From the Rabbi - January 2005

I cannot tell you what a joy it is to be welcoming Cantor Barbara Finn and her husband, David, to our community. Over the past 6 months, the Finns have become an integral and invaluable part of the Congregation Albert family. Cantor Finn's beautiful voice and gentle soul have touched so many individuals and families: through her careful and sensitive guidance of our b'nai mitzvah students, her profound insights from the pulpit, her directorship of the Zamir and Hashira, her leadership in creating our wonderful Sunday Morning family worship, her rejuvenation of Limud Ha-Tefillah (formerly "Junior Congregation"), her calming presence and overall professionalism and so much more. She has become a valued team-mate and a dear friend to me, my family, and all of us who are privileged to work, pray and share life with her.

We are also thrilled to have David Finn as part of our teaching staff. He is a dedicated student of Torah as well as a "Pied Piper" to our youth. The Finn's children, Daniel and Elizabeth, are also wonderful young people who care deeply about the Jewish people and have found their second home in Albuquerque.

There is a rabbinic saying of which both Cantor Finn and I are very fond: "Those who sing pray twice." We truly are blessed to have this wonderful family in our community. I look forward to joining together with our entire community as we "officially" install Cantor Finn the weekend of January 28-30.

B'shalom V'yididut,
Rabbi Joseph R. Black

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