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The American Conference of Cantors is pleased to welcome two new Associate Members, voted into membership, after completing the ACC Membership Exam process, at the March 2023 ACC Executive Board Meeting.
Cantor Kelly Cooper READ MORE
After a thoughtful search process, Cantor Mary Rebecca Thomas has been named the American Conference of Cantors’ Director of Placement, succeeding Cantor Kay Greenwald who will be retiring this July.
Cantor Greenwald announced her retirement to the Officers and Executive Board of the ACC last year. Cantor Seth Warner, ACC president, READ MORE
Recent years have seen an increase in reports of Jewish college students facing antisemitic comments, vandalism, and efforts at exclusion from university-recognized social or academic groups. 2022 has been marred by such controversies at schools like the University of Vermont and UC Berkeley School of Law. This is unacceptable anywhere, but READ MORE
Members of the American Conference of Cantors are deeply disturbed and condemn today’s ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, overturning 50 years of precedence established by Roe vs. Wade in 1973.
The Reform Movement has a long history of support for reproductive rights dating READ MORE
As we approach the 2021 Virtual ACC-GTM Conference, we are opening the submission platform for the Composer's Workshop session. This year's conference will be June 27-29, 2021. The Composer's Workshop will held on Monday, June 28th at 4 p.m. EDT. The submission criteria and form are available READ MORE
It is with deep and profound sadness that I announce the death of Cantor Jodi Schechtman after a four-year battle with ovarian cancer.
Jodi served the American Conference of Cantors with distinction as the Chair of the Joint Cantorial Placement Commission, Chair of the ACC Membership Committee, member of the ACC Executive Board, member READ MORE
Written in collaboration with my partners from the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) and the American Conference of Cantors (ACC) in thinking about the future worship for our reform and liberal communities.
Cantor Rosalie Will, Director Worship and Music, URJ, Worship Consultant and Coach
Cantor Joshua Breitzer, READ MORE
We applaud the House of Representatives’ bipartisan vote to hold President Trump accountable for his incitement of violence against the United States government and we urge the Senate to act on this Article of Impeachment.
In response to the House of Representatives’ bipartisan vote to impeach President Trump, leaders of the READ MORE
(Schaumburg, IL) The American Conference of Cantors congratulates Rabbi David Ellenson on being named interim President of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR).
Rabbi Ellenson, Ph.D, Chancellor Emeritus of HUC-JIR, has a long record of leadership in the Reform movement. As President of HUC-JIR from 2001-2013, READ MORE
Glenview IL-The Church Alliance-a coalition of the chief executive officers of 38 denominational benefit programs-filed an amicus curiae brief in the Seventh Circuit U.S. READ MORE
Chicago, IL (March 19, 2018) – The American Conference of Cantors (ACC) welcomed Rabbi Mary L. Zamore, Executive Director of the Women’s Rabbinic Network and Co-leader the Reform Pay Equity Initiative, to its Executive Board meeting on March 12, 2018, in Chicago.
Zamore addressed the #MeToo movement’s implications for the larger Jewish READ MORE
The American Conference of Cantors (ACC) is pleased to announce the first scholar-in-residence for the June 2018 joint convention with their affiliate, the Guild of Temple Musicians (GTM) to be held in Dallas, Texas.
Dr. Jonathan Palant, who is on faculty at the University of Texas at Dallas and is founder and conductor of both Credo, a READ MORE
(Schaumburg, IL) American Conference of Cantors President Steven Weiss issued this statement on behalf of the ACC in light of the events unfolding in Charlottesville, Virginia:
“In the aftermath of the neo-Nazi march in Charlottesville the unspeakable and senseless loss of life and the disappointing response by the person sitting in the READ MORE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Abigail Pickus
Communications Manager, ACC
773.512.5877
apickus@accantors.org
August 9, 2017….(Schaumburg, IL) JLicense, the only music-licensing agency primarily serving the entire North American Jewish community, debuted this READ MORE
Schaumburg, IL -- The estate of Dr. Jack Gottlieb (z”l) through the Theophilous Foundation has bestowed a major gift of $270,000 to fund both a Dr. Jack Gottlieb Memorial Concert Fund and a Dr. Jack Gottlieb Memorial Choral Series, according to American Conference of Cantors (ACC) President Steven Weiss.
