Mazal Tov to Cantor Leslie Emery being officially installed as Cantor of Shaarey Zedek
Cantor Leslie Emery was officially installed as Cantor of Congregation Shaarey Zedek on at a celebratory weekend on Nov 7 and 8th at Congregation Shaarey Zedek. Guest Cantor, songwriter and prayer leader from New York Elana Arian was the feature artist. Emery and Arian sung together in an exquisite Kabbalat Shabbat service followed by a Shabbat dinner with some 220 people. She was officially installed as Cantor in a packed Shabbat service on Saturday morning, and in the evening there was a special concert which featured Arian performing after local Cantors, and other Jewish singers performed.
Cantor Leslie Emery told the Winnipeg Jewish Review that she has loved to sing for as long as she can remember. “I have such fond memories of sitting in a row of family in the auditorium of the Shaarey Zedek in my youth, singing along to the service, swaying and snuggling the Jewish branch of my family. My grandparents Rhoda and Zivey Feldman encouraged me along the way, along with my parents, Herb and Lisa Hajer. Though we observed the holidays, I don’t think I really had a good understanding of the rhythm and meaning of it all until my early 20’s when I began reading Torah regularly at the morning Minyan. At that time, Rabbi Berkal was reading on occasion, however I was his backup and studied the readings each week, ready in case I was needed. Throughout my time at Minyan I began to understand more about the concept of G-d in a Jewish context, how we are supposed to walk in G-d’s ways and what that means as a guide for how to walk through life. The historical basis for so many of our observances and the honouring of the past through our traditions really resonated with me. Once this began to sink in, it very much became a part of who I am and how I walk through the world.”
Emery’s formal training as a Cantor took place through the Jewish Spiritual Leaders Institute (JSLI) in New York. The course itself is a two year program which prepares Cantors to lead services in any context in the Jewish world, Orthodox, Conservative, or Reform. As Emery notes, “Though when I began the course I had some solid groundwork completed due to my experience serving Congregation Shaarey Zedek, JSLI took me on a deep dive through nusach, the melodies used to chant the prayers. Judaism has a rich and complex musical tradition. Rabbi Steven Blane, who spent 18 years as a Cantor and is an accomplished musician himself, spent two years refining my singing and coaching me on the different melodies for different contexts in Jewish prayer. For example, there are different melodies used on Weekday mornings, than Shabbat morning. The melodies used for High Holy Days differ completely and as we move out of Yom Kippur, the melody changes once more. Over the course of two years I studied melody after melody, prayer after prayer, produced recording after recording and met regularly with my teacher, Rabbi Blane online.”
Emery indicates that she is so grateful for JSLI. “ At the time in my life where I was offered this opportunity, I had a young family at home and a community that needed me physically in Winnipeg. Through JSLI I was able to get the training I needed, while continuing to be here for my family and congregation.”
When asked about her vision for Congregation Shaarey Zedek, Emery noted,” We are living through turbulent times. My dream for the Shaarey Zedek, is very much in line with a Jewish practice, that we will continue evolving into our best self. We need to have our doors open for those who are spiritually seeking, those who need comfort and those who are wanting to find their place in our tradition. We need to help those in need. We need to provide an engaging and thoughtful spiritual practice that resonates with Jewish Winnipeg for many decades to come, so we can keep the line of tradition strong. We need to make space for those in Jewish Winnipeg that wish to participate. We need to play our part in Tikun Olam, Repairing the World, applying and teaching about environmental knowledge in our tradition, helping the Jewish Community and the broader world. We need to support others. This is my dream. That as a congregation and community we continue evolving into the best version of ourselves.”
When asked what parts of her vocation she enjoys the most-she said “There are three aspects of my role as Cantor that I enjoy most and I don’t know which to choose!” She elaborated “As a musician and a singer, I take great joy in leading the Congregation and even more joy when everyone joins me in the prayers. When the melody, mood of the observance and participation of the congregation are all in harmony, I love it. Another aspect of my work as a Cantor that I love, is studying and caring for our Sifrei Torah. I have always loved history and scribal texts are so beautiful, spiritual and unique. As a Cantor I have an opportunity to learn more and share more about them, which is really beautiful. The third is that I genuinely like people, learning about their lives and helping where I can. I have many opportunities to be there in a time of need, the happy and the sad, over the course of a lifetime. These interactions are so rich and meaningful. I am truly grateful to be able to help in some way.”
Cantor Emery has been preparing kids for their Bar or Bat Mitsvahs for 27 years and says it is one of her favorite things. “I genuinely enjoy teaching people and finding out how to help them learn. I take great pleasure in finding what resonates with each student, getting to know them and helping them find the parts of Judaism that resonate with them spiritually. We are all different and we are all made Betzelem Elohim, in the Divine Image. It never gets old. Each individual is different and needs something different from the experience. Some love to sing, some like the intellectual aspect of the tradition, some need to find confidence in their voice, others need context for the time and place in which we live. Each experience is different. When we get to the moment, I smile and enjoy the culmination of the experience, looking forward the next time we meet.”
At the Installation weekend concert Cantor Leslie was joined by her two daughters and together they sung the song “Blackbird.”. As Cantor Emery says, “The very first time my kids joined me up on the bimah I was flabbergasted to realize that they weren’t nervous. Then I realized, they are with their Mom. My husband and I are both musical and both of our daughters are musical humans. They sing, love music, plunk on the piano and explore the instruments in the house. I never force them to join me at Shul, but when they choose to come sing with me, my heart is so happy. It’s such a gift to be able to share such moments with them. I can’t help but wonder if they will continue exploring music. No matter what they choose in life, I will love them and do my best to help them on their way.”
