Cantor Karen Berman of Congregation Shalom in Fox Point says that she “came across [her] life instead of going up the ladder.” Rather than setting out to become a cantor, she said, “all the things I did in life led to this.”
And “this” — 18 years of cantorial work at Shalom — is the cause for a three-day celebration in Berman’s honor slated for Aug. 9-12.
Looking back over those years, Berman recently reminisced in an interview with The Chronicle about this time full of “chai” (life).
Often present at people’s most emotional moments, Berman said, “It’s a challenge to keep my own emotions at bay.”
But she can manage her feelings best when she focuses hard on what she is doing. “I have to do the other part of my job [the ceremonial part] really well,” Berman said. “I am actually a closet perfectionist.”
The best part of this work, she said, eyes filling with tears, is the many opportunities she has to approach people and share what the Jewish philosopher Martin Buber called “I/Thou moments.”
These are the moments (according to the Jewish Virtual Library Web site) when people are able “to truly understand and ‘be there’ with another person, without masks, pretenses, even without words.”
Berman is “warm and loving and appreciative of children,” said Shalom’s senior rabbi, Ronald Shapiro. “Little children grow up knowing she loves them and that has a lot to do with how they feel about Judaism. And [these qualities have] endeared her to people of all generations.”
That gentleness carries over to her voice, he added. “There is a soulful-ness while she chants that penetrates people’s souls and touches them religiously, like the Talmudic image of the bat kol (divine voice). I’ve always seen within it God’s presence.”
From Green Bay
Cantor Ruth Berman-Harris (not related to Berman) said that when she, an Argentine Jew with no experience in the U.S., came to Congregation Sinai, Berman helped her learn the “do’s and don’t’s of being a cantor here,” without any sense of competition. They have become friends as well as colleagues.
Berman-Harris said that besides being “amazing at working with people” as well as “down-to-earth and non-judgmental,” Berman is generous in collaborating and sharing music with Berman-Harris. “It is always joyful to be with [Karen],” Berman-Harris added
Berman was raised as a member of Congregation Cnesses Israel in Green Bay, where both of her parents served as president and a sister is currently president. Berman said she always found the synagogue “a comfortable place — a place I wanted to be.”
Beginning in 1971, while still in college, Berman taught Judaism to children and adults, led youth groups, family services, song sessions and a synagogue day-camp program.
“Even when I was trying to find what people call ‘real work,’ I always had to allow time to do this kind of work,” Berman said. She even turned down some “real” jobs so that she could teach Hebrew school at one of the four congregations she was associated with — Congregations Sinai and Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun, and Temples Beth Hillel (Kenosha) and Menorah.
In 1987, she made the transition from educator to clergy when Shalom hired her as cantorial soloist in charge of b’nai mitzvah education. At the time, she was “the only woman on the professional staff” there, she said.
According to Phil Himmelfarb, president of Congregation Shalom at the time, “We intended the [hiring] process to be completely gender-neutral.”
Himmelfarb recalled that “We interviewed a lot of people and Karen kept coming to the fore. [She] had a lot going for her from the get-go. …. There was never a question about her voice and she seemed to have a good rapport with children.”
“I consider bringing Karen aboard as one of the most important and best things I did [as president],” he added.
In the beginning, Berman said, she had only a one-year contract. But the synagogue “allowed me to walk down the steps; they didn’t throw me in the pool.” In 1998, after much study, she earned certification as a cantor.
Berman “oversees [Congregation Shalom’s] b’nai mitzvah training, which is usually 65-70 students,” said Shapiro. “And she participates in a large number of the weddings and many of the funerals.”
He values Berman’s presence as a role model, especially for girls — he noted that Congregation Shalom has had several female students grow up to become rabbis and cantors — and her “significant work ethic.”
Berman gives a lot of credit for her success to the support of her family. Husband Elliot, son Sam, daughter Hannah and Elliot’s parents, her “silent partners” who live nearby, have all been “as understanding as they could be,” she said.
“Cantor Berman’s Chai Anniversary” co-chairs Laurie Pasch and Janet Howenstine and a committee of 16 have scheduled an array of festivities.
Activities will begin with “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” on Tuesday evening, Aug. 9. Included are a pre-game tailgate party and Brewers game at Miller Park, with Berman singing the national anthem.
On Thursday, Aug. 11, there will be a fundraising dessert reception at 7 p.m. and “Chai Lights Concert” at 8 p.m. featuring Berman and friends at the synagogue.
The celebration will conclude on Friday evening, Aug. 12, with a Middle Eastern “Chai Dinner,” “Shabbat in Song,” and “Chocolate Extravaganza” oneg Shabbat.
Reservations are required. For more information, call 414-352-9288.
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