MEHADRIN CLASS OF 2001 FOR 25 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE JEWISH COMMUNITY
RABBI CANTOR HOWARD NACHT
CANTOR RENA SHAPIRO
My grandfather, of blessed memory, taught me Yiddishkeit, menschlichkeit and tolerance. At Hebrew School, B ' nai Abraham in Newark, NJ, I first experienced Pluralism in Judaism, while also witnessing the speaking out on critical issues by Rabbi Dr. Joachim Prinz, z” l.
My grandparents taught me Hachnasat orchim as they welcomed visiting choir members to stay at their apartment on Festivals and Holy Days. They also taught me Tzedakah first hand by placing a few coins in the blue and white pushke for a girls orphanage in Jerusalem every Friday before Shabbat. That is also where I learned service to the Jewish community by the example of my grandfather’ s serving his congregation( the Brisker shul) as its perennial recording secretary.
As a college undergraduate I was an organizer of the first Jewish Student’ s Organization on the Newark campus of Rutgers University. Post grad school I joined a congregation, became a member of the choir, became active in Brotherhood and, on a few occasions, subbed for the rabbi and / or the cantor.
Then came AJR, where I was blessed to be taught by Rabbis and Cantors from the broad spectrum of Jewish practice, and where I received ordination first as Cantor and then as Rabbi.
Since then I have served congregations in both capacities, and have served both Conservative and Reform congregations. In addition I taught Ritual Skills at AJR and accomplished the first organizing of the Cantorial material in the AJR library.
Now I am retired from the bimah and enjoy spending time with my family and friends.
I was born into a musical family in Newburgh, NY, and the delight of music has informed both my personal and professional journeys, and has led me to this full circle moment at AJR, marking 25 years since ordination!
Preparation for my career path included studying violin and piano, singing in high school choirs, teaching myself folk guitar, and in my undergraduate years at Tufts University, directing the female a capella group. In the early 1990’ s, a trained professional, but not officially ordained, I assumed cantorial duties at Temple Beth-El in Poughkeepsie, NY, where I also developed Jewish community-wide and interfaith choirs.
In 2001, I received cantorial ordination from AJR, and subsequently joined the faculty. While at AJR, I was awarded the prestigious Creative Liturgy Award. In 2014, I retired from Beth-El and relocated to Pittsburgh to be near my family, including my beloved four grandchildren. Spring of 2015 saw me accept the position of Spiritual Leader at nearby Beth Samuel Jewish Center, where I continue to serve. In addition to my professional life and my family, what continues to infuse me with joy is singing at the NAJCF, finger-knitting winter scarves for the homeless, and playing the violin in the Washington( PA) Symphony Orchestra.
Teaching at AJR is one of the crowning glories of my professional achievements. My cup runneth over with the deepest gratitude to AJR for our sacred community of teachers, colleagues, and friends, and for inspiring me to lead and teach jubilantly with meaning and purpose in diverse creative iterations of Judaism. Last year I was extremely honored to be awarded the ARC Alumna of the year award.
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