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Community Cantor Ilan Davidson cantor@bethelsp.org To paraphrase the late, great, President John F. Kennedy, “Ask not what you can do for your community, ask what your community can do for you.” This past month, as we lay my dear father-in-law, Cyril, to rest, I was struck, as I often am, by the outpouring of love […]
Camp for Everyone!! Cantor Ilan Davidson cantor@bethelsp.org When you read this article, I will again be working at our URJ Camp Newman by the Bay, in Vallejo, CA, where I will be joined by many children from TBE. At the same time, we will also have campers at URJ Six Points SciTech Camp, where Gale […]
Cantor’s Kid Cantor Ilan Davidson cantor@bethelsp.org When I was growing up, I was always known as Cantor’s boy. My identity was always shrouded in who the community wanted me to be. I was proud of the role I was trained to perform, but at the same time, I couldn’t wait to escape it. Nobody ever asked […]
Song Leader Boot Camp – Let My People Go! Cantor Ilan Davidson cantor@bethelsp.org Over Presidents’ Day weekend, I had the opportunity to participate in Rick Recht’s Song Leader Boot Camp (SLBC) in St. Louis, MO. As I was preparing to travel, many of you asked me what I hoped to experience at this conference. Of […]
Speaking to Power Cantor Ilan Davidson cantor@bethelsp.org Purim is almost upon us, and with it, the fun, frolic, silliness, and sometimes drunkenness. In fact, through the haze of the party atmosphere, we might sometime forget to see the important lessons of this holiday. Among them, we celebrate women, and their rights and abilities to use […]
Hevruta or Collaborators Cantor Ilan Davidson cantor@bethelsp.org Throughout Jewish history, there has always been one individual who took precedence over almost all others (except family). This person was known as the Hevruta, the study partner with whom Jewish scholars often spent even more time than they did with their families. This partner would challenge you […]
MiDor L’Dor – From Generation to Generation Cantor Ilan Davidson cantor@bethelsp.org Have you had the opportunity to see the new “Mary Poppins Returns”? What an amazing analogy on life, and on the life of our temple community. Whenever things begin to feel in disarray, we sometimes need a reminder of where we’ve been, of our […]
Gratitude and Rededication Cantor Ilan Davidson cantor@bethelsp.org In considering what to write for our November/December combined bulletin, I couldn’t help but think about the holidays we would be celebrating during these two months, Thanksgiving and Hanukkah. While these holidays may seem to not have much in common, in my life right now, they seem totally […]
Mar Heshvan (Bitter Month of Heshvan)? I think not! Cantor Ilan Davidson cantor@bethelsp.org In our tradition, the second month of the year, Heshvan, is known as Mar Heshvan, the bitter month of Heshvan, as there are no Jewish holidays in this month. It’s easy to see why this might bring sadness to some in the […]
The Blast of the Shofar Cantor Ilan Davidson cantor@bethelsp.org As I am typing this month’s article, I can still hear the echo of the shofar blast in my head, resonating from our recent Shabbat service. It tells me that Rosh HaShanah is near and announces the newness and opportunities that each year brings us. Truly, […]
