Two Cantors Walk into a Bar

Matt & Penny discuss what it's like attending synagogue as "regular people" and what services feel like when you're participating along with everyone else.

Matt & Penny sit down with Cantor Barbara Ostfeld, the first woman to be ordained as a cantor in Jewish history, and talk about her experiences and journey that led her to be a pioneer in our profession.

Matt & Penny discuss how to make familiar prayers and blessings more inclusive for everyone, and how gender roles can serve become an obstacle.

Matt & Penny return to the bar and sit down with Cantor/Rabbi Luis Cattan, the current president of the Cantors Assembly. Together they talk about the challenges of his coming to this country and his experiences that prepared him to take on the presidency.

Matt & Penny talk with Cantor Nancy Abramson, the director of the Cantorial School at JTS, about the state of modern cantorial education and how things have changed over the years.

Matt & Penny shamelessly plug Matt's latest book while talking about why the b'nei mitzvah process has remained unchanged for generations and what could be changed.

Matt & Penny talk about taking their first steps out of the pandemic and what changes from the past year that they'd like to keep.

Matt & Penny welcome their spouses Dr. Tali Axelrod and Dr. Bennett Myers who share their experiences of what it's like being married to a cantor. Also available as a video episode HERE.

Matt & Penny talk with Rabbi/Cantor Hillary Chorny about the increasingly common trend of colleagues earning both rabbinical and cantorial degrees. Also available as a video episode HERE.

Matt & Penny talk about their New Year's resolutions and how best to continue their professional lives while dealing with the pandemic. Also available as a video episode HERE.