Beek on being

What does it mean to be a spiritual guide of a congregation? To lead prayer, officiate life cycle events, educate the community and partner with the rabbi. And to do so for over three decades! The Jewish New Year is about to begin, and as we take time to reflect, repent and repair we talk about it all with Cantor Lisa Segal of Temple Judea. This is Beek on being a CANTOR.

Creators and Guests

SC
Producer
Steven Chen
Songwriter/Composer, Producer, and residenet Recording/Mixing/Mastering Engineer at Penthouse Studios Miami. Credits include: The Emmys, Tyler Perry, French Montana, Love & Hip Hop ...

What is Beek on being?

A podcast on shared humanity; discussing personal and professional perspectives. From serious to silly to sublime, coming from kindness and curiosity, it is all about connections.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

the women dancing with their timbrel followed Miriam as she sang a song. Sing a song to the one whom we've exalted Miriam as the women dance and dance all night long the women I

Melissa Shere Beek:

hope you're well. This podcast is a place for people to share personal and professional perspectives to talk openly and to ask questions. From serious to silly to sublime, it's all about communication and connections. Always coming from a place of kindness and curiosity, we talk about shared humanity, discuss ideas, and highlight people creating a better world. We've got to keep learning, keep growing, keep being.

Melissa Shere Beek:

I'm Melissa Shere Beek, and this is Beek on Being. Today's episode is Beek on being a CANTOR. When we think of what a CANTOR does in the synagogue, we know they are the prayer leader. They officiate life events. They educate the community and partner with the rabbi.

Melissa Shere Beek:

But what does it take to become a CANTOR? What does it mean to be a spiritual guide of a congregation? And what is the importance of continuity and community in the position for over three decades. In studio today, we have member and past board member of the American Conference of CANTORs and CANTOR of Temple Judea, CANTOR Lisa Siegel, to tell us all about it. So welcome.

Melissa Shere Beek:

I am so thrilled you're here. First of all, if you haven't seen my Beek Beats in the past, you're gonna get ready for this one because this is amazing. So watch this episode on YouTube. But I'm very excited because I have had the great honor and privilege to watch your journey for the last thirty years. So I'm thrilled that you're in studio today.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Just really, I can't wait to get like the inside scoop on everything with you. So thank you. Thank you so much for

Cantor Lisa Segal:

you being so much for having me. I'm thrilled to be here. I really am. Thank you.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Oh, I'm honored. I'm honored. So just to start in the beginning, will you tell our listeners introduce yourself and tell our listeners a little bit about you?

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Absolutely. So my name is Lisa Segal. My maiden name was Verona. Sounds Italian, but it's not. I'm and actually, it's appropriate that you're bringing me here this year because it's actually the twentieth year of me being an ordained cantor beginning my twentieth year.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Wow Mazel tov That's wonderful.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Thank you. Thank you. So, I am originally born from in Detroit, moved to Saint Petersburg, the West Coast Of Florida back in the early seventies when I was 12. Stayed there for until I graduated high school, went to college at University of Florida. It's great to be a Florida Gator.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Went there. Undergrad. Moved to Miami, Florida. I and and I've been in Miami since 1981. Met my husband here in Miami.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Lots of ties because of my husband, because of me being here so long. I went to Camp Coleman, as a song leader and a counselor and, you know, so that's shout out to Coleman as well and and University of Florida. So, I'm pretty much a a Miami girl most of my life.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Uh-huh. I love it. I love it. So can we start by telling us what a CANTOR does?

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Yes. Okay. So a cantor is comes from the Kantor, you know, that Italian of singer. When people, ask me who aren't Jewish, I kind of equate it with the music minister of the church. Okay.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Got it. With the caveat that that a cantor who is, ordained, as a cantor through seminary training, formal training, also is trained very much the same way as a rabbi, studies texts, Torah, all you know? And and and so and is able to teach and officiate at any of the life cycle events that rabbis do as well. So CANTORs who are, you know, properly trained, you know, seminary trained are equal partners to the rabbis.

Melissa Shere Beek:

So so I was gonna

Cantor Lisa Segal:

ask But you what with a concentration, you must be musical. Right. You know, musical and, you know, pass certain tests to to be admitted to the seminary in musical training.

Melissa Shere Beek:

So was gonna ask you, what does it take to be a CANTOR? Like, what do you have to study?

Cantor Lisa Segal:

So all subjects such as, music, of course, you know Uh-huh. Music theory, sight singing. You need to be you need to play an instrument. Mhmm. It's interesting because now in the CANTOR, in the last, I would say, ten to fifteen years, they require guitar.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Oh, they do require.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Okay. In the reform seminary, which is Hebrew Union College.

Melissa Shere Beek:

So there's certain training for that as well.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Oh, yes. Yes. Yes.

Melissa Shere Beek:

But

Cantor Lisa Segal:

besides music, music history, music theory, all of that, and, you know, the traditional chants and and repertoire and reform repertoire, traditional repertoire, music music modes, all of that. You you also have the rabbinic, the he the full Hebrew, modern Hebrew, prayer book Hebrew, you know, ancient Hebrew, that kind of thing. So you have you have the Hebrew studies. You have text study. You have everything that the rabbis do as well.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Years does that take?

Cantor Lisa Segal:

It's a five year post college. Wow. Now I did not attend Hebrew Union College. There there when I went to CANTORYAL School, they offered a certification program. I was working at Temple Beth Am at that time full time.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

I had two young kids and a husband, and, I was lucky enough to be admitted to the certification program. So, I did it long distance, and I flew up to Hebrew Union College for four summers and took my exams up there. It did take me an extra year when in my last year, I had to cut my responsibilities to a more of a part time position. Honestly, I don't even know how I

Melissa Shere Beek:

accomplished say I don't know how you did that.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

But Yeah.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

A lot

Cantor Lisa Segal:

of four getting up at 04:00 in the morning and studying into the late hours at night. Dedication. Wanted to be a CANTOR.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Yeah. So was there a certain calling or an moment for you? What what how did you decide this is what I wanna do?

Cantor Lisa Segal:

So I taught myself I I come my my mother's side was very musical. She played the piano. I all of her uncles were musical. I remember organs in their homes and then playing at holidays. I have a cousin who's deceased of blessed memory who was the number one Al Jolson impersonator.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Oh my goodness.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Back in the day in the world, he traveled all over the world. Wow. So I come from, you know, musical, background, my my family. And but I never really had any formal training as a child. I taught myself how to play guitar when I was 10.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Wow. And so I've started playing young, and I just it just was my my refuge, was my guitar. And then, you know, when we moved to Florida and a few friends of mine encouraged me to go to Camp Coleman, I watched that person up there, you know, on stage playing guitar and leading Jewish songs. I thought, wow. I could do that.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

And so I that was probably the first impetus, you know, that set me on this path.

