“The Tween Whisperer”
— Lynn Galowich, bat-mitzvah parent
 

Summary of Qualifications

Energetic and charismatic Cantor with 18 years of synagogue experience, including teaching religious school, tutoring b’nei mitzvah, leading Shabbat, High Holy Day and Festival services, both traditional and guitar/contemporary, leading morning minyan daily, management of large religious school office.

Dubbed "The Tween Whisperer" by a bat mitzvah parent, and described by a minyan regular as having a "wonderful mixture of piety and levity,” Naomi easily connects with multiple demographics and generations.

She began the latest leg of her journey at Congregation Kol Shofar in Tiburon, CA in July, 2022, where she found her beshert congregation and perfect “partner in crime” rabbi!

 

Employment History

Congregation Kol Shofar, Tiburon, CA, 2022-forever 
Cantor                           

Anshe Emet Synagogue, Chicago, IL, 2016-2021                                                                            
Ritual Director

  • Coordinated every detail of b’nei mitzvah Program, from scheduling dates through the rehearsal

  • Personally responsible for the preparation of every bar or bat mitzvah student in a program that has from 50-70 b’nei mitzvah per year: supervised pool of tutors and check progress of each student

  • Coordinated details of all Torah services on Shabbat, Festival, and High Holiday mornings; served as Gabbai Rishon at all Torah services

  • Responsible for care and maintenance of 18 sifrei Torah, had 5 restored to full kashrut that had not previously been kosher

  • Led traditional daily morning minyan, in-person before COVID, and on Zoom during COVID

  • Administered all reading of Torah in the synagogue, including Shabbat and holidays, morning minyan, b’nei mitzvah, as well as readings of megillot on Purim, Tisha b’Av and major holidays

  • Led services when cantor was not present: Friday nights, Shabbat mornings, holidays

  • Coordinated shiva minyanim, served as hazzan at life cycle events when the Hazzan was unavailable

  • Taught adult b’nei mitzvah program each year

  • Led Yom Kippur Mincha, and coordinated recent b’nei mitzvah to do all Torah and haftarah readings for that service

  • Taught religious school tefillah for K - 3rd grade, and helped lead Religous School shabbatot for each grade

  • Led Ne’ila in the Rose Crown Minyan Traditional Egalitarian service 2016-2021

  • Pastoral duties, including hospital visits and emotional support for congregants

  • Worked with LGBTQ+ members to implement gender-neutral and gender-sensitive call-ups to be available in Torah services

Congregation Beth Shalom, Northbrook, IL, 2012-2016 
Ritual Director

  • Coordinated b’nei mitzvah Program

  • Served as administrator of all ritual Torah readings

  • Taught Torah reading to adults and b’nei mitzvah

  • Led family services for Shabbat and High Holidays, substituted leading Shabbat and daily minyan services for Rabbis and Cantor in their absence

  • Managed the care and keeping of all ritual objects in the synagogue connected with the year round liturgical calendar

  • Created a siddur for Storybook Shabbat, a Friday night service for the little ones, using evocative artwork by the artist Joani Rothenberg

  • (More details and a full job description on request)

Beth Emet The Free Synagogue, Evanston, IL, 2005-2012 
Kahal Leader/Shlichat Tzibur, B’nei Mitzvah Tutor, Hebrew School Teacher

  • Led morning services every Shabbat and substitute for Cantor as needed on Friday nights.

  • Tutored 16-20 students each week for 6 months prior to their b’nei mitzvah

  • Taught 6th grade Hebrew and Prayer (2005-7) and Shabbat morning class for K-3 (2006-7)

 Anshe Emet Synagogue, Chicago, IL, 2007-2012

  • Shlichat Tzibur and Cantorial Soloist for the High Holidays

  • Songleader/Shlichat Tzibur for Young Family Service on Friday nights

  • B’nei mitzvah tutor

Chicago Sinai Congregation, Chicago, IL, 2006-2012
Hebrew Specialist and B’nei Mitzvah Tutor

  • Coordinated Hebrew language curriculum for 3rd – 6th grades

  • Taught Hebrew unit to 4th – 6th grade classes

  • Coordinated and mentored students in religious school who wanted more support for their Hebrew skills in an optional Hebrew club after school

Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation, Evanston, IL, 2007-2011
B’nei Mitzvah Tutor

PRIOR WORK HISTORY

Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles, CA, 1995-2003
Manager, Visual Resource Center

The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, CA, 1993-1995
Librarian, Slide Librarian and Rights and Reproductions Coordinator

The FloatingHouse, Los Angeles, CA, 1988-2003
Lead singer and bass player in Ethereal Folk band The FloatingHouse            

                

Professional Development

  • Attended Cantors Assembly Annual Convention 2005-2021

  • President, Chicago Cantors’ HUB (formerly known as the Chicago-Milwaukee Association of Synagogue Musicians) 2015-2017

  • Attended Institute for Jewish Spirituality 5 day silent retreat 2015, 2019

  • Hava Nashira Song-Leader Workshop at Olin-Sang-Ruby, 2005, 2007, 2008

  • Attended Hebrew Union College Cantorial Soloist Program, 2005-6

  • Attended University of Judaism Ba’al T’fillah Institute, 2004

  • Completed training for Bikkur Cholim program at Jewish Healing Network, Chicago, Il 2006

  • Bezalel Art and Music Weekend at the Brandeis-Bardin Institute, 2003, 2004

 

Education

  • Cantors Assembly (CICA), Cantorial Intern for membership, completed 2021

  • University of California, Los Angeles, M.A. in Design; Thesis topic: Spiritualism and Technological Rhetoric in the Pedagogical Writings of Five Bauhaus Artists

  • University of California, Los Angeles, B.A. in Design, focus in Color Theory and Ceramics