By Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel
ENCINITAS, California — A charming video of Jewish music was shared on Facebook by Cantor Orly Campbell Saturday evening that originated in Los Angeles and included cantors from San Diego, Florida, and Arkansas.
Each of the guests sang a few songs from their respective homes and were introduced by their host. She explained, “I needed uplifting for my quarantine birthday this past Tuesday, and emailed all my friends and colleagues. The response uplifted me, and I hope you listeners will also be uplifted and inspired as well.”
Cantor Campbell opened the video singing, ‘Heal us Now” as our country is truly in need of healing during this challenging pandemic. She was accompanied by Mary Lou Bashara at the piano. Cantor Campbell has a lovely voice, and I hope to hear more of her.
She then introduced Rabbi Julius King who accompanied himself on the piano and sang Heney Ma Tov and his own version of Shalom Rav.
I was particularly pleased to hear her next guest, Rabbi-Cantor Cheri Weiss of the San Diego Outreach Synagogue. Cheri is a friend whose singing I have always enjoyed. Her synagogue is a recent start-up that should soon enjoy growth after this pandemic
Cantor Sam Radwine of Congregation Etz Chaim joined the video all the way from Bentonville, Arkansas. It was a “virtual” reunion as Sam was Orly’s former teacher at the Academy of Jewish Religion California (AJRCA) in Los Angeles. Sam is also a longtime colleague of mine from our days with the American Conference of Cantors. He sang Rabbi Tarphon Omer and Mi- shebeyrach.
Cantor Bryce Megdal, the newest Cantor at Congregation of Reform Judaism in Orlando, Florida, sang and accompanied herself on the guitar. We wish her good luck in her new congregation.
On a personal note, Cantor Campbell next introduced her brother, Ido Bernstein, a very gifted pianist. Appropriately, Orly closed the program with a song of healing, “You Raise Me Up.”
Orly created the concert in part as a fundraiser for her synagogue, Temple Beth David in Los Angeles, and also to celebrate her birthday while in lockdown.
Virtual performances are important for singers and certainly for new audiences during this period of lockdown while synagogues and theatres are closed. Professional singers must constantly keep their voices in tune, just as instrumentalists do, and need the regular challenge of performance to achieve that goal.
So, thank you Cantor Campbell for putting this video program together. It was a win- win for your guest cantors and certainly for the audience.
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Cantor Sheldon Foster Merel is cantor emeritus of Congregation Beth Israel of San Diego. He may be contacted via sheldon.merel@sdjewishworld.com