The purpose of this fund is to READ MORE
American Conference of Cantors stands in solidarity with all of our partners in the Reform and progressive Movements in demanding that the Government of Israel hold true to the agreements made in establishing an egalitarian prayer space at the Western Wall. The freezing of the plan to build a mixed gender space harms Israel and its connection READ MORE
For Immediate Release
Schaumburg, Illinois – May 17, 2017 -- Over 200 cantors, educators, professionals and leaders from the Reform Movement will gather in Las Vegas for five days this summer as part of The American Conference of Cantors (ACC) – Guild of Temple Musicians annual convention.
The ACC-GTM convention takes place at the READ MORE
We have all seen the posts on Facebook. “Does anyone have a suggestion for a song to honor my retiring Rabbi?” “Help! I need a song for Friday when we are honoring our executive director.” “Anyone have any music for Veterans’ Shabbat, Gay Pride Shabbat or Breast Cancer Shabbat?” Rarely does a week pass by when we aren’t picking our collective READ MORE
Schaumburg, IL -- The ACC is pleased to announce the election of a new slate of Executive Board Members whose term runs from 2017-2020. Overseen by the ACC Nominations Committee, voting was open to all ACC regular members in good standing.
Re-elected Executive Board Members include Cantors:
Erin Frankel, Congregation Rodeph Shalom, READ MORE
(Schaumburg, IL) January 31, 2017—The American Conference of Cantors (ACC) issued a resolution today supporting equal pay for equal work for Reform cantors.
Despite President John F. Kennedy signing the Equal Pay Act back in 1963, today women earn on average 80 cents for every dollar a man makes and for women of color that gap is even READ MORE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Schaumburg, IL, December 12, 2016 - Russell Nadel has won the 2017 Ben Steinberg Young Composer's Award. This is Nadel's second win, he first won the award in 2010.
Nadel has won the $1500 award for his composition Tov L'Hodot a setting of Psalm 92. David Shukiar, Guild of Temple Musicians Vice President of READ MORE
The American Conference of Cantors mourns the passing of the great Israeli statesman and peace advocate, Shimon Peres.
"I was honored to have met Mr. Peres on a few occasions and am deeply saddened by his death," said ACC President Cantor Steven Weiss. "He was a true statesman and peacemaker who was a living history of modern Israel. His READ MORE
SCHAUMBURG, IL (July 29, 2016): The American Conference of Cantors (ACC), a non-profit organization dedicated to the professional growth and development of cantors in the Reform Movement, is pleased to announce a host of new additions and changes.
Rachel Roth, who served as ACC Managing Director since 2007, was recently promoted to Chief READ MORE
The American Conference of Cantors (ACC) a non-profit organization that supports and cultivates excellence among cantors and strengthens Reform Jewish life in North America, has announced the promotion and contract extension of Rachel Roth to Chief Operating Officer. Roth will serve as COO for the ACC through July 2021.
Roth, a native of READ MORE
As we remember Elie Wiesel – memorializing one of our century’s greatest Jewish thinkers and humanitarians whom President Obama called “the conscience of the world” – we pay tribute to one of the most prominent Holocaust survivors whose message of “never forget” goes beyond the Jewish community alone.
