Cantorial Concert, Sunday, December 2, 2001
Temple Israel, Tulsa, OK
Rabbi Aaron R. Sherman

It is quite awe inspiring to be back on this Bima, especially surrounded by so many Cantors with such beautiful voices. I have to admit I was surprised that I was asked to participate this evening. I was not exactly sure what to do, so I guess I will just jump right in. (sing "Shalom Rav")

Oh, I was asked to speak and not sing. That makes more sense - to speak about Dad. When my brother spoke on Shabbat evening, he covered in depth the role our Father has played in this Temple and in both the Tulsa Jewish and general communities. There is not much left for me to say.

So let me address why tonight we might have a musical tribute to Dad. I thought that I would trace Dad's musical development. When he was a young lad in Pittsburgh, he took piano lessons. In those days, my Grandparents did not have a piano, so Dad had to practice on a cardboard keyboard. Many of Dad's relatives lived near by. His Aunt Bess had a nice piano. But I suspect that Dad's frequent visits to her home had less to do about practicing piano, and more to do with the home made cookies and milk that Aunt Bess provided her nephew. And that really was the highlight of Dad's musical career.
Now Dad fortunately understands his musical limitations. Dad does not pretend to be what he is not - a person who can sing well. I, however, learned just recently that a past Temple president early into his presidency asked Dad not to hum so loud, so he could concentrate better on praying. This reminds me of a similar situation, which one Cantor summarizes in the following note to her mentor. I hope that none of the visiting Cantors here ever experience this problem. She writes:

Dear Dr. Isaacson,
I have a rabbi who insists on singing along with me into his microphone every time I chant or lead congregational singing. In a million years I wouldn't mind that he participates, but, to tell you the truth, he has a tin ear that sets off metal detectors and a voice that scares away alley cats.
Signed, Chazzan Made to Sound Bad

Dr. Isaacson wrote back the following:
Everyone should be encouraged to sing during services, but only one with a trained musical voice should lead singing over the microphone. Gently suggest to your rabbi that if he will kindly step back a step or two and sing off mike, you, in turn, won't speak into the mike along with him when he delivers his sermon. Maybe he'll get the hint.

Preach the good word Dad can. Sing a beautiful melody he can't.

But just because someone can not play an instrument or carry a tune, does not mean that person can not be involved musically. My wife, Stephanie, regrets that she can not be here today. Her Grandfather in his retirement produces a Temple Musical every other year that is a major fundraiser for their temple. Everyone in the family is involved. My mother-in-law helps make the costumes, my father-in-law runs the lights, one Uncle makes the banners, Uncle Scott keeps an eye on the young cousins, etc. So even though all of these relatives are not the most musically inclined, they each play a big role in this big musical production.

But technology is not one of Dad's many strengths. For instance, at the end of my first year of Rabbinical school in Israel, I knew that I would need a car when I returned to the states. As a second-year graduate student it was time for me to own my own car. So Dad was kind enough to look for a car for me. You know that Dad likes big cars, so he figured I would as well. He was so proud when he found a 1979 Cadillac Sedan Deville with low mileage. He told me that the car had a CD. I thought that was interesting. My car would have something my parents did not have in their house - a Compact Disk player. But then I became suspicious. CD players had not been invented or certainly were not in use in 1979. So when I came home and sat in my new car, I found not a CD player, but a CB - you know like "breaker 1-9". I thought my Cincinnati classmates would have fun with this.

So Dad is not a musical technical wizard. Nor does he possess a fully working stereo in his office or home. Maybe the reason we are honoring Dad tonight with a musical tribute is that he is knowledgeable about the current musical scene. Well, since Ruth went away to college, Dad lost his main musical advisor who let him know which groups were in with the teenagers and which ones weren't.

So why then are we honoring Dad with a Cantorial Concert?

Jewish music has always been important to Dad. We have had countless musical Shabbatot here at Temple. And these were not just excuses or ways of finding someone to cover for Dad when he was out of town. These were and are big deals, maybe not as big as tonight when we have eight Chazzanim. Dad understands the importance music plays in people's worship experience. He fought to have the piano placed here in the sanctuary. He appreciates when the Cantor chooses a song to sing after the sermon that complements the message Dad wishes to convey.

I learned the hard way that this takes planning ahead. I can't tell the Cantor right before services begin or even on Friday afternoon what I will be speaking about, and expect a great sermon anthem.

Rabbi Danny Freelander, who writes and sings with Cantor Jeff Klepper, got his start as the Temple Youth group advisor when he was an undergraduate and when Dad served as the Associate Rabbi in West Hartford.

Let me provide you with an example of the role Jewish music plays in Dad's life:

On our first trip to the Rockies we borrowed the Schlein's eight-passenger luxury van, which we nicknamed OMA from the letters on the license plate. We drove through the Oklahoma panhandle and soon noticed the hills of New Mexico. We twisted our way through the Colorado Rockies, through beautiful gullies and streams and snow covered passes. As we crossed over another gorgeous mountain we put in the cassette "Glorious" by Steinberg, a work that Dad was thinking about featuring in an upcoming Music Shabbat. The music and beautiful scenery uplifted all our spirits and makes for a wonderful memory for my entire family.

Unfortunately, we could not listen to the music throughout our trip. We drove over a bump and the cassette player stopped working. We did not realize that we had just blown a fuse, but that is another story all together.

So I would suggest that Temple Israel has been blessed with the fact that you, Dad, know your own musical limitations and thus spare us from hearing you sing or play. You also have and continue to devote much time and energy to make sure music - good music -- plays a prominent role at Temple Israel.

On Shabbat evening, Daniel spoke about the role of the rabbi and the role that you, the congregants, have played in the life of the Sherman family. I hope that Daniel, Stephanie and I will be blessed with as loving congregations as you, Dad and Mom, have been so blessed. O God, enable us to be so inspired in doing our work in Your name. Help us to grasp our own position in the magnitude of Your universal plan, and teach us to hold the special trust, small or great, that You have put in our hands. Comfort us with Your presence, Your cheer in life. Please aid us in our labors and the measure of success in that which we seek to achieve. Promise us protection so that we may not be hindered in our service by fear and worry of that which is hidden. Implant in our hearts a trust in You as well as an assurance that we and our dear ones will be safe in Your hands. Grant that we find in Your presence, delight and gladness, peace and contentment.

May it be Your will, our God and God of our mothers and fathers, to bless this man who has chosen to lead, guide, and administer the spiritual affairs of this congregation. Grant him continued vigor of mind and body to labor for the Torah and Your people, the clarity of vision to realize the sacredness of his obligations, and the moral courage and strength of purpose to continue to fulfill them worthily.

We appeal to You, O God, to extend Your merciful arm over the members of this congregation. Inspire us faithfully to follow our chosen leader, to emulate him as our model in Jewish service, to give him cooperation in unstilted measure, and to uphold his hands for the efficient performance of his sacred duties.

God, watch over them and protect us in loving kindness. Enable us all - no matter what our individual musical talents are - to be inspired and uplifted by good music. Let us continue to grow from strength to strength. Amen

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