A Message From our Cantor: Seasons of Love

July 1, 2024 marks one year of serving this amazing Congregation Beth Emeth community. It has been such a blessing and a gift to learn and grow with you all over the last year, my first year as a cantor. My biggest takeaway from my first year as cantor at Congregation Beth Emeth has been how much. Frankie and I feel at home in this community. In reflecting, I wanted to share a highlight per month of our first year together.

July 2023: our first Meet & Greets took place in July, as we were welcomed into this community. Frankie and I met over 100 members of our community in small groups, over coffee, brunch and appetizers. This was a crucial and memorable moment of our journey here, giving us time and space to meet members of our community on a more intimate level.

August 2023: I led and rehearsed with our Adult Volunteer Choir, as well as our Professional High Holy Day Choir for almost the entire month of August. My deepest gratitude to Al and Sue Fedak for supporting me and our choirs during this adventure. Hearing our voices joined together in the Renewal Service on Yom Kippur restored my soul and filled it with comfort. Singing with such talented professionals for the other services truly transformed our sanctuary into a holy space.

September 2023: despite feeling extra nervous and even more so when we grabbed the wrong Torah on Rosh Hashanah, our Beth Emeth family giggled alongside Rabbi Weitzman and myself as we taught you all “the Torah-rolling arm workout.” You all took a nightmarish moment for a new cantor and turned it into a hilarious and meaningful memory that we’ll never forget!

October 2023: we celebrated the installation  of Rabbi Weitzman as the new Senior Rabbi of Congregation Beth Emeth. As someone who worked with Rabbi Weitzman before he moved up to Albany, I saw how the strength of his leadership comes from his love of Judaism, connecting with others, and most of all - his big heart. What a lucky community we are to grow under his leadership and guidance. I am even more lucky to serve next to him as his clergy partner and friend.

November 2023: every month, we celebrate Ruach Shabbat with our community, but the first Friday of the month in November was extra joyous (and much needed, at that). I am so grateful for our amazing Ruach Shabbat band (Garry, Joe, Dan, and Rob). The time and dedication they give to making this one Shabbat each month musical and full of celebration is a gift to us all.

December 2023: we celebrated Chanukah with our community and Alan Goodis, our artist in residence! Our junior and adult volunteer choirs performed, with a special appearance by Governor Kathy Hochul! The moment the lights turned off and everyone took out their glow sticks to sing “Light One Candle” showed me the true message of Chanukah - finding light and joy even in the darkest of times.

January 2024: Rabbinic Intern Spencer   Mandell and I took four of our teens to Washington D.C. to participate in the Reform Action Center’s L’Taken Social Justice Seminar. It was an inspirational weekend, as I learned from our students and watched them advocate for Jewish values in the political forum. I can’t wait to bring another group of students to D.C. in February 2025!

February 2024: Frankie and I traveled to beautiful Delray Beach, Florida to meet with our “snowbird” congregants! I helped lead services at Temple Beth El of Boca Raton to bring in Shabbat with members of our community and then, we spent a lovely evening with congregants over cocktails and appetizers. We are so looking forward to visiting again next year!

March 2024: Purim at Beth Emeth this year was all about TSwift! OurJunior Choir led our Purim Shpiel, alongside members of our clergy and professional staff. The story of Esther was passionately shared with sparkles and parody music, followed by a fun and celebratory carnival. Huge thanks to everyone who made that day a success. I’d also be remiss to not mention my own installation in March. Words cannot express my gratitude for that amazing weekend. Extra special thanks to my co-chairs, Kerryn and Michael Kent and Jill and Scott Hildreth, for making it such an amazing weekend.

April 2024: we watched a once in a lifetime phenomenon pass-over (pun intended!) on the lawn of Beth Emeth, as the moon and sun crossed paths! From the eclipse themed music and food to the amazing company, I’ll never forget where I was during the Solar Eclipse of 2024.

May 2024: our Jewish Basics course had two amazing guest lecturers teach in the month of May. A huge thank you to everyone who taught and attended this course. It has been a huge success at Beth Emeth, bringing in members of the community who identify as Jewish, Jewishly adjacent, or Jewishly interested. Look out for more Jewish Basics events this coming fiscal year!

June 2024: to celebrate Pride in Albany as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community and as your Cantor: tie-dying shirts, marching in the Pride Parade, and singing at the Interfaith Pride Service makes me so proud to be here. Thank you for always welcoming and accepting me and Frankie as our truest selves.

The list of thank you’s is endless. I have learned so much from you all and there is still so much more to learn. Thank you for your grace, patience, kindness, and love as we conclude our first year together. Chazak, chazak v’nitchazek - may we all go in strength together forward into this next chapter of Beth Emeth’s history.

Cantor Emily Short

This article first appeared in the July/Aug '24 edition of The Bulletin.