A note from the Cantor
Dear Temple Beth-El Family,
If you can believe it, I have just begun my role as your Cantor! I look forward to building community through song, prayer, and connection with all of you.
Throughout my interview process with Beth-El, I was amazed by the warmth and love that this community has for each other. I must sincerely thank Ben Lewis and the Search Committee, Benita Felmus and Rita Ruby, for their time and energy throughout the process. The lay leadership’s thoughtfulness really drew me in and allowed me to be myself; in essence, I am thrilled to call this my new home.
As you may already know, I am a recent graduate of Hebrew College, and I bring with me a wide breadth of knowledge that I am excited to share at Temple Beth-El. I will be teaching throughout the year on a variety of topics, focused on liturgy, prayer, and music. I hope to see you and meet you during these various learning opportunities.
Creating music together is a holy task, and I especially invite you, if you consider yourself a musician or not, to join me in this endeavor. Please be on the lookout for information about how to raise your voices in song in the weeks and months to come.
In addition to our singing and davening together, I truly hope to get to know many of you through conversation, hearing your stories, and learning about your connection to music. In an effort to make this happen, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me (email Cantor.Rosenblatt@bethelrichmond.org ) to find a time to connect over coffee or tea.
As we move forward, I know that a clergy transition can be difficult, and I will be working closely with Rabbi Knopf, Faith Kallman, Ramona Brand, and the rest of the staff to ensure that it all goes smoothly. Already I am filled with enthusiasm for the collaboration ahead with Rabbi Knopf and I thank him for his support and guidance.
I want to thank all of you for this opportunity to be your Cantor. As a newly ordained Cantor, it is as much a transition for me as it is for you. I thank you in advance for your patience and understanding as I take on this full-time position. Along these lines, self-care is important to my success as your Cantor. I will be coordinating with the Rabbi for our day off each week, and we will make sure to connect when emergencies arise in order to be attentive to your needs. I am very excited to be here and feel blessed to become a part of this holy community.
Looking forward to being with you in mind, body, and spirit very soon!
B’shalom,
Cantor Dara Rosenblatt
