Cantor David Rosen: Song, Spirit & Community

Song, Spirit & Community: Meet Our High Holiday Team

By Cantor David Rosen

With the High Holy Days around the corner, I thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to introduce you to our cantorial and musical team for the High Holy Days. With so many different services happening throughout our building during this season, it truly takes a village and a remarkable team of people to create, prepare, and bring to life spiritual experiences that speak to many different demographics and span many generations.

Today, I’d like to focus our attention on our Shleichei Tzibur, our Cantors, Cantorial Soloists, and Service Leaders. Next week, we’ll will take time to learn more about our choir, Instrumentalists and tech team.

As the Senior Cantor and Music Director, I am blessed to help orchestrate this tremendous team. Each one of these individuals brings their own creativity, musical talents, and unique spiritual voice, helping to strengthen and complement the work that Cantorial Soloist Lindi rivers and I bring to our services. Each person is also paired with our wonderful rabbis and educators, creating strength, nuance, and meaning each and every prayerful opportunity.

Dr. Mark Weinstock
Many of you know already know Marky (as he is affectionately called) as he is an award-winning entertainer and respected educator with over 20 years of experience running Musical Shabbat programs that inspire our littlest blossoms, including are very popular Tot Shabbat. Marky will help to lead us in song for some of our Family services as well our Young Reader’s service during Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur

Josh Nezon
Josh has been a wonderful addition to our musical team in recent years having brought years of camp song leading and communal singing to our congregation. Josh leads us regularly for Shabbat family services and you will see him in this role over the High Holy Days brining his sweet strumming and smooth vocals to our bimah.

Ayla Smolash
Ayla has become endeared to our Cotler students and our Early Childhood Students as our head song leader and Music teacher. Ayla brings her beautiful voice and guitar playing to many services and programs and has become a very popular presence in the eyes of our youth. She will join us in leading some of our Family services as well as making a few appearances in our Sanctuary over the holidays.

Mike Margoulis
As a former Brotherhood President and teacher/song leader in the Cotler school, Mike is no stranger to Holy Blossom Temple. Mike’s enthusiasm for the youth and helping the next generation find connection and meaning to prayer is exemplary. We know he will bring a smile and song as he also helps to lead some of our Family Service offerings over the Holidays.

Tal Katz
Tal is often seen as a Cantorial Soloist with the World Zionist Organization and we have enjoyed hearing her voice on Yom Ha’atzmaut or other wonderful Shabbat collaborations and  programs throughout the year. With additional Adult services on this year in the Mishkan this year, Tal will lend her beautiful voice and soul with us on Yom Kippur.

There will also be a few surprise musical guests along the way, and we can’t wait to welcome a new year together with song, and celebration and the hope for a better and brighter 5787!!