Rabbi Dov Gartenberg
December 25, 2024
I have never regretted my choice of becoming a rabbi despite the many burdens that come with a rabbinic career. But I don’t think I would have lasted without setting aside time for continuing education and professional growth. Because of the unique demands of the rabbinate, these commitments to personal, professional, and spiritual growth helped me to be a better rabbi for the communities that I served. These commitments also kept me connected to the faith and idealism that led me to become a rabbi in the first place.
My early career connection to the Hartman Institute in Jerusalem was pivotal in helping me sustain my rabbinic career and to nourish my love of Torah. Over the decades I have grown through connections with the Mussar Institute, my seminary’s continuing rabbinic education programs, and Hadar Institute’s rabbinic seminars.
Ten years ago, I discovered a new context that was transformative for my rabbinate and my spiritual life. I attended Hadar’s Rising Song Institute Singing Intensive in 2015 with Joey Weisenberg. The singing intensive is a 4-day gathering that combines Jewish song and prayer. It is a lab for the singing of newly composed liturgical music and wordless melodies. It is led by Joey who is a brilliant teacher. He also has the gift of attracting an array of gifted musicians, cantors, rabbis, and people who love the Jewish prayer, musical, and singing traditions.
I went to my 7th singing intensive this past week (Dec. 16-20) and found it as wonderful and mesmerizing as all of the others I have attended over the past 10 years. What makes this event so unique and special? It is hard to quantify, but I’ll try.
The singing experience is curated by Joey and his team that makes it easy to participate no matter what one’s ability to sing. Unlike a choral group, singing at the intensive does not require the ability to read sheet music. Rather the sessions are more like prayer gatherings with call and response, harmonizing, and multiple repetitions. The end of every song is accompanied by a period of silence that intensifies the impact of the song.
The music that is presented is unusually beautiful, pleasing, and memorable. That may be because of the quality of song writing of the songwriters that lead the sessions. But for me the most distinctive quality of the intensive focus on the Jewish tradition of wordless melodies-nigunim and new compositions of Hebrew prayers and biblical passages.
This year, I invited our lead SWF musician, Travis Rourk, to join me at the intensive. Travis is not Jewish, but he too was deeply moved by the experience of this event. Not only was he impressed by the quality of music educational skill by the teachers, but he was moved by the power of the singing. I have invited him to write about his experience in the blog in the coming weeks.
The intensive has been transformative for my spiritual life. I have always loved to sing, especially the liturgical songs of Jewish prayer. At this gathering, I rediscovered the power of prayer and of community. I hope Shabbat with Friends can bring a contingent next year to participate in this unique and wonderful gathering. Please get in touch with me if this description arouses your interest. It truly is a very special gathering and a life experience worth having.
Happy Chanukah,
Rabbi Dov Gartenberg
12/25/2024
Comments