Cantor's Corner

The Chants of a Lifetime

Here is the latest B’nei Mitzvah report, from Cantillation Headquarters, deep beneath the bedrock at 33 East 12th St.

Tall and poised, Eve Walt-Thomson, stood up and chanted her Torah Portion beautifully on Saturday, 12/8. We all beamed with pride and joy.  She closed out The Village Temple 2007 B’nei Mitzvah season with a touch of class. The balance of December was quiet. Two Board member’s children came first in 2008. Danyel Bilenkis kicked off January with intellect and style and got us off to a rolling start.  Eli Salamon-Abrams picked it up the next week during our Argentinean Synaplex weekend with a truly outstanding showing on the bimah.

The following week I received a phone call on Tuesday from Mindy Garelick that her son Ben was in the hospital with a broken nose, with five days until his Bar Mitzvah!  Talk about a trooper!  He never complained, missed only one day of practice, and danced all night long at his party. Truly remarkable. Meek, yet mighty, Sara Brown came through with a gorgeous reading of Torah and Haftarah and really rose to the occasion vocally and spiritually.  With great speeches from her mom and dad, Alan and Barbara, we all had a wonderful morning.

Dancin’ Daniel Lieberson’s turn came 2/9/08.  His voice boomed out with confidence and his smile let everyone know he had his materials mastered. He looked like an old pro up there. Then on 2/16 Milo Ben-Amotz, the sneaker maven, looking sharp and smiling sweetly delivered an exceptional turn at the Torah.  His mom and dad spoke beautifully, as did his sister Allegra, who is a poet published in the Village Temple prayer book.  Her eloquent expression of love for her brother Milo were truly moving.  A great Sephardic lunch followed in the social hall with family from far and wide.

-- Daniel L. Leanse, Cantorial Soloist