Erica Lippitz

Erica Lippitz and Marla Rosenfeld Barugel were the first two female hazzans (also called cantors) ordained in Conservative Judaism. Their ordination was held in 1987,[1] two years after the first woman was ordained a Conservative rabbi.[2]

Lippitz and Barugel were ordained at the same time by the Cantors Institute of the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City.[1] Since her ordination, Lippitz has served as cantor at Oheb Shalom in South Orange, New Jersey.[3] She is also the director and co-founder of the Kol Dodi choir, director of Oheb Shalom's adult and children's choirs, and a member of the folk-singing group Beged Kefet,[4] which performs nationally and has made three recordings.[3][5] She is a cofounder, with Cantor Perry Fine, of the JTS Cantorial Alumni Association’s Shir Joy Choral Festival.[3] In 2005 she sang at Carnegie Hall.[3]

Prior to becoming a cantor, Lippitz earned a B.A. from the University of Michigan, as well as a Masters in Jewish Communal Service from Brandeis University.[5] She had also served as the director of Loyola University Chicago's Hillel. When she entered the Seminary, she did not believe graduating as a Hazzan would be possible. By the time she graduated, she was one of eleven women in the program.[6]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Jewish Women in America: A-L. Taylor & Francis. 1997. Retrieved 2011-12-16.
  2. ↑ Goldman, Ari L. (1987-02-06). "A Sex Barrier forr Cantors is Broken". New York Times. Retrieved 2012-08-26.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "A woman cantor celebrates 20 years in a pioneering role". Njjewishnews.com. 2008-01-31. Retrieved 2011-12-16.
  4. ↑ "Kol Dodi: The MetroWest Community Chorale". JCC Metrowest. Retrieved 2012-08-26.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Oheb Shalom Congregation". Ohebshalom.org. 2006-10-19. Retrieved 2011-12-16.
  6. ↑ Biddle, Fred Marc (1987-03-13). "Sour Notes Remain For Women As Cantors". The Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2012-08-26.