Celebrating 50 years of women in the Cantorate
I have just returned from the American Cantors Conference Convention in Washintong D.C. To say that it was an exhilarating four days, would be an understatement. If it hadn’t been for the nagging of my colleague and friend Cantor Lisa Segal, I might nothave gone.
Fifty years ago, a young woman, only 19 years old, walked through the doors of an all-male seminary called Hebrew Union College in New York City. Her name was Barbara Ostfeld from St. Louis, and she wanted to apply to the Cantorial program. Barbara was admitted to the school in 1970, and the rest is history.
This past week, close to 300 Cantors and soloists from all over the country, gathered in Washinton D.C. to celebrate, to sing, and to hear so many incredible new compositions written by a plethora of younger and more experienced composers. I had one of my newer works performed called “Eili, Eili, (My God, my God) which is now published in a book along with three other composer’s songs. Knowing that my music is such a fixture in Jewish prayer throughout the world is an amazing feeling, and even more, knowing that I have left a legacy of prayerful melodies that will live on long after I have passed, is beyond anything I could have dreamed.
Our final celebration and honoring of Cantor Barbara Osfeld were held at Baltimore Hebrew Congregation. Much to my surprise, I was greeted by a poster that I think says it all.
How proud I am to be one of the first women to break the glass ceiling!
Your Emerita Cantor,
Rachelle