Melissa Shere Beek:

On the path.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Yeah. Yeah. And I and I and I taught myself all the the songs. I I, you know, I bought books, and I taught myself the music, and I became

Melissa Shere Beek:

And you had no formal training. You did this all in

Cantor Lisa Segal:

that's amazing. No formal training. My my undergraduate is sociology. I had no I did not have a music degree. So it was really all I my guess.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

I guess. And

Melissa Shere Beek:

so In your soul. Yeah. Absolutely.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Yeah. Yeah. So so self taught. I didn't I you know, later on when I was in cantorial school, I had more

Melissa Shere Beek:

formal training. Though. Really? That's

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Yes. Yes. So I became a song leader for a camp and, you know, youth group and nifty and all that, you know, used to be called Sefty. And then and then I kinda pivoted, and I was a sociology major. And I actually went to go work for Jordan Marsh department stores.

Melissa Shere Beek:

But I remember

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Jordan Marsh down here. Yes. Yes. Downtown at the Omni.

Melissa Shere Beek:

They had one at the end of Sunnyland Mall too.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

At the end of Sunnyland. Of course. Of course. Dateland. Anyway, I yeah.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

So I worked I I, you know, needed a a real paying job to support myself, and I became a I worked for corporate, and I became a systems well, first, a corporate trainer, and then I became, assistance systems analyst. And it was just, you know, something completely there. But always on the side, I was always, hired out as a as an accompanist, a guitarist for bar and bat mitzvahs and and as a substitute soloist at temples all over South Florida. So it was like my side gig. And then, after I got married, I I just I just was kinda done with the corporate world and Lehrman Day School on Miami Beach.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Sure.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Somebody reached me about teaching music in the school, and I decided to leave my career. They thought I was crazy. Although it turned out about six months later, Jordan Marsh went under.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Right.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

So it was Becher. So, anyway, I went to Lehrman Day School for a year, and it was during Lehrman Day School that year there that I was called, by the principal of Temple Beth Am that there was an opening, and they really would've would wanted me to come there. And so, I interviewed, and I ended up being, the music teacher. That's how I started really was I was a music teacher at Beth Am Day School for eighteen years.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Yes. And my children really appreciate that. I will let you know. That's where I first discovered you.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Right.

Melissa Shere Beek:

I love it. And they all the songs for everything, even the one we did earlier, Miriam, which is their favorite. But it's all because of you. So thank you and I appreciate that.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Thank you.

Melissa Shere Beek:

So what does a typical day or week, because I don't think you have a typical day, look like being a CANTOR?

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Well, it is it is you know, I know it's cliche.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Responsibilities and everything.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

I know it's cliche. And like you said, you never know really. You know? This week, I ended up having I have two funerals. I had one yesterday.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

I have one tomorrow. And these things obviously come out of nowhere. Right. And and you have to you have to, you know, shift and and you know? So the typical week, there's lots of meetings.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

We have staff meetings. We have clergy meetings. We have director meetings. I I teach a lot. I'm I'm involved with B'nai Mitzvah kids and and helping with that program.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

I teach adults. I I I do Torah study when I'm asked to. I also, every week I have the blessing of, teaching. I I lead Shabbat, the music of Shabbat for the Margo School, the the the preschool with the little ones, which is a real love of mine.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Oh, that must be the

Cantor Lisa Segal:

best ever. It is the best. And I I'm really spoiled because I am a grandmother now. I'm a Bubby. Yay.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

The entire class of my granddaughter calls me Bubby. My granddaughter is there.

Melissa Shere Beek:

She's three. Yeah. Who's cancer?

Cantor Lisa Segal:

They only know Bubby. They only know me my Bubby. They think that's my name. So, you know, I have that blessing of What a joy. Yes.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

It is a joy. So, you know, the week, you know, you never know. You never know. I think that the one of the biggest misconceptions of what people think a cantor does is practice all week for Shabbat.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Right.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Which is really such a small part of my position.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Mhmm.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

You know, you there's also hospital visits.

Melissa Shere Beek:

There's hospital say, so those are the responsibilities in the synagogue. But what are the responsibilities outside the synagogue doors? Like, you know, visiting the ill, all those things. Right?

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Right. Right. Oh, of course. Yeah. Funerals, weddings, baby namings, all you know, life I've been so blessed to be part of so many life cycle moments in my career, and I'm primarily because of my long term relationships being in Miami for so, so long.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Right. So of the life cycle events, what are some of the greatest ones and what are what are some well, not what are the other ones, but how do you deal with the more difficult ones?

Cantor Lisa Segal:

You know, I I'd say, obviously, the funerals are the most difficult.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Right.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

The most painful, the most they, you know, they suck the energy from you. But I would I would I would say that

Melissa Shere Beek:

How do you handle

Cantor Lisa Segal:

that? Have to say to myself that that I'm there, you know, as their source of comfort Mhmm. And as their refuge and that I am it it's not about me. Right. And I kinda have to put in a container, you know, my emotions.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

And I and I and certainly, I have to feel emotions and and and and guide and and and hold hands and and cry with these people. But but I I just I just kinda set aside, you know, and say, you have a role. They're looking to you Mhmm. For strength. And and, you know, you have to kinda put your sadness to the side, and you have to be composed, and you have to, you know, be there and do what you're expected to do.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

And I think I just have done enough of them that I am able to compartmentalize.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Right. And is there a way you decompress afterwards, like meditate or song? Or is there something that you do that helps you?

Cantor Lisa Segal:

So one of the things when you leave a cemetery, you're supposed to wash your hands. You're supposed to separate that and clean, you know, that wanna you wanna clean the death off your

Melissa Shere Beek:

Right.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Off your souls and your bodies. And so I think that is one way.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Mhmm.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

And probably come home and sit on my balcony and look at the water Nature's talk to my

Melissa Shere Beek:

yelling.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Yeah. And breathe.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Yeah. Yeah. So tell me some of the great life cycle events. Is there a more unusual one or, like, what's a rare or unusual or the most special one?

