegally copy the work of others.
3. JCPC placement information obtained by ACC members - from whatever source - is considered to be confidential (“confidential placement information”). ACC members shall not share “confidential placement information” with any individual who is not a member of the ACC.
4. For purposes of this Rule:
a. “confidential placement information” includes all JCPC placement information including the “open placement list” except that which is readily available to the public including, for example, rules and guidelines relating to the placement process; and
b. the prohibition against sharing “confidential placement information “is not intended to prevent (i) an ACC member presently in JCPC placement from talking with family members or advisors; (ii) the distribution of placement information to officers and/or members of URJ, HUC-JIR, ACC and/or JCPC who have been approved by JCPC to receive such information.
E. CANTORIAL COMMITMENTS
A cantor must fulfill all commitments made to colleagues or lay people to officiate at scheduled ceremonies and/or rituals. In the event that it becomes impossible to fulfill such commitments, the cantor must first advise those involved of the planned substitution, and then find a qualified substitute as soon as possible.
II. PROFESSIONAL RELATIONSHIPS
A. CANTOR AS PARTNER IN THE CLERGY AND PROFESSIONAL TEAM
Cantors must treat their cantorial and rabbinic colleagues, as well as other congregational staff, with derekh eretz (human decency), supporting them in their work, encouraging their ideas, and observing the behavioral norms set forth in the Guidelines for Cantorial-Congregational Relationships. Furthermore, they must avoid any actions which are, or might be, interpreted as malicious or divisive. Cantors must take advantage of every opportunity to work as partners with rabbinic and cantorial colleagues and other synagogue professionals to enhance the religious lives of members of their congregation.
Through regular meetings and communications, cantors shall keep their colleagues informed of their own work and issues in the congregation that may arise, as well as life cycle matters concerning individual families.
B. CANTOR AND ASSOCIATE/ASSISTANT CANTOR or CANTORIAL INTERN
Cantors must treat each other as trusting colleagues and work toward common objectives beneficial to their congregations.
1. The senior cantor must share duties and responsibilities with their cantorial colleagues in the congregation in ways which enhance opportunities for growth. To the extent possible, these duties must be worked out in advance by mutual agreement between the cantorial colleagues and the congregation. This agreement should provide for gradual expansion of responsibilities and experiences during the course of the associate’s, assistant’s, or intern’s contract.
2. Associate/ Assistant Cantors and Cantorial Interns must be given opportunities to share in the decision-making process with the various synagogue professionals and to serve, whenever possible, as ex-officio members of the congregation’s Board of Directors and other appropriate committees.
C. CANTORIAL SUCCESSOR
ACC members who are candidates for a cantorial position must act in accordance with the Placement Procedures established by the Joint Cantorial Placement Commission. When a cantor nears the conclusion of their term of service with a congregation, they must respect the freedom of both the congregation and the candidates for the pulpit to enter into discussions that may lead to choosing a successor, and must not interfere in this process.
D. CANTOR AND CANTOR EMERITUS
Emotional ties between cantor and congregation are strengthened with time, often continuing beyond the cantor's retirement. Still, the congregation’s current cantor must be vested with the authority and responsibility of guiding it forward, musically and spiritually.
1. The cantor emeritus must support their successor and help members of the congregation understand that the responsibilities and authority they once held are now transferred automatically and fully to the newly elected cantor. The emeritus must also encourage members of the congregation to accept the successor cantor with respect and courtesy. The emeritus must avoid being drawn, privately or publicly, into questions of congregational policy or other matters that may arise between the successor cantor and the congregation or individual congregants.
Both the successor cantor and the cantor emeritus must accord each other honor and courtesy, thus maintaining the principle of k’vod hahazan (honoring a professional colleague). The successor cantor must respect the work and experience of their predecessor. The successor and the emeritus must maintain reciprocal and respectful communication.
The cantor emeritus will have a standing invitation to sit on the bimah at public worship services and at a place of honor at significant occasions in the life of the congregation. The wishes of the emeritus to do otherwise should be respected.
When invited by the successor cantor, the cantor emeritus may participate in officiating at synagogue worship services or life cycle events.
When performing these functions, the emeritus must follow the norms of worship and ritual prevailing at the time, unless there is an agreement to do otherwise.
The cantor emeritus must keep the successor informed of all congregational issues which may come to the attention of the emeritus.
Furthermore, the emeritus must immediately inform the successor of any life cycle situations or events s/he becomes aware of within the congregation including, but not limited to, illnesses, deaths, hospitalizations, engagements, marriages, and births. The emeritus may agree to officiate or co-officiate at such events only with the consent of the successor.
A cantor emeritus, or a cantor who has relocated to another colleague’s congregation or geographic area, must not engage in activities which interfere with the incumbent cantor's leadership of, or relationship with, that congregation or community.
Both the successor cantor and cantor emeritus are mutually responsible for the well-being of the other and their respective families. This responsibility extends to a surviving spouse.
When a cantor and congregation dissolve their relationship, and the cantor continues to maintain a residence in the same community, that cantor must conduct themself as an emeritus in accordance with the guidelines enumerated above, whether or not they are actually afforded the privileges and status of an emeritus.
