Cantor with a Mission

For Cantor Deborah Zeitlen, her calling as a cantor came from the desire to turn negative into positive. Now, she is achieving this at her new pulpit at in Huntington.

“It never dawned on me that I would do cleric work,” Zeitlen said. Like many Jewish children, her religious education ended once she received her bat mitzvah.

“I always felt spiritually connected growing up but didn’t really go to synagogue,” she said. Originally growing up reform, her family converted to Conservative right before her bat mitzvah.

In fact, her curiosity with her religion didn’t spark again until she was in college. Finally, after 12 years as a human resources manager and 10 year of singing opera professionally, she went to the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City. “I was looking for something with more fulfillment,” she said.

After going between Reform, Conservative and Reconstructionist temples, she found what she was looking for at Temple Beth El, part of the Reform movement. “I liked what Beth El stood for,” she said. “The congregation appealed because of the people, what they stood for, who they are. They’re accepting of all lifestyles, and the rabbi is terrific.”

Zeitlen started as a cantor at Beth El July 1, and has been doing everything to make the members feel as comfortable with her as possible. “The previous cantor had been there for 23 years,” she said. “I want it to be as smooth a transition as possible.”

For now, Zeitlen is leaving the services as is. But, after her first year, she and the rabbi hope to bring some change that the whole congregation can enjoy. “I’d like to bring in some new melodies to the liturgies,” she said. “Maybe introduce a new prayer. Everything is done in collaboration with the rabbi, it’s a team effort.”

The prayer services are certainly not the only part of her role. Along with the music, as a cantor Zeitlen will also be responsible for religious education of young and old, all life cycle events such as marriages, funerals and baby namings as well as pastoral counseling and visiting.

All of these are equally important in the cantor’s life for her own personal reasons. “I never had a feeling a community belonging growing up,” she said. “If I had that resource in my life, things would have been easier. I want to bring to families what was lacking for me.”