THAT'S ENTERTAINMENT!
Very disappointed with the High Holiday services this year. Also, really miss Cantor Kent, who managed to balance tradition with innovation -- without sacrificing inspiration. Years ago, if there were three male clergy and a woman leading the service, and the woman was left sitting quietly through most of the holiday, there would be an outcry of "gender discrimination!" Somehow, loading the bimah with three women seems OK today. Not really. Balance, anyone? Two female cantors still missed the spiritual excitement of the service. Their voices are well trained and sweet, but I need a thundering tenor to shake God by the lapels when the cantor sings "Shema Koleinu!" Yom Kippur is normally and properly a solemn service, but not with this zany crew on the stage. Clergy seemed to be singing and dancing and mugging over the most serious moments. Altogether, too many instruments, too much jazz and too many Caribbean rhythms replacing the sweet nigunim perfected over centuries of Jewish experience. Now, all that's left at Temple Isaiah is entertainment. Perhaps this crew should just put on "Show Boat" next year. read more