Marla Rosenfeld Barugel

Last updated

Marla Rosenfeld Barugel (born 1956) [1] is, along with Erica Lippitz, one of the first two female hazzans (also called cantors) ordained in Conservative Judaism.

Barugel and Lippitz were ordained in 1987 by the Cantors Institute of the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City. [2] [3]

In addition to her cantorial education, Barugel earned a BA in French and Spanish and an MS in Secondary Education from the University of Pennsylvania. [3] Prior to her work as a cantor, she worked as a Spanish teacher and a banker. [4] From 1987 until June 2013 she was Cantor of Congregation B'nai Israel in Rumson, New Jersey. [5] [6]

As a cantor, she was a leading force in the struggle for women to be allowed to join the Cantors Assembly, the professional organization of cantors in Conservative Judaism; women were first allowed to join the Cantors Assembly in 1990. [7] She debuted as a soloist in June 1994 in Milwaukee at the Cantors Assembly Convention, and has been a member of the New Jersey Cantors Concert Ensemble since 1987. [3] She has also served on the Executive Council of the Cantors Assembly. [3] Barugel is a founding member of the Cantors Institute Alumni Association. [3]

In 2000, she released a CD titled From Darkness to Light. [3]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Women in Judaism</span> Role of women in Judaism

Women in Judaism have affected the course of Judaism over millennia. Their role is reflected in the Hebrew Bible, the Oral Law, by custom, and by cultural factors. Although the Hebrew Bible and rabbinic literature present various female role models, religious law treats women in specific ways. According to a 2017 study by the Pew Research Center, women account for 52% of the worldwide Jewish population.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jewish Theological Seminary of America</span> Religious education organization in New York, New York

The Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) is a Conservative Jewish education organization in New York City, New York. It is one of the academic and spiritual centers of Conservative Judaism and a center for academic scholarship in Jewish studies. The Jewish Theological Seminary Library is one of the most significant collections of Judaica in the world.

<i>Hazzan</i> Jewish cantor

A hazzan or chazzan is a Jewish musician or precentor trained in the vocal arts who leads the congregation in songful prayer. In English, this prayer leader is often referred to as a cantor, a term also used in Christianity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jewish Renewal</span> Movement in Judaism

Jewish Renewal is a Jewish religious movement originating in the 20th century that endeavors to reinvigorate modern Judaism with Kabbalistic, Hasidic, and musical practices. Specifically, it seeks to reintroduce the "ancient Judaic traditions of mysticism and meditation, gender equality and ecstatic prayer" to synagogue services. It is distinct from the baal teshuva movement of return to Orthodox Judaism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion</span> American graduate school of religion

The Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion is a Jewish seminary with three locations in the United States and one location in Jerusalem. It is the oldest extant Jewish seminary in the Americas and the main seminary for training rabbis, cantors, educators and communal workers in Reform Judaism. HUC-JIR has campuses in Cincinnati, Ohio, New York City, Los Angeles, and Jerusalem. The Jerusalem campus is the only seminary in Israel for training Reform Jewish clergy.

Jewish feminism is a movement that seeks to make the religious, legal, and social status of Jewish women equal to that of Jewish men in Judaism. Feminist movements, with varying approaches and successes, have opened up within all major branches of the Jewish religion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Congregation Beth Israel (Scottsdale, Arizona)</span> Reform Jewish synagogue in Scottsdale, Arizona, US

Congregation Beth Israel is a Reform Jewish congregation and synagogue, located at 10460 North 56th Street in Scottsdale, Arizona, in the United States. Incorporated in 1920, the congregation affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism in 1935.

Congregation B'nai Israel is a Reform Jewish congregation and synagogue located at 2710 Park Avenue, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, in the United States.

The first openly lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender clergy in Judaism were ordained as rabbis and/or cantors in the second half of the 20th century.

Cantors Assembly is the international association of hazzanim (cantors) affiliated with Conservative Judaism. It was founded in 1947 to develop the profession of the hazzan, to foster the fellowship and welfare of hazzanim, and to establish a conservatory for hazzanim. The latter goal was realized in 1952 with the establishment of the Cantors Institute at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. This Institute later developed into the H. L. Miller Cantorial School of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.

Erica Jan (Riki) Lippitz and Marla Rosenfeld Barugel were the first two female hazzans ordained in Conservative Judaism. Their ordination was held in 1987, two years after the first woman was ordained a Conservative rabbi.

Steven Blane is an American rabbi, cantor and recording singer-songwriter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Timeline of women hazzans</span>

This is a timeline of women hazzans worldwide.

This is a timeline of women rabbis:

Nancy Abramson was the first female president of the Cantors Assembly, an international professional organization of cantors associated with Conservative Judaism; she took up that office in 2013. She served as cantor for fourteen years at Park Avenue Synagogue, for twelve years at West End Synagogue in Manhattan, and for five years at Congregation Sons of Israel in Briarcliff Manor, New York. She is a member of the Women Cantors Network. In 2011 she became Director of the H. L. Miller Cantorial School at the Jewish Theological Seminary. She retired in 2023.

This is a timeline of women in religion. See also: Timeline of women in religion in the United States, and Timeline of women's ordination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">B'nai Israel Congregation (Rockville, Maryland)</span> Conservative synagog in Rockville, Maryland, United States

B'nai Israel Congregation is a Conservative Jewish egalitarian congregation and synagogue, located in Rockville, Maryland, in the United States. B'nai Israel's mission is to study in the Jewish tradition, worship God, commit to social action, and address the needs of the Jewish people locally, in Israel, and worldwide. The congregation consists of 1,200 families.

This is a timeline of LGBT Jewish history, which consists of events at the intersection of Judaism and queer people.

This is a timeline of notable moments in the history of women's ordination in the world's religious traditions. It is not an exhaustive list of all historic or contemporary ordinations of women. See also: Timeline of women in religion

References

  1. "Contributions of Jewish Women to Music and Women to Jewish Music". Jewish Music WebCenter. Archived from the original on 2012-02-12. Retrieved 2011-12-16.
  2. Hyman, Paula; Moore, Deborah Dash; American Jewish Historical Society (1998). Jewish Women in America: A-L. Routledge. ISBN   9780415919340 . Retrieved 2011-12-16.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Cantor Marla Barugel (2000). From Darkness To Light. MB Productions. ASIN   B000BIFZ42 . Retrieved 2011-12-16.
  4. "Contributions of Jewish Women to Music and Women to Jewish Music". JMWC. Archived from the original on 2012-02-12. Retrieved 2011-12-16.
  5. "B'nai Israel pays tribute to cantor Marla Barugel". The Monmouth Journal. 2013.
  6. Richman, Alan (May 20, 2013). "Pioneer woman cantor to leave post at CBI". New Jersey Jewish News .
  7. Goldman, Ari L. (September 19, 1990). "A Bar to Women as Cantors Is Lifted". The New York Times . Retrieved 2011-12-16.