A Word from Rabbi Schulman - 8/14/2020

For ten years, our congregation has been blessed with two exceptional individuals who have immeasurably enhanced our High Holy Days. Mary Stocker is an extraordinarily gifted choir conductor. She is fully attuned to the motifs of High Holy Day music and she is wonderfully skilled at bringing out the best in our choir.

Amy Belles is a virtuoso on the piano. In all my life I have never been so moved by a musician. Whether it is accompanying the choir or quietly playing during a period of meditation, her exquisite musicianship is heavenly.

Over these past ten years, I have grown enormously fond of these two gifted women who have meant so much to our worship during the High Holy Days.

But due to the pandemic, we will not have our choir this year and Amy and Mary will not be with us. As a result, Mary and Amy will not receive their customary income from our congregation.

I want our congregation to express our appreciation and support for them during this challenging time. I am asking you to consider making a donation that would be bestowed as gifts to Mary and Amy.

Any amount would be appreciated. You can contribute online by designating the Music Enrichment Fund as the recipient or you can send a check made out to Temple Beth Torah and designate it to the Music Enrichment Fund. We will collect contributions until the end of the month.

In closing, I want to share with you that Miriam Brutus, who has been our outstanding cantorial soloist, also will not be with us this year. She informed us in January that she would not be available for the best possible reason. Last month she gave birth to a beautiful baby boy.

I am pleased to share with you that Cantor Amy Daniels will enrich our upcoming High Holy Days. It will be my pleasure to share more about Cantor Daniels in a future message.

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