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Jewish Valentine’s Day? Cantor Ilan Davidson cantor@bethelsp.org As we enter into the month of February, it seems appropriate to discuss a little known holiday, the Jewish Valentine’s Day, Tu B’Av. Often, I’m asked if and how Jews celebrate Valentine’s Day. It’s right up there with Halloween on everybody’s list of questions regarding whether or not […]
Always Changing, Always Growing Cantor Ilan Davidson cantor@bethelsp.org In our liturgy, we read Shiru L’Adonai shir chadash—Sing unto God a new song. We read these words at least every erev Shabbat, which garners the question, “How can we read the same thing (or do the same thing) every day or week, and call it NEW?” […]
B’tzalel Cantor Ilan Davidson cantor@bethelsp.org Just last month, we had a wonderful visiting group of 8th graders from Temple Israel in Long Beach. During their visit, I invited them to ask me any questions they might have about Temple Beth El, or even about me. Of course, some took this as a challenge to try […]
Thanksgiving – Sukkot For The Masses Cantor Ilan Davidson cantor@bethelsp.org As I sit here, writing this article during the festival of Sukkot, I can’t help but ponder the similarities between OUR harvest festival and the one coming up at the end of November, for Americans. Do you know what our very first obligation is, after […]
The Torah of Our Lives Cantor Ilan Davidson cantor@bethelsp.org Jewish tradition teaches that Torah is a living document, always growing in meaning and depth, forever bringing meaning to our lives. How does this translate into our lives today? How can I make Torah alive for me? What is the Torah of my life? When we […]
Shabbat Koleinu 8-30-2019 On a very special Shabbat Koleinu we welcomed cantorial student and composer Josh Goldberg for an evening musical worship featuring some of his beautiful original compositions. Here are 2 examples of this joyful service with wonderful music: Here is Josh Goldberg singing Ahavat Olam with Cantor Davidson at our Shabbat Koleinu on […]
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 […]