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Yeah. We seem to have we seem to have a lot of people converting to Judaism, which is an amazing thing in this in this day and time of what we're going through as Jews. It's it's it's really quite amazing. And one of the rituals is the mikveh.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Yeah.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Going to the beach. You know? And over the summer, we've had, a few babies. And for there is we've had a couple of men from Israel that you know, single men that have adopted babies. Oh, nice.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

And, I think it was through an attorney here in The States where, they they've they've been able to secure a baby here in The States, and then they they've contacted one of our rabbis because they weren't born Jewish, and so they have to go to the mikveh. I have to say those those couple of ones that I've been that I've been part of are really, really special.

Melissa Shere Beek:

I was just gonna say that's

Cantor Lisa Segal:

gonna be so special. You know?

Melissa Shere Beek:

Really a blessing.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Really, I've probably officiated, at at this point, thousands of B'nai mitzvah. Wow. Because that's really the canters. I would say, you know, when you ask what a cantor does, that's probably biggest the responsibility. You know, we're we pretty much direct the B'NEY MIDSFA program.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

And it you know, people say, don't you get tight? You know, honestly, every time I'm standing next to a child and, you know, I and and know that that is a sacred moment in their lives. I mean, that is really, it never gets old for me.

Melissa Shere Beek:

And you've the privilege of watching the ark of them from the preschool to teaching the Torah portions with them to Correct.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

So now that I'm an an old lady, so I am I've really experienced the arc because I am doing baby namings for children who, you know, like, went to the day school, who I knew in the community, friends with my kids, whatever it is. And I've done their wet I've done their B'nai mitzvah, then their weddings. Oh, actually, some of them I did their baby names. Then their B'nai mitzvah weddings, and now baby names.

Melissa Shere Beek:

So

Cantor Lisa Segal:

it is it's really

Melissa Shere Beek:

That's so cool.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

It's it's I'm truly, truly it's amazing. I'm blessed. I really am. I love what I do.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Yeah. Clearly.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

It's really not a job. It's it is I you know, you say it's a call. It is a calling, but it it's a privilege. It really is. And that's why I'm still doing it.

Melissa Shere Beek:

I love that, though. But where does that passion come from?

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Where does that passion come from? That's a good question. Well, I I I'm abs I absolutely am passionate about music

Melissa Shere Beek:

Yeah.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

And ritual and prayer Yeah. And and and making it relevant. And it certainly that has changed over time, which we can totally talk about. I think also, you know, I I lost my parents, unfortunately, very young. My mother died when she was thank you.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

My mother died when she was 30. She left four very young children from the ages of 10 to one.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Oh my goodness. That's very, very

Cantor Lisa Segal:

good. And and my father, unfortunately, passed away. He did get to see me married, and he but he passed away. I think I was 25, and he was 54

Melissa Shere Beek:

Oh, that's so good.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

On a cruise ship suddenly. And I think I I think loss has really I was determined to, you know, to to be successful, to be resilient. My siblings are very much so too. We're all very independent, successful, driven

Melissa Shere Beek:

Mhmm.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

People. And I think that that also, having gone through such trauma in my life, I think I was able to be there for other people in these situations. I think it really drove me to serve the Jewish people.

Melissa Shere Beek:

And we're grateful for that. Thank you. Really grateful for that. So we already talked about some of the biggest responsibilities and some of the misconceptions. But when this episode airs, it's gonna be right before the high holidays.

Melissa Shere Beek:

So can we talk a little bit about how you prepare, like, physically, mentally, you know, with your voice, with

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Yes. Okay. So wow. Well, I I'm in the throes of preparation. It certainly begins

Melissa Shere Beek:

Yeah. When how far in advance does it begin?

Cantor Lisa Segal:

It did it begins we start meeting about it, I would say, April, May.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Really?

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Yeah.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

So much. We start talking about the themes and, you know, what we wanna accomplish. You know, this particular high holy day is the twenty fifth anniversary of nine eleven. Oh, yeah. You know, that's one thing.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

I mean, certainly, we're dealing with you know, this is post October 6. The hostages, you know, were released. And so that's it's a it's a different time in Israeli history than it was last year, certainly. So every you know, we have to you know, we we educate ourselves and and and we attend seminars and classes like that to, you know, to talk about what's appropriate for the the coming year. We also as a CANTOR, I singing is a very physical act.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Right.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

I am I take very care good care.

Melissa Shere Beek:

This is your instrument?

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Yes. It's my instrument. It's and and it's my body, and I have to be very physically fit. And I have to take care of my my body my I mean, my my your my instrument, as you say. I have a vocal coach that I go to plug to Manny Perez every week.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Right. Most cancers have vocal training every it's like a personal trainer. Every day.

Melissa Shere Beek:

You know, when I of the piano, I think of, like, all the chords and arpeggios and stuff like that. So are you doing that every day

Cantor Lisa Segal:

with your voice? I'm supposed to. I do most days. I do it a lot when I'm driving.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Right.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

And especially in the months leading up, I'm really working my voice out.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Do you have to do rest? Or

Cantor Lisa Segal:

So so, I would say the week before Rosh Hashanah, I usually kinda lay low. Couple weeks before, first of all, I try not to travel.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Yeah.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

I I try to stay away from crowds.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Right. You don't wanna weaken the immune system.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Right. I also don't I have to be very careful throughout the year. You know? I'm cognizant. If I have a big if I have a concert, if I have to a big service the next day, I can't go somewhere the night before where there's a lot of people and have to talk.

Melissa Shere Beek:

No. Because you're screaming

Cantor Lisa Segal:

over. I I mean, I listen. I know it's good to use a phone and pick up a phone. But the in the weeks leading up, I I tend to use email and text Okay. Much more.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

I drink a lot of water, a lot of tea. But, yeah, vocal rest definitely, the week before leading up. I wouldn't say that I don't speak, but I I am very careful.

Melissa Shere Beek:

You're conscientious.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

I am very conscientious. Sometimes I mask. Yeah. I mask up. I mean, you know,

Melissa Shere Beek:

I do That have to is your instrument. You have to protect that.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Right. And, and as far as, you know, in the spring, we start to contract musicians and

Melissa Shere Beek:

Mhmm.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Pro choir singers and, you know, and and, I start I I attend my CANTOR's convention almost every summer and get ideas from that. And, you know, there's new releases almost well, there's there's, like, several anthologies that have come out from the reform movement in the last ten years. So there's always new compositions, reinterpreting the prayers where I, you know, I learn and listen and decide what I'm gonna use as well as, of course, the word courses and the traditional that people want to always hear.

