Honoring Temple Emanuel Cantors

In 2024 an Honoring our Cantors committee (Joyce Falk, Louise Harkavy, Ellen Hoffman, and David Wilson) interviewed all the living cantors (and created an audio biography for Cantor Robofsky), and created the below videos. They also interviewed Rabbi Emeritus Warren Stone, who worked with all of the cantors, and Rabbi Adam Rosenwasser.

An evening honoring the cantors was held on March 21, 2025. A permanent  display in the Temple Emanuel lobby and this digital repository displaying their interviews and audio materials were unveiled.

These permanent installations honor our Temple’s past, present and future cantors. Congregants and visitors will be able to access, so everyone’s legacy will live on within our physical building and our digital presence.

LINKS:

  • Honoring Our Cantors: Overview Video
  • Honoring Our Cantors: Trailer
  • Interview with Rabbi Emeritus Stone about all Cantors

Cantor Abrasha Robofsky Z"L

Cantor Abrasha Robofsky Z”L

(d. 1997)

(Began as TE Cantor 1962)

The Winding Road from Carnegie Hall to Connecticut Avenue

  • Interview with Lois Simpson about Cantor Robofsky
  • Interview with Jenn Mann Fields about Cantor Robofsky
  • Interview with Peter Kurtz about Cantor Robofsky
  • Interview with Sue Rudo about Cantor Robofsky
  • Group interview with several TE members about Cantor Robofsky
  • Abrasha Robofsky Biography
  • Sound Bite: Portion of Bat Mitzvah for Jenn Mann Fields (1 file)

Cantor Susan Berkson

(Began as TE Cantor 1989)

First Woman Vested Cantor at Temple Emanuel

  • Full interview with Cantor Berkson
  • Sound Bite: Music from her album (1 file)

Rabbi Cantor Gershon Silins

Cantor Gershon Silins

(Began as TE Cantor 1994)

Bye, Bye Keyboard. Hello Grand Piano

  • Full interview with Rabbi Cantor Silins
  • Sound Bites: Recordings (2 files)

Cantor Rosalie Will

(Began as TE Cantor 2001)

From Camp Songleader to DMV Area Wide Choral Concert Director

  • Full interview with Cantor Will
  • Sound Bites: Recordings (3 files)

Cantor Lindsay Kanter

(Began as TE Cantor 2017)

Two Rabbis and a Pandemic

  • Full interview with Cantor Kanter
  • Interview with Rabbi Rosenwasser about Cantor Kanter
  • Sound Bites: Recordings (3 files)

For those who wish to express their appreciation and support for the Cantors and the Temple’s music programs, contributions may be made to the Byer Jewish Enrichment Fund at Temple Emanuel.

This fund was created as a bequest from the estate of Myrna Rosen Byer who was actively involved at Temple Emanuel from the 1990’s until her untimely death in 2008. She loved participating in the Temple Choir and was involved in the Capital Campaign Building Project of 1998-1999, which saw the construction of HaMakom, the Administrative Offices, the Lobby with elevator, and the school areas. She served as President of the Congregation from 2002-2004. After her term as president, Myrna was on the Board of the URJ.

Donate HERE

If you have any difficulties with online donations, please contact the Temple Office at 301.942.2000 or via email. Checks can be mailed to Temple Emanuel (10101 Connecticut Avenue, Kensington MD 20895); please make out to Temple Emanuel and note in the memo line “Donation to Byer Jewish Enrichment Fund”