Instead, this Nobel Peace laureate READ MORE
SCHAUMBURG, IL: The American Conference of Cantors (ACC) <www.accantors.org>, a non-profit organization dedicated to the professional growth and development of cantors in the Reform Movement, and its affiliate, The Guild of Temple Musicians (GTM) <www.thegtm READ MORE
SCHAUMBURG, IL: The American Conference of Cantors (ACC), a non-profit organization dedicated to the professional growth and development of cantors in the Reform Movement, congratulates the following Cantors upon their certification from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Debbie READ MORE
Washington, D.C., May 2, 2016 – In response to numerous anti-LGBT laws being introduced, and in many cases passed, at the state-level, the leadership of the Union for Reform Judaism, the Central Conference of American Rabbis, the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, the North American Federation of Temple Youth and the READ MORE
SCHAUMBURG, IL: The American Conference of Cantors (ACC) <www.accantors.org>, a non-profit organization dedicated to the professional growth and development of cantors in the Reform Movement, is excited to announce the hiring of Stacey Delcau, RJE, in the newly created part-time staff position to READ MORE
Dear Mr. Silow-Carroll:
When reading the article “As congregations shrink, cantors become rabbis-and work as both,” published April 14, 2016, we found ourselves wondering why Ms. Weinstein and JTA chose not to contact the American Conference of Cantors (ACC), the largest organization of ordained and certified cantors in the world, for READ MORE
Having circulated the slate of candidates to the membership and solicited additional nominations, in accordance with Article 1, Section 2 of our Bylaws, the Nominations Committee of the ACC is pleased now to open the 2016 Executive Board voting process to all Regular Members in good standing with the ACC. Ballots must be electronically dated/ READ MORE
New York, NY and Schaumburg, IL – August 20, 2015 – The Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) and the American Conference of Cantors (ACC) today announced that the ACC is assuming ownership of Transcontinental Music Publications (TMP), the largest North American provider of Jewish music.
Under the new arrangement, Reform READ MORE
SCHAUMBURG, IL: The American Conference of Cantors (ACC), a non-profit organization dedicated to the professional growth and development of cantors in the Reform Movement, has installed an openly gay cantor as the next president of the Conference. Cantor Mark C. Goldman of Temple Kol Ami Emanu-El in Plantation, Florida, has begun his term as READ MORE
The American Conference of Cantors, by unanimous proclamation, voted during their June 30, 2013, Executive Board meeting, to sponsor and support the Women of the Wall 25th anniversary mission with a donation of $1,000.
Cantor Jennifer Frost, member of the planning team, commented, "I am so excited to take this back the core team. They READ MORE
SCHAUMBURG, ILLINOIS. The American Conference of Cantors (ACC) endorses the “Joint Resolution on Upgraded Palestinian Status at the United Nations” presented by the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) and the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) and adopted by the URJ North American Board of Trustees on December 2, 2012.
The URJ READ MORE
Cantors across North America are Singing to Raise Funds for Campers
After an incredibly successful campaign in which over $50,000 was raised for "camperships" in 2009 and 2010, members of the American Conference of Cantors will once again "sing for s'mores" to help raise funds to send Jewish kids to URJ camps during the summer of 2012. READ MORE
The American Conference of Cantors is proud to be a co-sponsor of the Uniting American Families Act,
now making its way through the US Congress, which seeks equality under immigration law for families
in the LGBT and HIV-positive community.
There are currently thousands of bi-national LGBT families in the US—many with children— READ MORE
SCHAUMBURG, IL: The American Conference of Cantors (ACC) <www.accantors.org>, a non-profit
organization dedicated to the professional growth and development of cantors in the Reform
Movement, announces the addition of Cantor Kay Greenwald as the new Director of Placement. Kay
will READ MORE
The American Conference of Cantors commends the decision to strike down California’s ballot
proposition banning same-sex marriage, Proposition 8, as unconstitutional by the Ninth Circuit Court of
Appeals. The ACC stands with the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) and the Religious
Action Center (RAC) lauding this READ MORE
The American Conference of Cantors joins Rabbi Eric Yoffie, and the Union for Reform Judaism, in
condemning the anti-boycott legislation passed Tuesday by Israel’s Knesset. The new law permits legal
action against individuals or organizations determined to be instigators of anti-Israel boycotts. Susan
Caro, ACC President READ MORE
Boston, MA (June 29, 2011) The American Conference of Cantors (ACC), representing over 450
Reform Jewish Cantors, along with the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), opposes the proposal
to ban the practice of male circumcision. This proposal is slated for the ballot in San Francisco
this fall and expected elsewhere. Circumcision of READ MORE
CHICAGO, IL. The clergy members of the American Conference of Cantors calls upon Hyatt Hotels Corporation to honor fair labor practices, and to commit to fair and just treatment of all their employees. We add our voices to all those who have expressed support for the employees of the Hyatt Hotel chain.
