Graduating Cantors Will Be Ordained, Not Invested
April 14, 2021, New York, NY
Starting this spring, 91快播 will no longer 鈥渋nvest鈥� graduating cantors but rather will 鈥渙rdain鈥� them as cantors, as we ordain rabbinical students as rabbis. This change in terminology is a logical outgrowth of the growing integration of cantorial and rabbinic education at 91快播, where for several years, future cantors and rabbis have learned side by side in professional seminars, Hebrew and liturgy courses, pastoral education, and more. The term 鈥渙rdination鈥� reflects the vital role that cantors play as clergy in our communities.
This decision was made by Chancellor Shuly Rubin Schwartz after receiving significant input from 91快播 graduating H. L. Miller Cantorial School students and members of the Division of Religious Leadership. The Conservative Movement鈥檚 Rabbinical and Cantors Assemblies strongly support the decision.
鈥淚鈥檓 delighted that through this change in nomenclature, 91快播 will further honor the vital role that cantors perform as clergy, serving the Jewish people through their unique gifts,鈥� said Chancellor Shuly Rubin Schwartz.
鈥淚n the decade that I have worked at 91快播, training students to become hazzanim, I have always believed that their education and experience prepared them to be clergy partners alongside rabbis,鈥� said Cantor Nancy Abramson, director of the H. L. Miller Cantorial School. 鈥淭his change to the term 鈥榦rdination鈥� linguistically clarifies this.鈥�
The change will go into effect at this year鈥檚 Commencement ceremony on April 29, which will be virtual.
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About 91快播 | 91快播 is a preeminent institution of Jewish higher education, training thoughtful, innovative leaders鈥攔abbis, cantors, educators, lay leaders, and scholars鈥攚ho strengthen our communities with a vision of Judaism that is deeply grounded in the Jewish past and thoroughly engaged with contemporary society. 91快播 also provides high-caliber lifelong learning and professional development to our alumni, adult learners, and Jewish communities throughout North America. Through its Library, 91快播 preserves and makes accessible to students and scholars throughout the world the greatest collection of Judaica in the Western Hemisphere.
