Cantor Laurel Barr has been appointed spiritual leader of Temple B’nai Abraham in Elyria, replacing Rabbi Lauren Werber, who resigned to take the chief rabbi position at Congregation Beth Adam outside Cincinnati.
Barr began his duties on July 1.
“I was really honored and excited to be asked to audition and interview for this position at B’nai Abraham,” Barr told the Cleveland Jewish News.
Bahr said after the temple contacted her about the position, she took the time to research the congregation before making her final decision. She participated in both Zoom and in-person interviews, ultimately deciding she wanted to meet everyone.
Barr was invited to lead Friday night services where she found the community “amazing” and felt like a family of close friends.
“There were so many things that were appealing to me,” she said. “It was a warm, loving congregation, and people cared so deeply for one another. I could see that, I could feel that, and I knew I really wanted to be a part of this congregation.”
The leadership role will be very similar to that of her predecessor, the rabbi, and will include leading worship services and life cycle events, both of which Barr is familiar with. Additionally, she will be singing alongside her husband, Chad Barr, as her accompanist.
“We’re going to work on it together,” Barr said, “and the ceremony is going to be very uplifting, very lively, with a lot of singing and music.”
Barr’s first official funeral was held on July 12th, and included a celebration of his July birthday with cake, sparklers and more.
Barr said she plans to continue commuting to Elyria from her home in Solon to lead services. “It’s a little bit of a long commute, but not every day,” she said.
“There are certainly fluctuations, but we’re there Friday nights and Sunday mornings when school starts,” Barr said.
Barr graduated from Cleveland Heights High School and Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, and studied music at the Cleveland Institute of Music.
She pursued her love of Judaism and passion for music by studying with Steven Stein, cantor at the Cantors Assembly of New York and former hazzan at Congregation Beth El in Akron, and Aaron Shiffman, former cantor at Congregation B’nai Jeshulan in Pepper Pike. Barr went on to serve as the full-time cantor at Temple Emanuel in Orange Village, Ohio, and as cantor at Celebrating Jewish Life.
Sidney Brunschwig, president of Temple B’nai Abraham, noted this will be the beginning of a new chapter for the congregation. Although he is sad to see Werber go, he is also happy about this.
“I think she will be a wonderful pastor,” Rev. Brunschwig said, “and we as members of the church feel really fortunate and blessed to have her as our pastor.”
Bahr said she believes the temple has given her many opportunities for personal growth in music, Judaism, education, school administration and as a part of the education system, and she is happy to be a part of their lives in such an honest way, she said.
“I look forward to meeting and getting to know and learn from this congregation,” Barr said. “They are completely committed to their congregation and to each other, and it’s wonderful to see that.”
Ava Fuduric is the Barry R. Chesler intern at Cleveland Jewish News.