Today, as labor and management READ MORE
CHICAGO, IL. Debbie Friedman has been a lifelong spokesperson for the meaning and power of Jewish music. Her music inspired people to become members of the clergy. We, the American Conference of Cantors, wish to recognize the generosity of the recent endowment in her honor to the School of Sacred Music. This gift guarantees permanent financial READ MORE
October 12, 2010. Chicago, IL. Upon the recommendation of the ACC Social
Action Committee, with the Officer Team and in accordance with the ACC's
2007 Resolution in Support of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Civil
and Religious Rights, the ACC endorses and signs onto the petition from
READ MORE
View of Saint Peter's Basilica from Vatican GardensWhen the idea for a group of 20 ACC cantors to travel to Rome, Italy for a “Conference on Catholic-Jewish Relations” and to put on a concert at The Vatican was floated at an ACC executive board meeting, I didn’t pay close attention because I thought it was one of those pipe dreams we have when READ MORE
Chicago, IL—The American Conference of Cantors (ACC), representing over 450 Reform Jewish Cantors, wishes to express our extreme sadness and distress at the legislation being brought forward by MK David Rotem which seeks to redefine “who is a Jew” in Israel by moving authority over conversions from the State to the Orthodox Rabbinate.
Chicago, IL (July 15, 2010) The American Conference of Cantors (ACC), representing over 450 Reform Jewish Cantors,
strongly condemns the arrest of Anat Hoffman, Executive Director of the Israel Religious Action Center and
chairperson of “Women of the Wall” for the “crime” of holding a sefer Torah in the women’s section of the Western READ MORE
The American Conference of Cantors (ACC), the Guild of Temple Musicians (GTM) and The Joint Commission on Worship, Music and Religious Living of the Union for Reform Judaism are proud to announce the results of the first Generation to Generation program. The honor goes to Jeremiah Klarman, a 17-year old high school student and a member of READ MORE
Schaumburg, Illinois. Reform Cantors across North America have raised nearly $50,000 for the newly-established American Conference of Cantors-Union for Reform Judaism Campership Fund. This fund will help children affiliated with Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) synagogues attend URJ-sponsored summer camps. Members of the ACC and Guild of Temple READ MORE
Over 250 members and guests attended the Annual American Conference of Cantors/Guild of Temple Musicians convention in Chicago the week of June 28, 2009. The theme of the convention, “Ruach Chayyim: Origins and Innovations in the Spirit of Reform,” sought to highlight the treasures of the past, the beauty of our present Reform Judaism, and READ MORE
Chicago, IL: On Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at 7:30 pm at Temple Sholom, The American Conference of Cantors (ACC) will honor Sylvia Footlik and her late husband Irving M. Footlik for their generous support of the ACC at their annual convention.
The ACC will also announce the creation of a Fund in Irving’s honor:
Irving M. Footlik READ MORE
CHICAGO, IL: The American Conference of Cantors (ACC) [www.accantors.org] is excited to
announce a partnership with the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) [www.urj.org], URJ
Commission on Social Action (CSA) [www.urj.org/csa] READ MORE
At their recent Convention and Annual Meeting in Kerhonkson, NY, the ACC membership
overwhelmingly approved the adoption of the resolution in support of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and
Transgender rights.
Given the continuing controversy surrounding lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) civil
rights in state and READ MORE
The American Conference of Cantors (ACC) <www.accantors.org>, a non-profit organization dedicated to the professional growth
and development of cantors in the Reform Movement, announces the addition of Rachel Turry as Managing Director and Cantor Debra
Stein as the Director of Advocacy READ MORE
The American Conference of Cantors (ACC) <www.accantors.org>, a non-profit organization dedicated to the professional growth and development of cantors in the Reform Movement, announces the addition of Rachel Turry as Managing Director.
Turry, a native of Chicago, joined the American READ MORE