Melissa Shere Beek:

And that's important. Back from the congregation

Cantor Lisa Segal:

when Absolutely. Things get changed Can imagine. Absolutely. And I and, you know, it's it's it's a constant thing. So, it's interesting.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Are they more for it

Cantor Lisa Segal:

or more against it? I would say more against it. Really? More against it. But but you you know, it's very funny.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

I have lots to say about this subject. First of all, at Beth Am, you know, I was one of two it was CANTOR Nelson and I who were the CANTORs

Melissa Shere Beek:

Yeah.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

There. And when I went to Temple Beth Shalom on Miami Beach, I was actually the first woman CANTOR

Melissa Shere Beek:

Oh, wow.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

On Miami Beach.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Good for you.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Yeah. So but that in itself was a big thing. Huge. And Yeah. Growing up, we never had any female clergy.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Right. I mean, at least growing up because I grew up at Beth David. And then we became Bet Shere. Right. It was never.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Right. Never. Never female. Right. Yeah.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

In fact, last year was the fiftieth anniversary of the ordination of the first female

Melissa Shere Beek:

CANTOR?

Cantor Lisa Segal:

CANTOR. Wow. In the reform Yeah. Barbara Ostfeld, who's still, you know, doing great and is an amazing person. And I would say now in the seminary, women

Melissa Shere Beek:

Is it predominantly women?

Cantor Lisa Segal:

It's predominantly women. Is predominantly.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Back to the topic, got sidetracked. I'm sorry.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Back No. No. No. No. It's They all

Melissa Shere Beek:

get kickback from the congregations for not doing the traditional songs.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Right. So when I went, I was the first woman, which in itself

Melissa Shere Beek:

Is huge.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Was, you know, especially Miami Beach, which is a little bit more traditional. Right. You know? And so I was the first woman. There were there were congregants that did not want a woman officiating at their kids bar and bat mitzvah.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

I I my style was, you know, I was a more contemporary type of cantor, played guitar.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Right.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

That was very foreign. So, know, I learned a lot from the experience and it took a while for us to to MELD. Meld, Russ. Thank you. To melt.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

And and I was there for twelve years. But it it there were some there was a lot of kickbacks. It's very funny. I've had two, situations where I I've had where I've had sit downs with congregants that complained about music. And in both cases, was very funny.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

They said to me, Why don't you always you know that healing prayer? We love the traditional healing prayer, the Misha Beek. Yeah. By Debbie Friedman. They think, you know, there's music that we in our tradition that we call from Sinai.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

They think it's, you know, old, old. Right. And which and and Misha Beek was not canonized into the Friday night service until the late eighties when Misha Beyrak and Debbie Friedman was written. They think that's the traditional.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

So it's

Cantor Lisa Segal:

very funny.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Come from Sinai, guys.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Yeah. Right. So people, you know, have different, you know, thoughts on what are

Melissa Shere Beek:

tradition. But

Cantor Lisa Segal:

but but but tradition what what is one person's tradition is maybe not Exactly. Another's, by the way. And, you know, you have to consider that every melody was new at one point. You know? So it is I think people

Melissa Shere Beek:

are just not big on change.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

No. Change is not you know, change is very difficult. And and we have to honor that as well. We have to honor. So, you know, when I came to Temple Judea, you know, I was very careful, and I wanted to I basically, for high holy days, relearned, you know, some of the major melodies that are that were, you know, ones that were repeated throughout this because they were there.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Yeah. I don't know if you know the book, Who Moved My Cheese. That was the Yes. So, you know, there's there's sweet spots. And so it was very important.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

So, you know, you you have to when you make change, it has to be slow. It has to evolve. There has to be they have to they have to trust you.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Right.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

They have to you have to develop a relationship. You can't come into a new community and just turn things upside down. Huge revolt. And and frankly, I've learned that the hard way.

Melissa Shere Beek:

No.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

But but but we there there are there's a there's a retired wonderful CANTOR, Benjie Ellen Schiller, who, just retired from Hebrew Union College and talks about the four m's of Jewish music, and they are memory, majesty, meditation, and meeting. Meeting is melodies where everyone sings to everyone's voices meet and they sing together. You wanna create moments of meeting where you hear the voice of the congregation. It's very important. People want to sing.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Not just for you, but for the entire congregation. Correct. There's that connective thread.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Right. Correct. Correct.

Melissa Shere Beek:

The power of prayer and unison. At

Cantor Lisa Segal:

the same time, there are appropriate moments for music of meditation where there's moments of listening and just reflecting and taking in what the CANTOR is

Melissa Shere Beek:

Right.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Absorbing. Is is is absorbing. But but As a congregant, mean absorbing. Giving. Right.

Melissa Shere Beek:

You giving. Mom says congregation absorbing.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Right. Of a congregate of receiving. Right. Okay. And then there's a majesty.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

And I guess you could say that high holy days.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Yes.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

You that is where you where you where you think of majesty. The melodies are set to choral Yes. Settings, And you and we have lots of voices. We and instrumentation and grandeur and awesomeness, and people wanna hear that.

Melissa Shere Beek:

And and and to the more traditional ones then?

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Yes.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Yeah. I think you'd have to in those holidays.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Yes. I would say yes. The high holy days are generally more traditional for sure. And I love all of that majestic music. I love it very much, and it's it's just a joy for me.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Yeah. The Yom Kippur service gets me every time.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Mhmm. Yeah.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Hearing the Cole Nidre, the Avinu Molcano. I mean, those are

Melissa Shere Beek:

Yeah.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Soul stirring and and connecting. You know, people want they want that.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Yeah.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Okay? And and that is also part of their memory the memory.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Right. That's their foundation.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Right. Right. Right. Right. And the fourth one.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Right. And the fourth one is sorry. I'm looking. I did make some notes. The fourth one is oh, I said it, I think.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Memory, meditation, meeting, and majesty.

Melissa Shere Beek:

We didn't do memory, though. Oh, memory. From memory.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Yeah. I'm sorry. Memory. Memory. What people grew up with.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Right.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

You know? They want the, you know, that Okay. They want that. They think that's, by the way, also, you know, from Sinai given by Right. You know, most there's a say there's a there's a belief that that all of our musical tradition was given by god to Moses on Mount Sinai.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Okay. They think that is that was, I think, 1971. Right. It's not so old. Okay?

Cantor Lisa Segal:

So but, you know I'm older than that. One thing, though, we have to also understand is the changing nature of the Jews in the pews. They're not like our parents who were, Eastern European Ashkenazi descent. Okay? People there's people in the pews from all over the world.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

So we have influences from we have Mizrahi music from North Africa. We have Israeli music, Sephardic music, which is some we have Ladino melodies from, you Spain. We had a huge culture of the largest Jewish culture was in Spain back in the Middle Ages. Right. I mean, all of these you know?

