High Holidays 5778 – Looking Back

November 30, 2017 by Debbi Ballard Leave a Comment

Wow, has more than a month already gone by since we gathered as a community in the beautiful Miramar Cultural Center to celebrate the High Holidays 5778? I can’t believe it; but, it has. To be honest, September and October have flown by and, in my mind, are a combination of a blur of activity and a collection very specific moments which I can picture with level of clarity that makes them seem almost current.

Looking Back… Irma, I Heard You!

Let me be honest, the prelude to this year’s high holidays was not what I (or any of us) had expected. Hear that Irma?! The two weeks leading up to the holidays, during which I traditionally plan my services and coordinate the seemingly endless details associated with this undertaking, were interrupted by constant weather reports complete with a big storm icon emblazoned with the number five, right over my house! So, I bought water and canned goods, and batteries and fans. I hurricane proofed my house and I prepared for evacuation. And, I worked on my plans for the Hi-Ho’s 5778. Unfortunately, time does not stand still; and fortunately, life goes on. So did I. Sadly, something had to give; this year it was sleep. Everything else was too high a priority.

Eventually, Irma came and went. Truthfully, she was frightening; but, in the end, she was “only” a category one. We saw the local damage she caused and we were all thankful we weren’t hit harder. Once I knew I was safe,I moved back home (after my brief evacuation to Delray). Then, with the help of my kids, I cleaned up all the hurricane debris around my house. And, during it all, I finished planning! Before I knew it, Rosh Hashanah was upon us.

Services for High Holidays – Cycles of our Lives

Blowing the Shofar High Holidays 5778 — Our Rabbi, and Shofar Blower, Rabbi Steve

The Miramar Cultural Center was beautiful, as always. Honestly, I have grown to love this venue. It truly feels like each year I am coming home. My community, my families, were actively present, and as always and I was beyond grateful to be there. Together with my father, Rabbi Steve, my daughter and son-in-law, Lauren and Jay, my son Trevor (who carries the Torah for the Hakafah!) and my most favorite congregant, my grandson Jayden, things couldn’t have been more perfect.

Cantor Debbi Ballard at High Holidays 5778 — Cantor Debbi lights up when she sings for her Shema Koleinu community

The focus of my sermon was the number 7, which I shared has great significance in the Bible and in numerology. The knowledge that this was the seventh year we celebrated the high holidays in this location, together, brought me a special sense of peace. Remember, seven represents end of a cycle, it symbolizes completion and identifies an opportunity to review all that has occurred.

The Past Paves the Road to the Future

I have spent considerable time reviewing. Now, I believe, it is time to move forward. As I look ahead, I find my heart and my head filled with excitement as I begin a new cycle. I remember this feeling from seven years ago, and I welcome it. Where will life take me? What new and exciting adventures lie ahead? Without question, I know that what I have built here, in South Florida, will serve as a formidable foundation for what comes next. It is strong, well-developed and ready to grow.

The community I have brought together often seems like an extension of my own family. I treasure celebrating with you. Our time together is special, not only the high holidays as part of Shema Koleinu (http://shemakoleinu.org), but also all your life cycle events: your bar and bat mitzvahs, your weddings and your baby namings. I love working with your children and building relationships that enrich my life on a daily basis. So many of you have grown from my clients for a single event, to members of my community for all that we do together, to my friends for a lifetime. And, I cherish those relationships more than words can say.

The Next Cycle

Rabbi Stephen Spiegel at High Holidays — Rabbi Steve with his great grandson, Jayden

So, as I embark on my next cycle, so do all of you. It may not be the cycle that the number seven signifies. It may simply be the cycle of a new year. While the high holidays have passed, the traditional “holiday season” is almost upon us. First, Thanksgiving is upon us. Then we will celebrate Hanukkah and New Years. Start now to determine what is next for you personally and professionally. By beginning to plan your next cycle now, you are giving yourself time to reflect on the past, visualize the future. As a result, you will be able to develop a well-thought out plan to achieve your goals.

Perhaps you can help me plan my next cycle. First, are you familiar with any areas with a large, unaffiliated Jewish population that may have a void that I can help fill? Any ideas of where can I expand the services that I offer? Please, let me know if you do. I am always looking to grow, to expand the communities which I serve and to evolve in everything that I do. All of this, of course, will happen while I continue to serve all of you, my community, my friends, my family. In short, a new cycle is the perfect time to look ahead.

Cantor Debbi Ballard, a fixture in the unafilliated Jewish community of south Florida, has over 13 years experience providing spiritual guidance, officiating at life cycle events and serving her community in many ways. For more information visit http://mypersonalcantor.com

It’s Official! Shema Koleinu announces High Holiday Worship Services 5772!

