"Find your passion!" That's what everyone says when you're unemployed and searching for meaning at midlife. For some, this seems to be an easy task: open a charming inn, turn your craft hobby into a business, become a teacher, a zookeeper, maybe even a choral conductor! But for me, finding my passion has not been easy. While there are many things I enjoy doing, none of them seemed right. I've spent many months trying to figure out how to define the next few decades of my life, while reading books like
Wishcraft, and trying to figure out what color my parachute is.
However, one enjoyable aspect of my life for the last twenty years has been singing Jewish music. I started singing with the Zamir Chorale of Boston in 1989, but in 1995 things took an interesting turn when my rabbi asked if I would chant Kol Nidre on Yom Kippur. I turned to a Zamir member (and cantor) for help and worked hard to get it right. Over the years, I was asked to participate more in the services, and I learned about the many resources available for the lay soloist. Soon my Temple was billing me as their "cantorial soloist." But I've always known my limits and that there is a lot I don't know. I've never led a service, and while the congregation tells me how much I enhance the service, I often feel more like a "color commentator."
Then, earlier this year, I saw a brochure for Hebrew College's High Holiday Mini-mester, a series of workshops over four days in June geared towards the lay cantor--someone who perhaps has led services, or wants to, but needs a refresher and to fill in the gaps. And do I have gaps! I wasn't sure exactly what I'd be learning, but I knew I had to enroll.
What a privilege it was to be learning High Holiday tunes with Cantor Jeff Klepper, and nusah from Cantor Brian Mayer and Cantor Scott Sokol! It was then that I began to consider the Jewish Sacred Music Certificate program at Hebrew College. Perhaps this was my calling, my passion. Unemployed at 50, would I ever find a better time to "just do it"?
It is my good fortune that due to my long history with the Zamir Chorale, the choir-in-residence at Hebrew College, I know many of the people involved in the School of Jewish Music, including its acting Dean, Dr. Josh Jacobson, Zamir's founder and director, as well as many on the faculty. So I decided to take a small step forward by enrolling in Cantor Sokol's Basic Nusah course. My classmates are all young rabbinical students, and I'm somewhat intimidated by how much they know. Like a sponge, I just try to absorb everything I can.
So my next step is applying to the certificate program for Jewish Sacred Music. I spoke with my friend, Cantor Louise Treitman, who handles admissions for the program, which is comprised of seven courses including nusah, basic cantillation, survey of Jewish music, vocal performance, one on one coaching and an optional Bet Midrash in nusah. There is a Hebrew proficiency requirement, so I've enrolled in a Hebrew class. I'm even excited about learning to speak Hebrew! (Unfortunately, 5 years of Hebrew school didn't make me proficient.) I will continue to look for a job I can do while taking classes, but after so much soul searching and "passion chasing," I think I may have finally found my calling.
--Phyllis Werlin
Phyllis Werlin is a student in the School of Jewish Music. For more information about the certificate programs and cantorial ordination at the School of Jewish Music, please contact the Office of Admissions, 617-559-8610, admissions@hebrewcollege.edu.