Cantor David Fair

Cantor David Fair

Cantor David Fair (he/him) serves the congregation of Temple Emanuel in Grand Rapids, MI, where he also is the director of the United Jewish School, Grand Rapids’ pluralistic religious school. Cantor Fair recently contributed to the CCAR’s book Prophetic Voices: Renewing and Reimagining Haftarah with his article “The Holy Duty of Advocating for Racial Justice.” He was ordained by HUC-JIR in 2021, where he wrote his thesis “Tsiporah’s Children: The Music and Lived Experiences of Black Jewish Americans.”

an image of a bronze statue of a woman blindfolded holding the scales of justice
Emor

Seeing Problematic Laws as a Vehicle to Modern Day Justice

D'Var Torah By: Cantor David Fair
I study Torah because I'm fascinated by the stories of our people and enjoy studying the various interpretations. However, there are many disturbing passages. How do I come to terms with the challenging laws and narratives in this sacred text that I love so much? Emor features a set of laws that I find particularly challenging.
an image of hands of different colors on top of each other
Acharei Mot

What is the “Watchword Law” of Judaism?

D'Var Torah By: Cantor David Fair
In Jewish thought, many know the Sh'ma as the watchword prayer of our faith. It says who we are as a people in relationship to God. If there's a watchword prayer that summarizes our beliefs, what is the watchword law of Judaism?
an image of the body of a femail doctor wearing a doctor oat and holding a red heart with two bandaids in the shape of a cross on it
Tazria - M’tzora

A Spiritual Wellness Check Up: Examining My Metaphorical Case of Tzara’at

D'Var Torah By: Cantor David Fair
This week's double Torah portion, Tazria - M'tzora, is about a serious skin disease called tzara'at. We learn from the Talmud that tzara'at could be contracted by speaking lashon hara : "Reish Lakish says: What is that which is written: 'This shall be the law of the leper (metzora)?' This means that this shall be the law of a defamer (motzi shem ra).'" (Arachin 15b.)
Sh'mini

Reimagining Reform Kashrut through Sh’mini

D'Var Torah By: Cantor David Fair
Sh'mini offers us an opportunity to use discernment. Informed choices are the bedrock of our movement. It's a sacred task to study Torah while respecting its historicity. Can you find relevancy in these ancient words and connect them to our modern lives? This is our holy struggle - and struggling with God is very Jewish.