July 31, 2011 by Debbi Ballard 4 Comments

High Holiday Worship Services with Cantor Debbi Ballard Begin for the first time

7 years ago, I performed my first wedding. 6 years ago, I performed my first Bat Mitzvah. Today, I am so proud to announce the official launch of “Shema Koleinu“, our non-profit synagogue-like organization that provides outreach to South Florida’s Jewish and Interfaith/Intercultural unaffiliated community. After several years of providing quality, meaningful life cycles for families who do not belong to synagogues, I wanted to do more. I wanted to mean more. I knew, that in order to truly be “My Personal Cantor”, I must provide everything a true synagogue did, but was committed to eliminating the membership, dues, and business aspect of the synagogue.

It was not only critical to provide meaningful life cycles, it was critical to bring my community a place of belonging, a place they could call their community, and feel great about building. We can create community by action, not by dollars. We can create community through mitzvah projects and group prayer, and not need to pay electric bills to do it!

But yet, we must build. Bringing my community an amazing High Holy Day worship experience was my priority this year, and I’m so excited to announce that I have contracted with the Miramar Cultural Center in Miramar FL, to bring West Broward its first meaningful, uplifting, and spiritually abundant High Holiday worship services for the unaffiliated. Regardless of your affiliation – or not – you can now worship and honor the new year with us, in a beautiful setting, with meaningful prayer and leadership. Our services will be family-friendly, so bring your children! And – we are even offering a tiny tot worship service for both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

We need the community’s help in building something they can call their own! For more information, please contact Cantor Debbi Ballard at 954-646-1326. Watch for our official ticket sales announcement in the next few days, and please – let us know what you can do to help. This is not MY event – this is YOURS! Please come and be a part of something – REVOLUTIONARY! You’ll be so happy you did!

B’Shalom,

Closing out the High Holidays 2008

October 23, 2008 by Debbi Ballard Leave a Comment

So, now that High Holidays are officially over, with the completion of Simchat Torah, I really didn’t want to let much time go by without talking about what an incredible experience I had at Temple Beth David, in Palm Beach Gardens.

I must start off by saying thanks to Cantor Ann Turnoff, for recommending me to Rose, the Education Director, at TBD. Rose is just amazing. She was so happy, upbeat, and positive, every single time I spoke to her. I know she is a busy woman – but she always had time for me, and greeted me with a big smile – even over the phone! The pleasure I received from my HH experience was a direct result of Rose’s passion and enthusiasm, as well as Rabbi Michael Singer, and Cantor Jennifer Kanarek.

First – I was pretty much given carte blance, to create a service that would be fun, upbeat, and engaging. This was something I’ve been doing for 10 years, but, definitely not for a Conservative synagogue. I was caught in a conflict between trying to keep my nusach “correct” and making it FUN. And, even when I thought I had the last draft finished, Rose said – make it a little MORE fun!

So – I cut loose, and created a service that would engage my littlest congregants, as well as the parents. It was so much fun! On Rosh Hashanah, the kids acted out the story of Creation. For the Hakafah, they had about 40 small Torahs, and all of my kids paraded around the room singing and dancing.

On Yom Kippur, we acted out the story of Jonah and the Whale. We asked questions, and talked about forgiveness, appreciation, and making new promises for the coming year. In all, I did 5 services, and while I’m still recovering from mental exhaustion, it was the most amazing experience of my life.

I cannot forget to thank Rabbi Singer and his wife and children, for inviting me to their home for both Erev Rosh Hashanah, as well as RH afternoon, on the 2nd day. Their home was lovely, and it felt so good to be invited, and cared about by them. Rose invited me to her daughter’s home on Erev Yom Kippur – and that was amazing, too. Her daughter cooks the BEST challah I have ever tasted! Her family was lovely, and again, they treated me so well – I felt like this was my family, too!

I also want to say thank you to the many TBD congregants who made me feel like I was at home. On the second day of RH, after my service was finished, I went in to the main sanctuary, to listen to Rabbi’s sermon (which was also amazing) and they offered me an aliyah!! That was so nice, and I am so appreciative to each and every one of the members and staff at TBD for including me. I think the families really appreciated having a venue where they could worship with their children, and I think it’s so important for children to watch their parents worship as well. Otherwise – how else will they learn?

I am hoping that TBD will become a home away from home for me. I want to work with them, to help increase their family participation, and attract members with fun and exciting ways to worship. If watching Rabbi Singer and Rose in action are any indication – we’ll be soaring to new heights, in 5769.

L’Shanah Tovah to everyone at TBD! Thank you for making my High Holidays such a special experience!

L'shanah Tova! 5769

September 26, 2008 by Debbi Ballard 1 Comment

Wow, 8 days with no posts – I know, pretty unacceptable in the blogging world, but until they manufacture a 25th hour to the day, there has just been no way!

