Randall Schloss
Image by Courtesy of Randall Schloss
Temple Ohabai Shalom
Brookline, Massachusetts
Age: 46
Nominated by: Himself
Song: “Elohai N’tsor,” Randall Schloss
As a cantor, my life is dedicated to Jewish music. I have always been enthralled by music (and always been Jewish!), but over the past 14 years, the two have come together.
Judaism is much more than a religion, and I believe that Jewish music is the fullest expression of prayer. I find many liturgical texts to be extremely powerful, but they are even more so when set to engaging music. Whether I am composing a new setting of Hebrew liturgy or singing a piece by another composer, the created-in-the-present aspect of music brings the words to life. I am thrilled that my congregation, Temple Ohabei Shalom of Brookline, Massachusetts, feels the same way! They are fully engaged in prayer and community through music. They love old favorites, but embrace newer expressions of musical prayer as well. I am a lucky cantor to be able to express myself through music and to feel the embrace of Jewish community as a reward. — Randall Schloss
INFLUENCES: Bonia Shur, Max Janowski, Yehezkel Braun, Josh Nelson, Debbie Friedman, Francis Poulenc, Benjamin Britten, John Lennon, Bob Marley, among many others.
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