News
Cantor Barak to Take Sabbatical
I am pleased and delighted that the Board has granted me sabbatical time for the third time in twenty-six years, and so I left officially on December 24 to begin a period of rest and renewal.
During my time away I will be teaching (in Palm Springs, Berlin and Los Angeles), concertizing (in Los Angeles and here at Emanu-El), relaxing (Hawaii and New York), and rehearsing diligently for the final concert of Music at Meyer, on May 20—my first solo recital in many years, in celebration of the 10th anniversary of the concert series (and I hope you will attend!)
My official return date is June 1, but don’t be surprised if you see me around town or at some event at Emanu-El. In my absence the congregation will be ably served by Marsha Attie, Cantor David Frommer, Rodney Gehrke and Kol Emanu-El, as well as our B’nei Mitzvah tutorial staff. My assistant Kathleen Safer will be able to assist anyone with any questions or concerns. I am deeply grateful to my clergy colleagues and the Board for their wonderful support of my sabbatical, and I wish the entire Congregation a peaceful and fulfilling 2013.
A Warm Welcome to Cantor David Frommer!
Cantor Frommer will be leading services in the Main Sanctuary during Cantor Barak’s sabbatical.
David Frommer grew up in Manhattan and graduated from high school in Kentucky. He received his B.A. with Honors in History from Yale University and sang with Magevet, Yale’s Jewish A Cappella Group, performing across the US and internationally in Canada and Europe.
After college, David volunteered for fifteen months as a combat soldier in the Nachal Infantry Division of the Israel Defense Forces where he served with distinction in the West Bank. During the next five years he pursued his cantorial studies at Hebrew Union College- Jewish Institute of Religion’s Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music and trained as a chaplain with the New York Army National Guard.
Following his investiture from HUC-JIR, David deployed overseas as the first-ever cantor to serve as a chaplain in the US military, providing religious support for Jewish soldiers and civilians stationed in Afghanistan and Kuwait. He is married to Rabbi Carla Fenves.