Volunteer of the Month: Cantor Jennifer Bern-Vogel

For you, what is the most rewarding part of being a cantor?

I love being there for the congregants of all ages in the process of learning, or just being there to listen to them if they need me. I especially love to work with B’nai Mitzvah because of the process. I love the conversations and the bonds that develop. For example, one of my very first B’nai Mitzvah students was ordained as a rabbi last year in New York! I just love the relationships that can develop with the family as well. I am also working on my application for CPE. I have wanted to do it since HUC – ever since I took chaplaincy with Nancy Wiener. I knew that this was going to be an important part of what I needed to do.

What do you find rewarding about volunteering for the ACC?

I feel that I’m very happy when I’m able to give back, and for a long time I didn’t feel that I had the time to do that. In a way I still don’t, but I feel more on top of everything now so that I can. For example, I was a madricha, and did some work on CCPD (Committee for Continuing Professional Development) and did some articles. I want it to be noted that I am extremely honored that I have been chosen to be Volunteer of the Month. I have done an enormous amount for [the upcoming Convention in] Portland, and there are others who have also done so much, and I have to say, in prepping for Portland, what is rewarding are the relationships and friendships that I’ve made with colleagues. I have to say, also, that living out here in LA, I do feel much more connected to my colleagues than I did in Norfolk, Virginia, because I was so far away from everyone (except for Fran Goldman, my dear colleague in Richmond with whom I was close) I felt isolated a lot. It’s great being here now and having so many more connections. I didn’t know I had a lot biases about the West Coast. Only some turned out to be true.

What do you look forward to most at conventions?

Number one is seeing old, close friends and connecting with colleagues –reconnecting. I hope to be inspired by being together, singing together with everyone. I feel inspired, I think, when there is a good speaker, somebody who really instills spirituality – a genuine spirituality – which I feel many times during conventions. In Portland, I’m really looking forward to Alan Morinis and Mussar component and the study of Mussar. It enhances not just our cantorate in a professional way, but also each of us personally. I search for things that we can bring back to our congregations. I really believe that the Mussar study – even though he’ll only be there for one day – I think and hope it will be something that will spark a search in each of us to delve deeper into the study of Mussar. It involves personal practice we can incorporate into our daily lives and make us better cantors and better people.

Is there something you can tell us about yourself that we don’t already know?

I studied flamenco when I was living in Germany.

Can you describe your relationship with youth in your cantorate?

In my former congregation, when I was full time, I started a youth choir. It was called Yad B’yad. We had tee shirts. It was great! [Eventually] the kids’ choir became the annual Purimshpiel troupe. We did major Purimshpiels. We adapted Norman Roth’s. I had incredible people doing costuming and sets. We always did two performances because there were so many who wanted to come. Since coming to California my work is much more patchwork. I’m not full time in any one place. I tutor at Temple Isaiah and there are about six tutors there. I have about a dozen kids at a time. I do about nine or ten hours a week tutoring. I’m in Redland about 3 times a month for all the B’nai Mitzvah and the High Holidays, plus a number of life cycles. This allows me more flexibility for personal study, yoga, Hebrew conversation, Yiddish conversation class. Languages are really important to me to keep up. If I had another life I would just study languages. I feel like I’m zigzagging all over the place, but I still have more time for my family than I did in Virginia, and my son is now finishing 3rd grade. He is the biggest blessing in my life.