E. CANTORS SERVING DIFFERENT CONGREGATIONS OR ORGANIZATIONS
Cantors must do all in their power to promote communal harmony among colleagues, members of their respective congregations, and congregations and organizations within the larger Jewish community.
A cantor may occupy a colleague's pulpit, officiate in her/his synagogue, perform a life cycle event, and speak or sing at any function of the congregation or its auxiliary only at the invitation, or with the permission of, the incumbent cantor. It is the obligation of every cantor to inform their congregation and its members of this protocol.
A cantor who is asked to officiate at a lifecycle event must inquire whether the individual is a member of another congregation.
A cantor may agree to officiate for a member of another congregation only in consultation with the cantor of that congregation. In the event there is no cantor in that individual’s congregation, the officiating cantor must consult with the appropriate leadership of that congregation.
In lifecycle situations in which members of a family belong to more than one congregation, the officiating cantor must urge the individuals involved to notify their own cantors of the impending lifecycle events and to invite their participation.
A cantor must not offer and/or render such pastoral services to members of other congregations when it may be considered hasagat g’vul (trespassing) and harm the positive working relationships among colleagues and congregations.
III. Solicitation for Membership
a. A cantor must not contact a member of another congregation for the purpose of soliciting him/her for membership in the cantor’s own congregation.
b. A cantor must not contact a member of their own congregation (or another congregation) for the purpose of soliciting him/her for membership in another congregation.
c. A cantor must not sanction or permit others to engage in solicitation efforts that are proscribed in (a) and (b) above.
d. Exceptions may be made when a cantor is invited by a close friend or relative to advise him/her with regard to congregational membership.
5. A cantor must not seek to employ a member of another congregation’s musical or professional staff, nor sanction such an effort, without informing the cantor of that congregation. In the event the other congregation has no cantorial colleague, the cantor must inform the appropriate leadership of that congregation.
6. When cantors disagree in public, they must state the disagreement in terms of issues. Cantors must avoid personal attack. L’shon hara (malicious gossip) is equally unacceptable.
III. AVOIDANCE OF COMMERCIALISM
Cantors must avoid any actions that suggest the practice of commercialism that may denigrate the status of the cantorate.
A. FEES & HONORARIA
The congregational cantor is a professional member of the clergy committed to serving the congregation. The congregation, in turn, assumes responsibility for support of the physical and financial needs of the cantor and the cantor’s family. Consequently, members of the congregation, who have by their dues contributed to the cantor’s support, have a right to cantorial services in time of need for lifecycle rites and pastoral functions, provided that performance of such services shall not be in conflict with the convictions of that cantor, contractual agreements, or other scheduled commitments.
1. A full-time cantor must not, under any circumstances, set a fee for officiating at lifecycle events on behalf of members of their congregation.
2. A cantor serving a congregation on a part-time basis may agree upon specific remuneration arrangements with their own congregation for officiating at lifecycle events on behalf of its members.
3. Cantors have no professional obligation to the unaffiliated and may reasonably expect an honorarium for these services, so long as it is not excessive.
4. Cantors not currently serving a congregation (full-time or part-time) may charge a reasonable fee for professional services that they are permitted to perform under this Code.
5. Cantors engaging in the mitzvah of instructing prospective Jews-by-choice and/or officiating at the ceremony of geirut (conversion) must not solicit or charge a fee for these services.
B. PUBLICITY/ADVERTISING
1. When publicizing or advertising Cantorial services, a Cantor must ensure that all communications related thereto be in good taste and in keeping with the dignity of the profession.
a. Publicizing or advertising Cantorial services is compliant with this Rule if, by way of example, it includes:
i. the Cantor‘s name and contact information;
ii. a photograph of the Cantor;
iii. factual biographical information including: academic credentials, congregational and/or professional affiliations (if applicable); and/or
iv. a factual and objective listing of services offered by the Cantor.
b. Publicizing or advertising Cantorial services is not compliant with this Rule if, by way of
example, it:
i. sets out costs or fees for the services offered;
ii. directly or indirectly compares the Cantor and/or the services offered by the Cantor to another Cantor, Rabbi, religious professional, congregation, or group, or the services they offer;
iii. directly or indirectly denigrates the reputation of another Cantor, Rabbi, religious professional, congregation, or group;
iv. includes false or misleading information about the Cantor or the services offered;
v. violates federal/state/municipal laws or regulations, and/or any other applicable rules;
vi. is directed or targeted to a specific individual or group (for example, direct mailings); or
vii. violates any other provision of the ACC Code of Ethics.
c. The use of testimonials by a Cantor for purposes of publicity or advertising is permitted
only if the testimonials do not otherwise violate Section 1(b) of this Rule.
2. The provisions of this rule apply to all forms of publicity including, without limitation, print, sound
recording, personal internet websites, and social networking sites. The provisions of this rule cover all services for which a cantor may advertise with allowances made for the listing of the price of a product (i.e. recordings, compositions, educational materials) and event admission fees.
3. If a Cantor or Cantorial services are publicized/advertised by a third-party, the Cantor who is the subject of the publicity shall use their best efforts to inform the third-party about and urge the third-party to comply with this Publicity/Advertising Rule. Under no circumstances may a Cantor use a third-party to intentionally circumvent compliance with this rule.