Cantor Benjamin D. Matis
cantormatis@gmail.com
Skills
Concert and Event Planning
Weddings, Funerals, other Life Cycle Events.
Chaplaincy
Prison Chaplaincy
Choral Conducting
Musical Arrangements
Course Development
Community Development
Synagogue Programming
Synagogue Skills
B’nai Mitzvah Preparation: Torah/Haftorah, Davening, Tallit and T’fillin Training
Preparing Sermons and Eulogies
Teaching Synagogue Skills: T’fillah, Hagbah, Gabbaiut, Davening, Leining (Torah, Haftorah, Megillot)
Pastoral Care: Shiva Minyanim, Lifecycle Events, Hospital/Nursing Home Visitation
Adult Life-Long learning: Jewish History, Yiddish Literature in Translation, and so on.
Work Experience
July 2022-Present
Hazzan
Beth Israel Congregation of Owings Mills, MD.
As Hazzan of this 350 member congregation, I served as a true bima partner of our new rabbi, collaborating on all aspects of all religious services, from redesigning the bar/bat mitzvah service to parts of our liturgy, as well as regularly speaking from the bima. I trained b’nai mitzvah both individually as well as the year previous to training in my Hebrew Boot Camp wherein we reviewed not only reading Hebrew, but learning strategies, tallit and tefillin, as well as an introduction to the meaning and themes of the liturgy. I have taught two different Life-Long-Learning/Lunch-n-Learn courses, one on Eastern European Jewish History and Great Yiddish Literature in Translation. Further I hired, rehearsed, and directed our professional Hight Holiday vocal quartet as well as arranged and selected music for it and other special occasions. Currently in plans for instrumental Friday night services!
July 2018-June 2022
Spiritual Leader (Kol-Bo)
Agudath Achim Congregation- Altoona, PA
Functioning on both sides of the bimah as the congregation’s sole spiritual leader, I am responsible for worship activities (davening, Torah reading and sermons) for all shabbat and holiday services. Officiating at all lifecycle Events, Director and Instructor of Hebrew School and confirmation class, as well as Adult Education.
Facilitated Adult Education Courses
Bible Study class (Book of Hosea)
Talmud Class
Introduction to Jewish Prayer Class
Book Club steering/selection committee
Lifecycle Events
Bar/Bat Mitzvah Training
Prepared Eulogies
aUGUST 2017-July 2018
Interim Hazzan
Kehilath Israel Synagogue- Overland Park, KS
As the interim cantor for a 400 unit traditional congregation, I was responsible for much of the synagogue’s worship activities, including all Sabbath and Holiday services, weekday Torah reading and Daily Minyan. I also directed the synagogue choir, and functioned as the main bar/bat mitzvah tutor.
June 2010-June 2016
Hazzan
Shelter Rock Jewish Center- Roslyn, NY
As Cantor of this 400 unit congregation, duties included: leading davening for High Holidays, Festivals, and Shabbat services, facilitating music with the preschool and teaching in the Hebrew school program. Responsibilities also included being the primary B’nai Mitzvah tutor, Adult Education, Coordinate/Assign all Torah readings and directing the Volunteer Band.
Created and arranged music for our instrument accompanied Kabbalat Shabbat service.
Read Torah as well as assign Torah reading assignments to our lay baalei-kriah
Taught an introductory trope and intensive Hebrew reading-review course for the Hebrew School
Achieved Greening Fellow Certification, sponsored by UJA-Federation: spearheaded a water-education program as well as transitioning the synagogue away from disposable plates and tableware.
aUGUST 2008-June 2010
Hazzan
Temple Beth Shalom- Livingson, NJ
As Senior Cantor of this 800 unit congregation duties included: leading davening for High Holidays, Festivals, and Shabbat services as well as special services for other occasions. Supervise bar/bat mitzvah program as well as all musical activities including professional choir, Hebrew school and Nursery School.
Engaged professional Jewish singers for High Holidays and special services, and composed/arranged all the music.
Created an acclaimed course for adult education on Jewish Music
Compiled and Edited a special weekday morning service workbook/siddur for a learn-to-pray experience for pre B’nai Mitvah children.
Led a congregational trip to Israel
Founded “Patron’s Concert Series” featuring music which raised over $7,500.
august 2006-august 2007
Student Cantor
Highland Park Conservative Temple Congregation Anshe Emet- Highland Park, NJ
As student cantor of this 490 unit congregation, led all services in addition to teaching in the Sunday morning religious school that included working with the post-b’nai mitzvah kids. After a massive fire devastated the sanctuary, organized and performed a major-fundraising concert that included such notable Hazzanim as Alberto Mizrahi and Sol Zim which raised over $20,000.
June 2005-august 2006
Student Cantor
The East 55th Street Conservative Synagogue- New York, NY
As student cantor, responsible for full jewish year of davening, hired professional Jewish singers for the High Holidays, arranging all the music as well as implementing a highly participatory Friday night service.
august 2000-august 2002
Part-Time Cantor
East Meadow Jewish Center- East Meadow, NY
Before seeking formal certification from JTS, serving this 450 unit congregation, responsible for full-cycle davening as well as teaching 20 bnai mitzvah annually as well as teaching in the Hebrew High School and leading the Adult Bat Mitzvah program.
Other Experience
Scholar In Residence- Jewish Historical Institute, Warsaw, Poland- February 2011
Guest Hazzan- Nozyk Synagogue, Warsaw, Poland- Feburary 2011
Author of the academic article, “Theology in Translation: Progressive Judaism in the Kingdom of Poland” in Polin #27, edited by Glenn Dynner and Marcin Wodziński and Antony Polonsky. Oxford: Littman Library of Jewish Civilization, December 2014