Cantor Lisa Segal:

And and so we also have Jews by choice. Right. You know? Lots of Jews by choice. We also have non Jews

Melissa Shere Beek:

Right.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Who we welcome into our that we want to welcome into our midst. Lot of our compositions being written now are in Hebrew and in English Right. Because people can relate more.

Melissa Shere Beek:

You want them to feel welcome.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Right. Mhmm. Correct. So it's not it's not like it used to be, and and we have to think about who is there. It's very different.

Melissa Shere Beek:

So is that how you foster congregational participation by having all of these things?

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Absolutely. Yeah. I mix things up. Yeah. You know, on a Saturday morning, I I do play guitar.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

I do, you know, contemporary melodies, but I also weave in what we call, traditional chants. Mhmm. I put them I weave them through because I want my congregants to be exposed to this. One of the roles of the CANTOR is to help designate sacred time and space. And so there's certain melodies that we use at certain times of the year, Nope.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Nope. Nope. No. It's think about a holiday. We just talked about it.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Oh, Rosh Hashanah?

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Yes. Yeah. The high holy days.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Yeah. The high holiday.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Right. So we so we weave our we use certain melodies to weave through of all of our prayers to to to bring people into that sacred time. Right. Okay? If it's Hanukkah time, gee, Hanukkah.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

We're gonna sing, Right?

Melissa Shere Beek:

Rock of

Cantor Lisa Segal:

ages. Okay. Passover has another one. Etcetera. So so that is traditional Right.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

What we go we we we we call it. I weave that in as well. Certainly, Shabbat evening has its own melodies. Right. Shabbat morning has its own melodies, and weekday prayer has its own melodies.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

And so it is our sacred responsibility to keep people in sacred time.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Right. Those traditional hymns and those songs so that they can relate, oh, this is now. This is where I am is present. I love that. So what doesn't the congregation see?

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Oh, what don't they see?

Melissa Shere Beek:

Because Right. We see you up on the. We know that you're leading the congregation. We see you in this presence. What besides, like, the meetings and all the things that you're having, what are they not seeing that you're doing?

Melissa Shere Beek:

All the 10,000 things that are going on.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

All the 10,000 emails that I have to answer. Oh, wow. Yeah. You know? You know, I had a voice teacher that one and it's always stuck with me that always said to me that your week begins Friday night.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Really? That's when she begins. On Shabbat. That's when you have to be that's the beginning of your week.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Yeah.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

That's when you have to be on. Not this whatever nonsense happens during the week, and I don't wanna say nonsense. But No. Like the regular mishegas. The mishegas.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

It has nothing people are looking to you

Melissa Shere Beek:

I guess they're right. Yeah.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

For for for inspiration Yeah. For comfort beginning on Friday nights. Right. And so Yeah. He's right.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

So right. So so so that's one thing that stuck with me. I I truthfully wish that I could spend more time practicing my music.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Mhmm.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

But and for the weekend, I'm I'm experienced enough I'm experienced enough to not have to do that anymore, but I get caught up so much in so many of the other things that happen, and and I have to, you know, be involved. By the way, also understand that I fill in for my clergy colleagues, my rabbinic colleagues. Right. Especially in the summertime, my rabbi run my senior rabbi is on sabbatical. Our our other rabbi who's wonderful is was just at Camp Coleman who serves the Camp Coleman community in an So educational the one of the misnomers about CANTORs is that they're just musicians.

Melissa Shere Beek:

No.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

And we are full clergy, so we're on. I'm not I'm on 247. Somebody passes away. Somebody's sick. Somebody yeah.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

I have to go to the hospital. I have to do a funeral. So for for Shabbat, not only did I, you know, sing, but I I did the sermon. You know? I run the service.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

On Shabbat morning, I ran the Torah sir the Torah study. You know? So, you know, I'm preparing for those things as well.

Melissa Shere Beek:

So how do you keep that balance, that work life balance? Because, yes, the cantor is your position or filling in for the rabbi. But, like, when these life events come up or your personal life, like, how do you balance all that? Because you don't have a regular nine to five job. You're always on call, I feel.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Yeah. I have a lot to say about that and a lot of thoughts. And I will say that, first of all, I I am very fortunate that I have had a husband who has who really didn't know that he was you know, the CANTOR was my career was the second career.

Melissa Shere Beek:

You were Jardim Marsh. Right.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

He he didn't really know what he was getting himself into, but he has been a 100% supportive the entire way. And he you know, especially when I was in school and my kids you know, I was raising kids, working full time, and in school. Wow. You know, it was difficult. There was difficult moments.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

And my husband really pitched in and was, you know, an equal parent.

Melissa Shere Beek:

And a great foundation for you.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

And a wonderful foundation. And so, work life balance is challenging, very challenging. So I you know, when I was able to, I had two very big positions. Understand that at Bethel, my kids were in the day school. And, you know, when they were very young, I came home and I was with my children.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

I did not go to CANTORYAL school until my kids they didn't start I didn't start studying until they were in middle school. Wow. So they I was really there for them. Right. And then and then, you know, when Temple Beth Shalom opened on Miami Beach, I was the assistant at at Betham.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

And then when Beth Shalom opened, I I kept saying to myself, my kids had left for my kids were both in college.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Oh, okay.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

So that's in college. And I kept saying, this is the second largest reformed temple in Miami. You know? It's time for you to spread your wings. You went to school.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

You became a cantor. Yeah. You know? And so I I took the job. And so, again, my kids were you know, my husband was very understanding, and I did it.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

And I I was there for twelve years. So the timing of when I took these positions, I, yeah, I took into account.

