Thursday, March 28, 2024 -
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New melodies at Temple Sinai

Sheila (pronounced Shayla) Nesis has temporarily lost her office to the final stages of Temple Sinai’s building campaign — until a staffer in the religious school wing loans her a spot. After playing a brief round of musical chairs with unfamiliar furniture, Nesis positions herself comfortably, folds her hands and smiles. The room is hers. Nesis, an Argentinean native, was hired as the Reform synagogue’s cantor exactly one year ago. The realization registers in her large eyes. “How old am I?” She laughs. “My husband says I’m 32 going on 33 but I’m actually 31.” She’s transformed the musical ambience at Sinai with the Ladino technique acquired from her Sephardic cantor at Buenos Aires’ Conservative Templo de Libertad. “I learned to sing as I was […]
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IJN Senior Writer | [email protected]