On Journeys and Destinations (and Shavuot and Pride)
The festival of Shavuot has no designated date in the Torah. In Deuteronomy, the festival is to be celebrated not on a set date but…
Category: Cantor Juval Porat: Columns
Join me in Learning about Nonviolent Communication
Cantor Juval Porat “The highest form of intelligence is the ability to observe without evaluating.” — Krishnamurti It isn’t easy being human! Over the course…
Hope is on my Mind
Cantor Juval Porat Hope has been on my mind lately – how one can cultivate hope and look at the goals and challenges ahead with…
Reaching for Joy Through Music, and Two Special Events for Hanukkah
Cantor Juval Porat Among the books on my nightstand is Joey Weisenberg’s “The Torah of Music” – a fascinating and comprehensive collection of curated texts…
Thoughts on the Liturgy of Elul from Cantor Juval
As we prepare for the upcoming High Holidays, here are some thoughts on the liturgy we use during Elul, our month of preparation for those…
How Are You: A Casual Greeting or a Serious Question?
How are you? Really, how are you doing these days? In so many circumstances throughout our daily lives those questions are directed at us, often…
A Musical Spring at BCC
“Song is obligatory in the ritual of the sanctuary. ” – Talmud, Tractate Arakin During services and within the life of our community, at festive…
Cantor Juval is in the “Spotlight” with the American Conference of Cantors
Our own Cantor Juval Porat is featured in the American Conference of Cantors (ACC) “Spotlight” section with an in-depth interview. Here’s a preview of his…
Singer/Songwriter Charlie Kramer Joins BCC for Hanukkah Shabbat
Cantor Juval Porat During Simchat Torah, which marked the end of yet another glorious High Holiday season at BCC, we made the minor yet significant…
Cycles of our Lives, Compressed Into the High Holiday Season
Cantor Juval Porat Another Jewish year heads towards its conclusion, and once again we’re given the opportunity to take stock of our lives, to register…