Melissa Shere Beek:

How did you do now, though? Like, you have a grandbaby.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

So so that's an interesting one. And touchy because I I was very happy with my position at Beth Shalom. Loved who I worked with. Loved the community. But my kids were moving back.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

My son is a writer. He's actually a a screenwriter. And they, post COVID, decided to move back to Miami because they were starting a family, and they really wanted to be with family. Sure. Unfortunately, my daughter-in-law, who's wonderful, lost her parents young like me.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

We have that in common. She didn't have parents. And having gone through what I went through as a child, I decided to end my contract. I had heard that Temple Judea was looking for was considering a part time CANTOR. And I applied for the job, and I I it was the perfect position for me.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Sure booby's there.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Right. Exactly. So I I left my full time because I it was something I felt I had to do. Yeah. And I wanted to step up and be there as a grandparent.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

And I am living my best life because I'm working part time Mhmm. Loving my clergy team, loving the people I work with and the community. At the same time, I am a grandparent and a very hands on grandparent and a helpful one. And my my my my granddaughter is there, and and my, we have a new grandson who was born two and a half weeks ago. Mazel tov.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

They they're I'm putting a plug for Temple Judea. They they're starting an infant care in the fall. Oh, that's smart. Yes. Very smart.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Very good. Very good feeder. And so my my grandson will be there.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Yay. So it's Another generation of, you know, kids will call you booby.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Right.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Forget CANTOR.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Right.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Your new title's booby.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

But I one thing one thing that you did I kinda shifted from that I wanna just go back to because Of course. I know that this is gonna this is airing, you know, around the high holy or right before the high holy days.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Right before.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Not only do I have to physically prepare, I wanted to say and in general, not just the high holidays. I have to emotionally prepare as well. And, you know, prior to the high high holidays, and I would recommend this for everyone, they're in the month of Eilul. I think this is the month that this is airing. We're in that period of introspection

Melissa Shere Beek:

Yeah.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

And and accounting and accounting of our souls. It is the time that we're supposed to Reflect. Reflect to think about mending relationships that need repair, etcetera, and taking care of our own souls. And so I do a lot of reading and a lot of meditation in the month of Eilul leading up to the high holy days. So I did want to put that in there because No, I think it's that's very very important.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Very, very important. I like that. There is a rabbi from one of the universities that my children went to. They're long graduated, but he has a prompt every day. He'll email you every day of Elul about reflection and ownership and responsibility and going forward and taking care of your soul, and I think it's critical.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Right. I mean, should do it, but especially now, right before

Cantor Lisa Segal:

the Right. And there are, as you said, there's wonderful resources online in the month of Elul, and it's a time to take for self care.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Right. A 100%. So are there any other traditions you have to prepare for the high holidays?

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Oh, yes. Absolutely. There's a good amount of spiritual preparation that goes into for everyone, not just in the CANTOR, but for everyone. I'll speak on in terms of being a messenger of the people. I'm talking for my people.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

The the from the time we're in Eilul right now, which is the month preceding the high holy days. So during that the month of Elul all the way through Yom Kippur at sundown, this is the time known that we're supposed to partake in something called, which is an inventory of the soul. And, it's a time for introspection and reflection and renewal. And we are it's also the time from you that time frame that we have to mend relationships. So if there's any type of relationship that needs repair, this is the time to consider doing that.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

And actually, according to our Talmudic sources, you're you're supposed to if you feel that you were in the wrong and you wanna apologize, you're supposed to do it. You have up to three times. After three times, it goes back to the other party. But it may take up to three times for someone to accept an apology. So there's wonderful, sources, the and books to prepare us for, the high holy days.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

And one of the main traditions is to recite Psalm 27 every day in this month of Elul that we are in. And, it's done in the evening in our liturgy. And I I'm gonna actually go ahead and sing a little bit of it.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Yeah. Please.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

And then and then I'll tell you I'll translate it. It goes like this. This is a particular verse of Psalm 27. It's rather long, but this is verse four, which is really the verse that we're supposed to sing and or recite every day. And it's translated as one thing I ask of Adonai.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

This is what I seek to dwell in the house. To dwell in the house of God all the days of my life. To behold the beauty of Adonai and to visit in God's sanctuary. We're asking to be protected. Yeah.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Surrounded by God. And, you know, it's were it their their words of faith and courage and longing for for God's presence in our lives. And, so I would say, you know, for everybody, that is, what we do in the month of Elul. And I would encourage you and anybody to you know, I there's beautiful sources, books to you know, daily readings that you can read every day in that month to prepare yourself and, of course, to think consider mending relationships that need it. But I wanna also mention that as a CANTOR, as I mentioned, a, you know, a CANTOR I have to put myself in the space that I'm not a performer.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

And even though there's a lot of pressure to sing well and be at my best, it's it's really the CANTOR Super Bowl.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Yeah. It is.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

You know? That's so true. Yeah. It's it's true. It's true.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

And, you know, I I pray that I feel well and that my you know, I'm I'm going in, you know, you know, feeling good. But I also have to remember that I am a messenger of the people, and I am there not to perform, but to to receive the prayers of the people, pass them on to a higher power and backwards, giving back those you know, that spirit and that uplift to to my congregation. So I I have to put my self into that correct headspace that I have to think it's not I have to get it out of my head to not worry about the performing Right. But to really, really, you know, concentrate on the text and really my purpose in front of that congregation.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Beautifully said. Wow. That's powerful. Thank Okay. So now onto some fun things.

Melissa Shere Beek:

I want you to tell me about the rock band that you started.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Oh my gosh.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Rock on Shabbat.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Rock on Shabbat.

Melissa Shere Beek:

How is this created? Tell me about it.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

It was created because, I was part of a classic rock band. This is a this is a you asked me what I do. Yeah. This is a total outlet for me was, for many, many years, I was part of the My Garage Band, which Oh,

Melissa Shere Beek:

yes. I know this band.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Yeah. So I so I was part of this great band with some pediatricians.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Yeah. Gene Hirshhorn.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Gene Hirshhorn. Love you. Yep. John Bumgard. God, you're good.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Yeah. No. I noticed.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Yeah. So, they I went to see you guys. Oh, you did?

Cantor Lisa Segal:

So

Melissa Shere Beek:

little places. I'm a I mean, I love Jean Hershorn. He took care of my girls. So like, yes. That's I remember this.

Melissa Shere Beek:

But I didn't know that Rock on Shabbat stemmed from that.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Yes, it did. Okay. Yes, it did. So so we we had that wonderful rock band and we performed all over Miami mostly for we did the Children's Bereavement Center. We we we've done we've done we did the American Conference of CANTOR's convention.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

We we did the National Organization for Reformed Rabbis. We did their so a lot of conventions, the women of, Reformed Judaism. So anytime, you know, we I used to get them gigs and parties, private things, and, you know, events around Miami. So from there, I had the idea, to create a rock on Shabbat. It this concept began actually in California.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

I have to give credit to a wonderful leader in the in the Jewish community, Craig Taubman

Melissa Shere Beek:

Mhmm.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Who was at Sinai Temple for many, many years who created Friday Night Live in in in LA. Yeah. And so he you know, from him spawned this idea, you know, all over the country. And I decided to use some of the, members of that band as well as congregants from the temple because that was important to bring them in. And by the way, as a CANTOR, that is one of the one of the most important a good CANTOR is somebody who empowers and and and uplifts their congregates.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Yeah. The congregates and make them prayer leaders and makes and and involve them in in musical life and, you know, things like that and teach and etcetera.

