Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By admin on January 30, 2022

Two months before the 2021 High Holy Days, Congregation Beth El found itself in a bit of a jam.

The synagogue which serves 125 families in Sugar Land, Missouri City and surrounding areas in Fort Bend County saw its rabbi unexpectedly resign, forcing the congregation to scramble with Rosh Hashanah right around the corner.

We had to quickly figure out how to proceed, Beth El president Jodi Kessler told the JHV. Do we search for another rabbi for the High Holidays? Do we get an assistant rabbi? Do we look for a student rabbi? There were a lot of questions.

It didnt take long for Beth El to realize the answer was sitting right in front of them.

Cantor Renee Waghalter took the lead immediately and has not looked back after Rabbi Ariel Sholklapper resigned from Beth El last summer.

Now, six months later, Beth El has ended its search for a new rabbi and plans to move forward with Cantor Waghalter as the synagogues lead and only clergy.

She is truly an amazing person and is doing it all for us at Beth El, synagogue office manager Marilyn Gorel told the JHV.

She has literally taken on the role of rabbi whatever it is a birth, a death, a Bar Mitzvah. She does a great job and is so uplifting. She has been there for our congregation in any capacity they need.

For Cantor Waghalter, stepping in and stepping up in a time of need was a no-brainer.

I just jumped in immediately and did whatever had to be done, Cantor Waghalter told the JHV. I love our congregation and my stepping in took some pressure off everyone. It seemed like a natural thing.

This was not Cantor Waghalters first rodeo. She has served the Jewish community as a cantor since 1996, and as a Jewish educator since 1988. She grew up in Houston and became a Bat Mitzvah at Congregation Emanu El.

After spending time as a cantor and lead clergy at a congregation in Massachusetts, Cantor Waghalter returned to Houston and served Congregation Brith Shalom. Then, she became cantor at Beth El in 2017 after longtime Cantor Ralph Katz, of blessed memory, retired.

She currently lives in Southwest Houston with her husband, Dave, and son, Zev.

Since being at Beth El, Cantor Waghalter has combined her talented voice with her creative mind to make services there very personal and unique.

I want everyone to feel comfortable and confident in our synagogue and have a meaningful and soulful experience, Cantor Waghalter said.

We want people to join in wherever they are in their lives and wherever they are in their Jewish journey.

Every day I look forward to meeting people, whether it be a happy occasion or if they need support. Its all about building a sacred community that welcomes and takes care of everyone.

Cantor Waghalter has crafted services that center around nature, baseball, Star Wars and an animal service called Noahs Bark, which included congregants bringing their own pets. She currently is having fun writing a Harry Potter Purim spiel.

Having a cantor on the pulpit brings a totally different perspective and gives us the ability to make things more creative, Jodi Kessler said. She has a good voice, which is nice, but she really brings her own spin to a service, and it makes it fun.

Cantor Waghalter recently led services with Kesslers granddaughter, Madison Teverovsky, who became a Bat Mitzvah in December.

We tailor each service to meet that child or familys need, and Cantor Waghalter created a very special service, Kessler said.

Cantor is such a warm, caring, amazing person and when she steps through those doors you are just drawn to her and her passion.

Cantor Waghalters positive influence goes beyond the Bnai Mitzvah.

She has taught me that if a synagogue only has one entrance, it doesnt open itself up for everyone, Kessler said. But, when a synagogue has many doors and many entrances, then it can serve so many more.

It is very important to her that we meet people where they are. Instead of having congregants fit into our mode, we meet congregants where they are in life.

While Cantor Waghalter has taken on a large role, she is quick to credit the support she has from others, including Kessler, Gorel, education director Michele Croft, digital specialist Norma Gonzales and finance director Erin Bersin.

Everyone has really jumped in and made all the logistical pieces happen, Cantor Waghalter said.

While she has her hands full at the moment, Cantor Waghalter said she has looked into becoming ordained as a rabbi in the future.

I think it would be good for me to have a chance for some deeper learning and enrich what I am already doing here, she said.

My life mission is to serve G-d and the Jewish people. Anything I can do to enhance that, I want to do.

It may not be feasible to go to rabbinical school, but now that we have all this technology, there are other opportunities to make this a plausible thing.

It wont be immediate, because right now I want to put all my energy into serving our congregation. But, it is definitely something I can look at further down the line.

For now, her goal is to continue serving Beth El and give the congregation some stability on the bimah, after becoming the synagogues third lead clergy in three years.

We are at a point in our congregation where it is a good time to reevaluate things, Cantor Waghalter said.

There has been a lot of change, but everyone has weathered all the changes with incredible grace.

We will be working with a task force to learn what it means to be a synagogue, who we want to be, how we want to get there and how we can best serve our community.

Ive been working in congregations for a very long time. Now, Im going to put into practice some of the theories that I think will guide us to strengthening.

To be leading the congregation in this way with all of the experience and background and wisdom I gained over the years its very exciting and very fulfilling.

As for the future clergy plans at Beth El, Kessler said the congregation is no longer looking for a rabbi and hopes to officially designate Cantor Waghalter as the lead clergy at Beth Els annual meeting in April.

She is the future, Kessler said. When she stepped in last High Holy Days, all of our congregants were impressed and thrilled. People have really welcomed her with open arms.

Some peoples cups are half empty or half full. Cantor Waghalters cup is always two-thirds full. She sees the good in all people and in all situations.

We couldnt be more happy that Beth El is her home.

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SINGING HER PRAISES: Following rabbi's resignation, beloved cantor becomes lead voice at Fort Bend synagogue - Jewish Herald-Voice

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