I just wanted to wish everyone a very Happy New Year, and convey my intention for you to bring everything you dream of into your lives this year. For the first time ever, in my life, I am really living my dream, and so it is more important for me than ever to continue to take inventory of what I have accomplished, succeeded and failed at, and what I want to do better.

I also wanted to stress that we cannot ask for anything at all, if we have not appreciated yet what we have in the present. I know it may sound hokey, but, it seems that every time I write about my appreciations for what has come into my life, more just comes in! And it seems that when I focus on what I don’t have that I want, more of what I don’t want comes in its place. So, once again – keep thanking whoever you want to thank for what you have. Don’t forget to be thankful for crazy things like tires on your car, and elevators, and hair color in a bottle. It’s the little things that make our lives interesting!

This year, I am asking God to help me find more ways to be a better, deeper, more productive person. I can’t expect anything more to come to me, without finding more ways to give. I’ve written about it before, but I really would like to become more involved in a charity that is meaningful in my life, and that I can make a difference in. I’m not sure what that is, but I intend to find it this year.

I’m incredibly excited (but a little nervous) about my Family Service at Temple Beth David in WPB. I’m so lucky to have found this amazing little Conservative synagogue up there with the coolest Rock and Roll Rabbi (Rabbi Michael Singer), the sweetest little Cantor (Cantor Jennifer Kanarek), and the most amazing Education Director (Rose Rosenkrantz) I have ever met. They are warm, loving, supportive, empowering, and creative. They have welcomed me into their world, and I cannot wait to be a part of it. They have been so generous to me already, by offering my family space in the services, and inviting me to dinner on Erev RH. I can’t wait to celebrate with them, and bring a warm, loving, exciting presence to their Family Service.

So, over the next few days, I will be vocalizing, practicing my guitar and warming up my fingers, meditating and getting focused for the upcoming services. Of course, I still have a new Sunday School program starting up this weekend, and weddings to write and plan, but, there just won’t be much spare time, so I may not be back until after RH.

In the meantime, L’shanah Tova. May God inscribe you in the Book of Life. May you achieve everything you dream of, and may you be blessed with a good year, an abundant year, a year of peace, and a year of blessings.

B’Shalom,

Weekend update

September 18, 2008 by Debbi Ballard Leave a Comment

Shabbat – The busier I get, the more I crave a Shabbat day to retreat from the world, reflect, meditate, and pray. I remember sitting at the windmill park next to the King David Hotel in Jerusalem. A true Shabbat – just me, fresh air, no traffic, no chaos, no radios, phones, or tv’s. Some days, I just wish I could transport myself back there.

“Not this weekend”, the chilling voice of reality shouts. SO much to do, and the weekend just got busier.

I had planned a quiet day, but it will now start at 6am with a quick workout, and then a shlep all the way out to Weston Volvo to pick up my car. (Very thankful that it is still under warranty, by the way) After that, a newly scheduled 9am call with the daughter of the 91 year old man I am doing a funeral for tomorrow. I was thankful that it was someone who had lived a full life, but then I learrned that he was the father of 3 daughters, and I immediately thought of my Dad. I’m so lucky he’s young, and healthy, and that the thought of that kind of sadness in my family is so far off, but, it makes me sad to think about, nonetheless. But when I spoke with one of his daughters, she was so excited that I would be doing the funeral. She felt my personality through the phone, and was happy that there would be a woman to eulogize him, and to pray for him. The theme of strong women in their family was their mantra, and he loved his girls. I’m proud to be able to be a source of comfort to them in their time of need.

Then, I will have to get busy and finish the wedding ceremony for Saturday, because early Saturday morning, I will attend Mindy’s daughter’s Bat Mitzvah (as a guest) for just long enough to hear Emily chant her Torah & Haftorah portion, because then, I will be in a car headed for Orlando, to do the wedding of Michelle & Brandon.

This is a very cute couple. Their years are young, but their heads are wise. They have a very mature relationship. They work hard to live a proper life, with incredibly strong family values. I cannot wait to meet them.

Then – with a little luck, I’m going to try to see the kids, somehow, if they have time for their Mom. I miss them soooo much this week. We might even go do something fun in Orlando. Or – they will be too busy, and I’ll just head home to get a head start on more High Holiday prep.

Speaking of which – the plans have changed for High Holidays – I’ve decided to work exclusively this year with Temple Beth David in West Palm Beach. I fell in love with the Rabbi & Cantor, and I hope I have found a new little home there, because I just love the energy they bring to their work. I’ll write more next week about the decision, but I know in my heart it was the right one.

Now, off to prepare for a very busy weekend. Shabbat Shalom. (Truly – may you have peace)

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