Evolution of my personal קבלת שבת Kabbalat Shabbat

I believe that every prayer leader should strive to create an atmosphere of awe, beauty and inspiration through singing.

As I sang the words of the Maariv service this past Friday in Olney, MD I found myself overcome with appreciation for the life long vocal journey that has lead me to where I am today. While I am still far from where I yearn to be vocally, my voice has broken through to a new level.

וּמַעֲבִיר יום וּמֵבִיא לָיְלָה. וּמַבְדִּיל בֵּין יום וּבֵין לָיְלָה. ה' צְבָאות שְׁמו. אֵל חַי וְקַיָּם תָּמִיד יִמְלוךְ עָלֵינוּ לְעולָם וָעֶד: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה', הַמַּעֲרִיב עֲרָבִים"

Over the last 8 years, the feedback I have gotten regarding my singing voice has gone from "you are a good Baal Tefilla" to "wow! Where did you learn to sing like that?". There is still a very long journey ahead, but uncovering my singing voice's nature has been an alchemy of sorts.

I have been studying with the one and only (truly) Rabbi Cantor Don Roberts since around 2005. Singing is like building a skyscraper. There is no trick, technique, or other type of short cut to building a throat. It takes years and years of perseverance under a proper mentor.

While I don't expect to ever enter the realm of my Cantorial heroes like Yossele Rosenblatt (יוסלה רוזנבלט) or Cantor Benzion Miller (בֶּן צִיּוֹן מילר), I can somewhat seriously entertain the prospect of singing professionally as a Cantor and/or Opera singer and getting a glimpse of being a professional singer is far more than I could have ever imagined.

Cantor Yaakov Motzen Sings at Kemp Mill Synagogue in Maryland

This past friday evening I went to the Kemp Mill Synagogue in Silverspring MD to hear the visiting Cantor Yaakov Motzen lead Kabbalat Shabbat and Maariv.

I did not know what to expect. Over the last several years all the buzz had been about Cantor Helfgot and a select other few. I am familiar with a handful other Chazzanim that are all very talented but Cantor Yaakov Motzen had slipped under the radar.

He is a true professional. Every phrase that comes out of his mouth is carefully crafted with strong vocal technique and artistic interpretation. He sounds like he could night float as an Opera Singer.

The accompanying choir from YU was passable at best but still added an important element that is essential for a strong Cantorial experience. A good choir not only helps push the Cantor/Congregation to new heights but helps make the Cantorial soloist's singing more accessible so the congregation can sing along as well.

Cantor Motzen's high notes were the most exciting part of the evening. Whether just touching a high note during an arpeggiated chord or holding a sustained high note at the end of Lewandowski's tzadik katamar they all were thrilling, effortless, and inspiring.

This type of experience is what we so desperately need to jump start Jewish music as an art form in the synagogue again.