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.

Matt & Penny sit down with master impressionist Jim Meskimen for some hilarious takes on synagogue life. Also available as a video episode HERE.

Matt & Penny continue their social distancing and enjoy drinks remotely as they talk about how their congregations' bar and bat mitzvah ceremonies have adapted and evolved under the new situation. Also posted as a video episode here.

Matt & Penny are forced to share a drink remotely as they talk about how the "new normal" has affected their congregations. Also posted as a video episode here.

Matt & Penny talk about all the interesting, cool, and exciting things they've gotten to do just because they're cantors.

Matt & Penny talk about the future of the cantorate and where they see the profession going.

Matt & Penny talk about what it's like to sometimes feel as if they're not able to fully fill their roles as clergy and community leaders.  

Matt & Penny have drinks with the inspirational Rabbi/Cantor Jeff Myers and discuss how he's dealing with the immense changes one year after the tragic events at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh. 

Matt & Penny talk about their feelings towards interfaith marriage and how it affects their relationship with their congregants.

Matt & Penny talk about all the different and sometimes questionable ways that congregants refer to them.

Matt & Penny talk about the things that happen during services that make them nervous or freak them out.

Matt & Penny share some things that irk, irritate, and otherwise bug them in their professional lives. 

Matt & Penny talk about how to keep things fresh for themselves and their congregants while having to lead services and teach kids for so many years.

Matt & Penny share some of their most embarrassing cantorial bloopers from throughout their careers.

Matt & Penny discuss the unique challenges faced by women in our profession with Cantors Assembly president Hazzan Alisa Pomerantz-Boro.

Matt & Penny talk about how they use social media, along with its benefits and potential problems with their congregations.

Matt & Penny discuss how hard it can be for clergy to receive the necessary care they need for themselves.

Matt & Penny talk about their lives as cantors and how it was different than what they expected.