Articles by Jennifer Bern-Vogel

Cantor Jennifer Bern-Vogel relocated to Los Angeles in 2009 with her husband, Ira, and son, Sam, after serving Ohef Sholom Temple in Norfolk, Virginia from 1996-2009. Ohef Sholom Temple, founded in 1844, is the largest and oldest reform congregation in southeastern Virginia. Cantor Bern-Vogel feels blessed to have transitioned from one historic congregation to another and feels very much a part of the warm and diverse community of Congregation Emanu El in Redlands, which she has now served since 2009. Cantor Bern-Vogel is passionate about bringing worshippers an eclectic representation of musical genres and inspiring them to greater spiritual heights of prayer, contemplation and celebration throughout the yearly calendar cycle from Shabbat services to Life Cycles, Festivals and the High Holy Day season. Although serving Congregation Emanu El on a ‘part-time’ basis, Cantor Bern-Vogel has produced annual Cantor’s Concerts with many of her talented colleagues and friends from across southern California. One of Cantor Bern-Vogel greatest joys is teaching students of all ages the skills of Torah chanting and other sacred texts. In addition to offering pastoral counseling, Cantor Bern-Vogel is also deeply involved in Spiritual Care and End of Life issues, particularly with Holocaust survivors and first-generational family members and is currently working on becoming a Board Certified Chaplain with the National Association of Jewish Chaplains. Previously trained in opera at the State Conservatory of Music and Theater in Hannover, Germany, Bern-Vogel was Ordained as Cantor from the Hebrew Union College-Debbie Friedman Sacred School of Music in 1995 in New York City. She performed off-Broadway with the Folksbine Yiddish Theater from 1995-1996, while still in New York. Bern-Vogel studied with the second cantorial cohort at the Institute of Jewish Spirituality in 2006 and was the Programming Co-chair of the national ACC conventions for two years after moving to California. She has been an adjunct faculty at Hebrew Union College and also tutors B’nai Mitzvah students at Temple Isaiah in Los Angeles. Cantor Bern-Vogel continues her chaplaincy work at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles in the ALS clinic and palliative care. E-mail Cantor Bern-Vogel directly at cantorjenbv@emanuelsb.org