Special Shabbat Celebrating 50 Years of Women in the Cantorate followed by an oneg

Friday, February 14, 2025
7:30PM - 8:30PM

Special Shabbat Celebrating 50 Years of Women in the Cantorate
With Special Guest Cantor Zöe Jacobs
Friday, February 14, at 7:30pm in the Sanctuary and on YouTube* followed by an oneg in the Oneg Room

The year 2025 marks a historic milestone in Jewish history: the 50th anniversary of Cantor Barbara Ostfeld’s ordination as the first woman to be formally ordained as a cantor. This landmark moment honors Cantor Ostfeld’s trailblazing achievements and celebrates the many women who have shaped Jewish worship with their voices, leadership, and artistry. It also highlights the strides made toward gender equity within the cantorate and the Jewish community at large.

As part of this celebration, we invite you to join a special Friday Shabbat Service on February 14 at 7:30pm to honor this transformative legacy. This event offers an opportunity to reflect on the central role of music in Jewish life and to spotlight the contributions of female-identifying cantors as composers and prayer leaders. To help congregations mark this occasion, we are providing sample cue sheets featuring the works of women composers. Let us come together to celebrate the journey from 1975, when Barbara Ostfeld broke new ground, to today, as we continue to elevate and honor the voices of women in the cantorate.

Click here to sign-up to bring a special treat for the oneg.

More About Cantor Zöe Jacobs:
Cantor Zöe Jacobs has the honour of being the first ordained Cantor in the UK’s Movement for Reform Judaism, having received her ordination from HUC-JIR’s DFSSM in 2009. Since then, she has worked at Finchley Reform Synagogue as Cantor, and now also as Senior clergy, leading a team of extraordinary rabbis and professionals.

Having been inspired by outstanding songleaders, cantors, and rabbis, Zoe is passionate about how music acts as liturgical midrash and created ‘Shirei Chagigah’, a biennial music and prayer conference in the UK, with the aim of developing and inspiring Jewish musicians and future clergy. Zoe devotes enormous time to supporting the voice of her community in prayer, and, along with her extraordinary rabbinic partners, loves to welcome guests from around the world to their vibrant community.

*Unique YouTube link sent in Friday, February 14 Shabbat Shalom email.