Melissa Shere Beek:

I love that.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

So, yeah, I've done a lot of empowering over my and I'm very proud of that. I've I've I've sent people to the rabbit and, you know, have helped people become rabbis and cantors, and and and it's very special for me. Oh, that's beautiful.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Yeah. Yeah. That's really beautiful.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Thank you.

Melissa Shere Beek:

You rushed over that, but that's really significant.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

I I like to teach, and I like to empower, and I like lifting up others. Yeah. And that is the sign. It it can't a a good can it's not about you. It's about the people you serve.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

That's good. Really and truly. So, anyway, so that was it. And then we just became you know, we practiced a lot and became pretty proficient in what we did. And then we started getting asked by, you know, other congregations to come and do services there, and we traveled all around Miami.

Melissa Shere Beek:

I love that.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

And did it

Melissa Shere Beek:

for still doing it?

Cantor Lisa Segal:

We okay. So we did it last. Yeah. We've we've we're still doing it. We do it about once a year.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Oh, that's fine. Now for Temple Judea. If we were asked, I guess we would we would do it. But but, yes, we we're we're still doing it. I love that.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Yeah.

Melissa Shere Beek:

I love that. Okay. If someone I have a question here I wrote down so I could remember. If someone was thinking about becoming, because you said that you like to encourage your congregants and empower them. If someone was thinking about being a CANTOR, what is the most important trait you believe that they need?

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Someone who has a who has passion about serving the Jewish people

Melissa Shere Beek:

Mhmm.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Who has a good nashama, beautiful soul, and understanding that it is a calling and that it's not a job. It's not a job. No. It's it's a call it really is a calling, and it is it's serving it's serving with joy Right. You know, the Jewish people and and helping them to connect to community.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

And and I you know, it's we need we need you know, it just happens to be that we we're we have a little bit of a shortage of students in the seminary right

Melissa Shere Beek:

now.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Yeah. Well, I mean, part of it is also the work life thing.

Melissa Shere Beek:

The balance. Yeah.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

And And think what you said before about

Melissa Shere Beek:

that was critical about timing of that. Mhmm. Yeah.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Yeah. Well, of course. And but but you have to you have to be willing to to be there. You know?

Melissa Shere Beek:

I think it takes a certain dedication. Yes. I mean, not just passion, but, like, really dedication too.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Yes. Yeah. I'm very passionate about what I do. And and I'm, you know I mean, I feel I feel blessed when I'm called for moments of great pain and great joy.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Yeah. I was gonna ask you about the significance of continuity and and and three decades of this community, but I think you just summed that all up.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Yeah. I mean, there's just there's there's nothing like blessing a baby, especially for a couple who you've known a long time. I'm a little different. Again, having served three communities, I get called by them. And my former rabbinic partners are very gracious and inclusive.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

I'm very lucky that I'm able to be part of moments for my congregants and moments for people who I've known for many, many years to stand under a huppah with a bride and groom and share in that intimate moment that, you know, is is so important. But that also speaks volumes about the person that you are. Because three decades later, former colleagues and congregants and people in the community are still reaching out

Melissa Shere Beek:

to you. That speaks volumes about who you are as a person.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Thank you. I mean, it's funny because people say, Lisa, when ain't gonna stop? When ain't gonna you know? But why? I don't want yeah.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

I I it's just it's just part of my being. I and I'm and and I'm so I feel so lucky to do what I do. And I don't wanna ever stop.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Yeah. I think your conscience should say they're luckier.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Thank you.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Do you have a significant or special memory that you always think of?

Cantor Lisa Segal:

I would say when I became a CANTOR, when I finished school. It's very funny. I actually in my class, this is a cute little story. I and I I'm sure she would love for me to mention her. Rosell Bain is her name.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

She was she was a cantor on the West Coast Of Florida, and she was studying she was in my certification group. And like my, we studied together and stuff like that. And it just it it was very funny when when we both finished. She said to them, well, you made Miriam a CANTOR. And they're like, what do you mean?

Cantor Lisa Segal:

And my friend Rosell was the original Miriam in the Charlton Heston the Cecil B.

Melissa Shere Beek:

DeMille Are you kidding me?

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Movie. She was mere young Miriam who put the baby Moses in a on the water. I did not know that.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

That's wild. Oh my god.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

It's my best mate. Story. Yeah. Isn't that a great story?

Melissa Shere Beek:

The real Miriam. Yeah. Oh my god. It's a fabulous

Cantor Lisa Segal:

story.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Yeah. Oh, that's amazing. Yeah.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

So I would say, I would say when I

Melissa Shere Beek:

finished That's a pretty significant memory.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Yeah. Yeah. Isn't that great? And she's still doing it. She's still doing it.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

She's still amazing. So I would say my I I guess was when I became when I when I got noticed that I passed all my exams. And

Melissa Shere Beek:

Is that your most meaningful memory too?

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Getting through school.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Yeah.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

It was my most meaningful memory. And being in front of the congregation in 2017, I think, at Temple Beth Am when the new congregation when the new sanctuary opened.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Oh, yeah.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

And I was honored in at at a service. And I would say that was probably the most profound moment. Wow. Yeah. I've had beautiful others since then when I became installed at Temple Beshalom and when I became installed at Temple Judea.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

And I pride myself that I've been able to leave these communities never really having left. And in You're still good connected. Yeah. Still very connected, which is unusual.

Melissa Shere Beek:

No. Like I said, I think it speaks volumes to the person that you are.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Thank you.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Okay. So before I end Yes? Two things. One, I think you have something you wanna do. Okay.

Melissa Shere Beek:

And then I have something I do. Okay. Quickie questions. So which one do you wanna do first?

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Let's do you.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Okay. Quickie questions. You ready? Sure. Okay.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

I I don't know. I need to brace myself. No. No. Good.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Who or what inspires you?

Cantor Lisa Segal:

A lot of my CANTORIAL colleagues. Mhmm. I I watch Central Synagogue all the time.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Oh, yeah.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Angela Buckdahl.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Yeah.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

She's a big inspiration. Yeah. Yeah. I've I've had a you know, I have a a relationship with her. My my rabbinic colleagues inspire me

Melissa Shere Beek:

That's a nice.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

I would say my rabbinic and my CANTORial colleagues.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Good. Do you have a favorite movie, show, or book?

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Now my kids would laugh at this. Uh-oh. My kids because I I am a big avatar.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Are you really?

