Bethesda Jewish Congregation (BJC), a liberal, non-denominational synagogue located just outside our nation's capital, seeks a warm, engaging, and inspirational individual to lead the cantorial aspects of our High Holiday worship for 2025. Our worship style is Classical Reform meets contemporary, with heavy use of a choir, piano, and solo chazanut plus opportunities for more contemporary styles such as guitar.
The cantor/cantorial soloist/student cantor will have these specific responsibilities:
- Serve as the chazan (cantorial soloist): singing or chanting virtually all solo and lead pieces, plus leading the congregation in all communally sung prayers.
- Co-lead worship (with the rabbi and choir) for Erev Rosh Hashanah, Rosh Hashanah morning (first day only), Erev Yom Kippur (Kol Nidre), Yom Kippur morning, Yizkor, and Neilah.
- Create warm, inviting, and musically meaningful High Holiday services for all worshippers.
- Attend at least one musical dress rehearsal for each holiday (Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur), with the possibility of attending more.
- Under the vision of the rabbi, collaborate with the choir director and pianist for the direction and tone of music during services, including attending planning meetings as needed.
- (Opportunities for further leadership, such as offering sermons or iyunim, may be discussed with the rabbi but are not required.)
Qualifications include:
- Strong knowledge of traditional and contemporary Jewish liturgy and music, including reciting Hebrew passages.
- Capability to learn new music quickly and efficiently.
- Excellent musical and vocal ability.
- Prior experience leading synagogue services (formal ordination not required).
- Ability to work collaboratively with clergy, staff, and other musicians.
- Comfort with Reform-style Shabbat and holiday observance, including the use of livestreaming and microphones, plus familiarity (or the ability to become familiar) with Gates of Repentance.
Interested candidates should please email a copy of their resume and two vocal recordings (one of “Kol Nidre” and one of a piece of their choice) to [email protected].
Honorarium: $5,000-6,000. If needed, transportation and hospitality can be arranged.
Location: Bethesda, MD.
About BJC
Established in 1964, BJC is a liberal Jewish congregation whose members engage in a wide spectrum of Jewish practice.
All religious backgrounds, races, genders, and sexual orientations are welcome here. BJC stresses equal participation of all members in all aspects of congregational life. BJC currently has members from Maryland, DC, and Northern Virginia, as well as members who join us online from all over the country.
While there are several movements in Judaism, BJC chooses to remain independent, not officially affiliated with any of the established Jewish movements.
BJC takes a trans-denominational approach to Jewish worship and thought. We use prayer books from both the Reform and Conservative movements for their even-handed balance between Hebrew and English in the liturgy.
Our worship style, however, incorporates Reform, Reconstructionist, Conservative, Neo-Hassidic, and Jewish Renewal liturgical elements, and most prayers are expressed through song and chant. We use musical instruments in all of our services. As a result of this blending, our worship experience is a dynamic expression of modern Judaism.