Cantor/Cantorial Soloist

To our Future Colleague:

Welcome, and thank you for your interest in becoming the next Cantor/Cantorial Soloist (“C/S”) of Congregation Beth Israel (“CBI”) in Scottsdale, Arizona.

CBI is an exciting, energetic and hamish place to work within a vibrant community. If you choose to become a candidate for the next Cantor/Cantorial Soloist (“C/S”) of our historic congregation, I assure you that you will be welcomed by a remarkable professional team and congregational family in which you thrive both professionally and personally. Our members are seeking a C/S who is warm, engaging and intentional in creating a sacred relationship with members of all ages and stages of their lives.

Included here you will find an abbreviated overview/description of the responsibilities of this role along with the professional/personal core competencies we are seeking. Candidates who progress on to the next stage of our process will receive a more detailed job description.

Before taking the next steps, we want to be transparent and open with you before moving forward together. Once you have had time to read the materials included, we would ask you first to contemplate this role and our organization. Before applying for this position, we hope you will reflect on your own needs, skills and desires and contemplate on whether they align with our needs and expectations. Please keep in mind we are a unique community; in addition to our sacred work in running a traditional synagogue we also operate a preschool, religious school and a residential summer camp in Prescott (approximately 2 hours away) and we are the only congregation in the Valley of the Sun that owns and operates our own cemetery.

If you are ready to take the next step and apply for this exciting opportunity, we will be in touch soon to discuss next steps. For now, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

We are honored to know you are considering serving as C/S at Congregation Beth Israel and grateful for your interest.

With Warmest Regards,

Rabbi Stephen Kahn

Congregation Beth Israel – Scottsdale, Arizona

Responsibilities of our Cantor/Cantorial Soloist

Created: November 2025 

1. On the Pulpit:
   • Shabbat, Festival and High Holy Day Services at CBI are led in collaboration with the clergy team. Our C/S will be part of that collaboration toward leading meaningful Services with participatory and inclusive music style.
     • C/S must be open and comfortable working with our Music Director and clergy team collaboratively and is flexible with a variety of musical styles (both liturgical and contemporary).
     • C/S works well with volunteer and professional choir members and musicians.
   • Our C/S to be comfortable teaching and preaching (as needed) from the bima.
   • Our C/S will be comfortable leading Services “solo” whenever necessary (i.e., when rabbis are out of town).
   • Our C/S has sufficient Hebrew literacy, can read sheet music and is comfortable with teaching and utilizing both Torah and Haftarah trope. 

2. Youth Education & Programming

Note: CBI’s Youth Programming is spread over four main programmatic areas which are overseen under the direction of our Associate Rabbi/Executive Educator

• C/S will be consistently involved in many aspects of all four of our youth education (both formal and informal) for
  • Hevre & Maayan – Youth education for students in grades K-12 (with heavy emphasis on B’nei Mitzvah tutoring and training).
  • The Chanen Preschool & Early Childhood Education
  • Camp Daisy & Harry Stein & Camp 56 – Our residential summer camp in Prescott, Arizona and CBI based summer camp. 

3. Adult Learning:
   • Oversee the creation and implementation of adult learning programs, series such as “Adult B’nei Mitzvah” and scholar-in-residence weekends/programs for artists-in-residence. Marketing and publicize these programs.
   • Teach weekly “Torah Study” sessions in rotation with rabbis. 

4. Development & Board
   • Participate in strategic fund raising in collaboration with the Senior Rabbi and board for projects and programs. 

• Attend Board of Directors’ meetings and staffing of committees in coordination with the Board President and Senior Rabbi and in allignment with CS's expertise and skills. 

The 5 Most Important Attributes We Will Seek from our next C/S 

• Warmth, Approachability & Connection:
  • Our congregants seek a person who sees them, knows them, and shows up authentically. 

• Youth Focused
  • Youth engagement and comfort in working with youth of all ages is a must! Our C/S will also express this skill in their ability in their vocal versatility, program development and comfort with youth (congregational and camp) culture. 

• Passion for Jewish Liturgy & Music
  • Our members prefer a C/S who is someone who prays through music, not a ‘performer.’ Our C/S’s emotional connection to Judaism and love of Jewish music must be visible and palpable. 

• Participatory & Inclusive Musical Style
  • Our next C/S knows how to blend traditional and contemporary prayer, with participatory singing. Our C/S will cover the vocal range of congregants, is instrumental flexibility (guitar playing is preferred), Our C/S is not performative and expresses joyous, soulful and vocally accessibility. 

• A Team Player & Clergy Collaborator
  • Works well with CBI staff and volunteer choirs. Our C/S will know how to share the Bima fully.