New addition to Temple Emanu-El

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July 1, 2009

By Joni Quinn

Temple Emanu-El has a new addition to their congregation — cantorial soloist Mindy Harris of Waltham.

Harris started her position at the temple on July 1 but has been doing visiting cantorial work at a number of congregations in the area, including Beth Israel of Andover, and teaching at Beth Elohim in Wellesley.

A contact at Beth Israel told Harris the cantor position at Temple Emanu-El was opening up, so she applied a few months ago, Harris said. Cantor and Rabbi positions are contract positions at synagogues, which usually are decided upon in the spring of each year with new candidates generally starting in June or July, Harris said.

Most cantors/cantorial soloists officiate at their congregations every week, and work there full-time during the week. However, Harris' position is only part-time.

"My position involves one night per week of ongoing Bar Mitzvah teaching, and about a dozen or so Sabbath holidays during the year," Harris said.

Harris' title at the Temple is cantorial soloist, instead of cantor even though she performs all the same tasks as a cantor.

"It's a technicality because I wasn't formally ordained. I perform all the duties of a cantor," Harris said.

As cantorial soloist, Harris will officiate at Sabbath and holiday services, and teach Bar and Bat Mitzvah students.

In addition to her part-time duties, she will serve as an educational resource to the community and will be available for life-cycle and community events.

Harris said she believes in engaging and uplifting musical experiences in a prayer service.

"Looking at new, participatory and fun models of musical worship will engage the Temple Emanu-El members and enhance their spiritual experience," Harris said.

A native of Los Angeles, Harris has served congregations on both coasts. Recently, Harris enjoyed five years on the pulpit at Temple Aliyah, a Conservative congregation in Los Angeles, where she explored new genres of music in liturgy, including jazz and bluegrass.

Harris has traveled with the Los Angeles Zimriyah Chorale for world concert tours in Israel and Germany. A classically-trained soprano, she has been a finalist for both the Chicago Symphony Chorus and the Tanglewood Chorus. Her approach to Jewish music is energetic, inclusive and contemporary.

After a transformative visit to Warsaw in 2003, Harris became founding vice president of a nonprofit organization in Los Angeles called Friends of Jewish Renewal in Poland, and speaks nationally about the redevelopment of Jewish life in Eastern Europe.

During her tenure on the pulpit in Los Angeles, Harris was recognized for her work with the Women's League Pacific Southwest region, and is the author of a Women's Seder and Rosh Hodesh liturgy.

With a bachelor's degree in music from Northwestern University and a master's degree in education from Harvard University, Harris has recently stepped down from full-time pulpit work and relocated back to New England to pursue a career in nonprofit marketing.

Harris recently served as Director of Admissions at Gann Academy, Boston's New Jewish High School.