Cantor Josh Breitzer

Cantor Josh Breitzer

Cantor Josh Breitzer (he/him) was called to Congregation Beth Elohim in Brooklyn following his 2011 ordination from HUC-JIR. Named by The Forward in its "Soundtrack of Our Spirit" series as a leading voice of Jewish music, Cantor Breitzer has sung and taught in communities throughout North America and around the world. He proudly hails from mid-Michigan and spent his formative summers at Interlochen Arts Camp, eventually earning degrees from the University of Michigan and the New England Conservatory. Alongside his work at CBE, Cantor Breitzer is an instructor at the HUC-JIR Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music and serves as vice president of the American Conference of Cantors. He lives in the Park Slope neighborhood with his wife, Donna, and their children, Jonah and Gideon.

Photo of two hands holding a book
Matot - Mas'ei

Echoes of the Wilderness, Part IX: How Far Afield?

D'Var Torah By: Cantor Josh Breitzer
The final two portions of the Book of Numbers, Matot and Mas'ei, are most often combined. In their midst is the rarest cantillation in the entire Torah. It occurs in Numbers 35:5, which prescribes the size of pastures encircling the Levites' assigned town.
Photo of the word "Oy" in yellow
Chukat

Echoes of the Wilderness, Part VI: The Original "Oy"

D'Var Torah By: Cantor Josh Breitzer
After a series of important events for Moses, Miriam, Aaron, and the whole community, the end of Parashat Chukat lists the Israelites' conquests during their journey. Sihon, king of the Amorites, does not allow the Israelites passage through his territory, so they go to war.
Photo of colorful beads; some on a string and some next to it
Korach

Echoes of the Wilderness, Part V: Feeling Scattered

D'Var Torah By: Cantor Josh Breitzer
This week, as the Israelites continue wandering in the wilderness, Moses faces the most significant threat to his leadership since leaving Egypt. His distant cousin, Korach, gathers more than 250 individuals to challenge Moses and Aaron. The rest of Parashat Korach paints in vivid, violent detail the ways both God and Moses respond to the uprising.