Cantor Lisa Segal:

I know. I know that's crazy.

Melissa Shere Beek:

I would've never I would never thought

Cantor Lisa Segal:

that. Well, I love science fiction. I love any I love Star Wars. I love I I'm a science fiction person. The reason I love Avatar, it's I think I find it very there's some very spiritual connections, you know, you know, the trees and the Navi.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

You know, Navi comes from prophet. And there's some very underlying spiritual themes of of those of that series. And I and so yeah. Really

Melissa Shere Beek:

yeah. All

Cantor Lisa Segal:

the avatars. Love them all.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Oh, good. Alright. What's the first thing you do in the morning? I watch them over

Cantor Lisa Segal:

and over.

Melissa Shere Beek:

You do? Okay. Well, that's probably a great source of comfort too. Okay. What's the now I have to watch some.

Melissa Shere Beek:

What is the first thing you do in the morning?

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Well, as I'm getting my coffee, that's pretty much the first, but I I I try to say to myself every morning what you're supposed to say, what our tradition tells us to say is. Yeah. That's it. Thank you, God. Yeah.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Thank you, God.

Melissa Shere Beek:

I believe that.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

I'm very I'm my very best life, and I'm very grateful.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Yeah. A 100%. A 100%. Okay. Do you have a most treasured possession?

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Yes. Right away. I can I mean, it's it's a possession? I mean, I certainly, I should say my children,

Melissa Shere Beek:

my husband. But those aren't possessions.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Okay. So I can show you this.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Okay.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

This is a diamond ring.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Wait. I have to see in the yeah. Wait. Up in the camera, you can look. Oh, there.

Melissa Shere Beek:

I see it.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

I don't know if you can Yeah. Got it. Okay. So, you know, it's a beautiful diamond. You can see.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Yeah.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

I wear it with a little a little bit of sadness every day. This was my grandmother's ring who outlived her daughter. You know? And it was and my grandmother didn't live long. My grandmother my my mother died when she was 30.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

My grandmother moved in to take care of us.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Wow.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

They're the children. But within a few months Months? Within a few months, she died of a heart attack, probably of a broken heart.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Oh, yeah. I was gonna say I I I don't know if you can see that. Like, every

Cantor Lisa Segal:

oh my So this ring along with three other significant pieces of jewelry that were my grandmother's that would have been my mother's were put away in a safe. My father had remarried, but my uncle my my my mother wanted my uncle to keep these pieces for

Melissa Shere Beek:

The children.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

The the three girls Mhmm. And and my brother. And so at the wedding of my youngest sister, my uncle sat us down. My uncle pretty much raised us. I mean, he was my mother's brother.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

He was we're very, very we still are very close to him. He's more like a a grand a father and

Melissa Shere Beek:

grand father.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Yeah. Yeah. So he sat us down, and he told about these three significant pieces of jewelry that he kept. Never saw the light of day for thirty five years in a safe safety deposit. Wow.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

And this was one of them, and this was the most significant piece. And Oh. And he said, you can you can take the pieces and you can sell them. Actually, there were four pieces. I'm sorry.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

There were four. Four children.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Don't forget that brother.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Don't forget the brother. You can sell them. You can split the money. But, you know, if you wanna keep them and we all agreed that we should keep these pieces. They were meaningful.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

And so I said, I was the oldest girl. I helped take care of my sisters. I knew

Melissa Shere Beek:

I liked you. I'm the oldest of three girls too.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

And my sisters agreed that I should have it. So it's very beautiful. I can't ever say that I would have gone out and bought myself a diamond like this, but I

Melissa Shere Beek:

It has significant meaning.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Such significance for me. And And it's your history. My history, a little sadness, but I wear it with a lot of love.

Melissa Shere Beek:

And pride.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

And pride. Yeah. And and in succeeding that, you know, all and and my like I said, my siblings and I are you know, we were very close and we were all we're very strong people. And we're all doing great.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Okay. Well, it sounds like you've got good lineage. So that's good.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Thank you.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Okay. We already discussed proudest moment, I think. Right? Do we?

Cantor Lisa Segal:

I think the

Melissa Shere Beek:

Okay.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

I think the becoming a CANTOR was my proud my proudest achievement.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Okay. So then the last thing that made you really laugh.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Oh, well, one came to mind, but I can't say it on this.

Melissa Shere Beek:

I just can't. Okay. Inappropriate.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Yeah. No. I can't say it.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

It's Off camera conversation.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

It'll be off camera. I I have to say that my son and my husband are both very funny. My son is a com you know, he's writes comedy. So

Melissa Shere Beek:

So he made you laugh last? Oh. Oh, yes. Good.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

I think he thinks I am the I mean, he he he writes a lot of material based on how ridiculous he thinks his mother is.

Melissa Shere Beek:

So Okay. Good. Now I think you have something for us.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

I do. I do. Okay.

Melissa Shere Beek:

I'm so thrilled.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

This is the this is the time in our Jewish calendar that we're preparing ourselves. Right? Yeah. So one of the roles that Jewish music plays in a synagogue service is offering words and melodies of comfort and so during this season of introspection and reflection, we leading up to the high holy days, we chant from seven of consolation with comforting words. This comes from the prophet Isaiah.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Comfort, comfort my people. Comfort us comfort us as we struggle in this I hope that the words and the melodies of our ancient tradition stir your souls and your memories and bring you comfort and bring you healing and bring you a sense of wholeness in these days and weeks ahead. To all of you who are listening, a good and healthy New Year.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Amen to that. That was beautiful. It was really soulful. I enjoyed that. Thank you for sharing that.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Oh my god. It was

Melissa Shere Beek:

a great honor to have you on today, really.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

You so much.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Such a joy and such a pleasure. Stay a little after. I'm gonna do my intro my outro. To our listeners, thank you so much. So grateful you're here.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Keep listening, keep learning, keep laughing, keep up with Beek on being. Listen to Beek on being wherever you get your podcasts. All episodes are automatically transcribed. DM us to share thoughts, ideas, or to nominate a guest. A big shout out and a huge thank you to Steven Chen at Penthouse Studios.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Woo hoo. Beek on being was recorded at Penthouse Studios and is a proud member of the Penthouse Podcast Network. That was really beautiful. Thank you. I love that.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Yeah. I think it was more. That was perfect.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

Soulful and

Melissa Shere Beek:

I think so. That was perfect. Okay. Aw. Thank you.

Melissa Shere Beek:

Great. I hope you enjoyed.

Cantor Lisa Segal:

I did.