Cantor Jeffrey C

Cantor C resides in Appleton, WI with his wife, Susan. Their children are Jennifer (33) and Jeremy (28).

Cantor C was born on November 22, 1947 and grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  He attended Hebrew and Religious School at Beth El Ner Tamid Synagogue, becoming a Bar Mitzvah in 1960, and a confirmand in 1962. He worked with Jewish youth groups from 1965-1967, and again from 1973-1986 as a youth advisor and youth director. He served as principal of Beth El Ner Tamid Schools from 1978~1994, except for two years in which he taught in the religious school under an assistant rabbi. He studied piano and music theory privately in his youth and studied voice as a young adult. He sang tenor in school choirs, in Milwaukee's Music for Youth Choir, and in synagogue choirs. More recently he sang with the Milwaukee Jewish Chorale, both locally and nationally. Beth El Ner Tamid's choral director, Prof. Max Janowski of blessed memory, taught him synagogue music during his youth and young adulthood. Cantor Norton Siegel of blessed memory was also a great influence and teacher in his formative and young adult years. Rabbi Gideon Goldenholz and Cantors Ronald Eichaker and Jerome Berkowitz most recently were most helpful in directing him toward his goal of becoming a cantor.

At Beth El, he served as Ba'al Tefilah, Ba'al Kriah, Ba'al Tekia and as cantorial soloist during the year between Cantor Siegel's retirement and the hiring of Cantor Jerry Berkowitz. Upon retirement from his position at Beth El Ner Tamid, he began a five year program of cantorial studies. He was accepted as a Cantor in the Cantorial Council of America in October, 2003.

When Anshe Poale Zedek Synagogue of Manitowoc, Wisconsin lost its rabbi in 1994, the congregants needed a spiritual leader who could conduct High Holy Day services. Following a successful Yom Tovim, the congregation hired Cantor C to serve as spiritual leader on Sabbaths, Festivals, and High Holy Days, and to teach children and adults Hebrew and Judaic studies during the year; this relationship continued for nearly nine years. His duties included conducting services, reading Torah and Haftarot, delivering Divrei Torah, teaching B'nei Mitzvah students, conducting adult studies shiurim on Shabbat, visiting congregants in hospitals and nursing homes, counseling individuals, arranging for funerals, conducting memorial and shiva services, blowing shofar, and doing ecumenical work in the Manitowoc community.

Cantor C continues membership at Beth El Ner Tamid Synagogue, Mequon where he served as president of the Chevra Mishna, and as a board member of the Men's Club. In the past he has served on the Synagogue Board in his capacity as Chevra Mishna representative. He taught Beth El Ner Tamid congregants Judaic subjects each year on Chevra Mishna Sabbaths when not in Manitowoc. In 2002 he organized and ran a synagogue-wide Mitzvah Day of Learning that was open to the entire Jewish community. In February 2003 he taught in the Day of Discovery, an adult studies forum sponsored by the Milwaukee CJL and community synagogues. In addition, he taught in the Stepping Stones program at the Milwaukee JCC, a program for intermarried couples and families. Moreover, he participated as a guest speaker at Silver Lake College in Manitowoc, and served as a speaker and panelist at Manitowoc inter-faith seminars representing Anshe Poale Zedek Synagogue. In November of 2002 he participated in the diversity program at Horace Mann Middle School in Sheboygan, WI where he made a presentation on Judaism to teachers, counselors, and administrators. At Homestead High School he taught British Literature, Creative and Expository Writing, and served on many curriculum and school advisory committees. He advised a Jewish cultural club at Homestead High School.

Presently, Cantor C serves Moses Montefiore Congregation's congregants in Appleton, WI. His duties include conducting services, reading Torah and Haftarot, delivering Divrei Torah, teaching B'nei Mitzvah students, conducting adult studies, visiting congregants, counseling individuals, arranging for funerals, memorial, and shiva services, conducting life cycle ceremonies, and doing ecumenical work in the Appleton community. He and his wife recently returned from their third trip to Israel.

Resume'

Hebrew/Judaic Studies:

• Hebrew Studies at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 1965-67
• Masters in Jewish Education with emphasis in Jewish Studies, Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies, Chicago, Illinois, 1990
• Cantorial Studies with Cantor Ronald Eichaker: 1994-1999
• Rabbinic Studies with Rabbi Gideon Goldenholz
• Presently a Doctoral student in the Doctor of Science in Jewish Studies Program at Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies in Chicago, Illinois
• Continuing Education through MAJE Ulpan and Kinusim 1980's
• Continuing Education Credit at CAJE Conferences and MAJE Kinusim: 8 years. 1986-1993
• Attended the Cantors Assembly Convention in Israel in 1996
• Attended the North American Jewish Chorale Festival in 1998
• Attended Cantorial Council of America Convention 2004
• Monthly Torah study with Rabbi Gideon Goldenholz
• Monthly Chavurot
• Various Internet Torah Study Courses 1995- Present

Secular Studies:

• B.A. in English: University of Wisconsin - Madison 1969
• M.S. in Education: University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee 1974
• University of Wisconsin Writing Project Fellow 1981
• Continuing Credits in Education In-service Courses 1973-2003
• Private voice lessons

Awards:

• JNF Honoree September, 2003
• Dorothy Bartelt Outstanding Service to Education Award May 8, 2003
• Two Solomon Schechter Biennial Awards for Best Jewish Supplementary School in the Conservative Movement 1989-90 and 1991-1992 (Beth El Ner Tamid Synagogue School, Mequon WI)
• Wisconsin Arts Board Scholarship/Grant Recipient for Cantorial Studies 1995-96
• Beth El Ner Tamid Synagogue Men's Club Man of the Year Award - 1997-98
• Midwest Region of Men's Club Man of the Year Award - 1997-98
• State of Wisconsin Forensics Award for Drama Direction 1979
• Mequon- Thiensville School District Teacher of the Year Award 1989

Work Experiences, Jewish and Secular:

• 1969-1973: Teacher of English, Ozaukee High School, Fredonia, WI
• 1973- 2003: Teacher of English, Homestead High School, Mequon-Thiensville, WI
• 1973-78: Youth Group Coordinator (Kadima & USY), Beth El Ner Tamid Synagogue
• 1975~1988 Chicago Region Kinnus and USY Camp Ramah Teacher(Wisconsin)
• 1989 & 1994 Teacher at Camp Interlacken, Eagle River, WI (JCC)
• 1978~94 Principal of Beth El Ner Tamid Synagogue Religious School (78-80 and 82-86) and of Religious/Hebrew School (86-94)
• 1980-82 Teacher at Beth El Ner Tamid Religious School
• 1995-2003 Spiritual Leader and Cantor of Anshe Poale Zedek Synagogue, Manitowoc, WI.

Professional Organization Memberships:

• Cantorial Council of America
• Wisconsin Society for Jewish Learning Board Member
• CJL-Milwaukee (Milwaukee Jewish Education Agency)
• WEA-Retired (Wisconsin Education Association)
• NEA-Retired (National Education Association)
• NCTE-Retired (National Council of Teacher's of English)