Rabbi Cantor Devorah Fick

Congregational Spiritual Leader for a community of approximately 120 families.

Planned and led all High Holy Day and Festival services.

• Tefillah: Planned and led all Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services, including delivery of sermons and leadership of core liturgical sections in traditional holiday nusach.
• Musical & Liturgical Leadership: Collaborated with cantorial soloist, lay leadership, and community musicians; introduced and taught new musical settings while maintaining fidelity to traditional liturgy.
• Congregational & Lay Engagement: Trained lay leaders in Torah and Haftarah chanting to expand meaningful congregational participation; invited congregants to prepare and share brief reflections during services, weaving personal High Holy Day and spiritual experiences into communal prayer; integrated children’s teaching moments within main services to support intergenerational worship.
• Children & Family Programming: Designed and led High Holiday children’s and family programming, including age-appropriate services and educational experiences aligned with the themes of the season.
• Festival Leadership: Led all Festival services and programming: Kever Avot, Yizkor, Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, and Simchat Torah.

Jewish Education & Youth Teaching Served as Teacher of Music and Tefillah (PreK–7) and Religious School Director at Beth El (Windsor, ON) and Beth Israel (Ann Arbor, MI).

• Music & Tefillah Instruction: Taught prayer, Torah chanting, holiday blessings, and music across grades; prepared students for school-led Shabbat and festival services.
• Bar & Bat Mitzvah Preparation: Supported liturgical literacy and chanting skills, ensuring students’ readiness for their milestones.
• Educational Leadership: Directed and coordinated religious school programming, including curriculum planning and occasional year-round programs.
• Mentoring & Youth Engagement: Provided ongoing instruction, guidance, and mentorship for children and youth, fostering meaningful participation in Jewish learning and worship.

• Liturgy Leadership: Led all Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services in collaboration with the Rabbi, blending traditional Conservative nusach with Renewal and Hasidic elements, including niggunim, original musical settings, and innovative chanting. Engaged the entire congregation in singing throughout the services.
• Creative Teaching & Drashot: Delivered short drashot before Torah readings and crafted a creative Haftarah incorporating English and Hebrew chanting, original text, and poetic elements to deepen congregational engagement.
• Composer & Musical Collaboration: Composed original music for High Holy Day services in partnership with the Rabbi, seamlessly integrating new melodies and settings into the traditional liturgy.

• Family Shabbat Leadership: Created and led a Family Shabbat service in collaboration with the junior rabbi, blending traditional Conservative liturgy with Renewal-inspired musical and spiritual elements.
• Service Coverage: Provided Friday evening and Saturday morning service leadership and music when the Hazzan was unavailable.
• Weekday Services: Led a traditional weekday davvening once weekly and on Rosh Chodesh.
• Torah & Haftarah: Chanted Torah and Haftarah as required.

• Collaborative Leadership: Partnered with the rabbi and Jewish Studies Professor to design and lead meaningful Fall and Spring retreat experiences, integrating prayer, music, and learning.
• Liturgical Leadership: Led Kabbalat Shabbat and Shabbat Morning services, Torah and Haftarah chanting, bentching at meals, and Havdalah.
• Spiritual Engagement: Guided students in reflection, participation, and personal connection to the liturgy.

• Collaborative Leadership: Partnered with a rabbi mentor and colleague to create and sustain an online Jewish community during COVID-19.
• High Holy Day Services: Led Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services virtually, blending traditional liturgy with Renewal-inspired and creative musical elements.
• Year-Round Services: Led weekly Sunday morning tefillah services, integrating traditional liturgy with Renewal-style musical and spiritual elements.
• Torah Study & Spiritual Engagement: Facilitated “heart-centered” Torah study sessions and a virtual book club, fostering reflection, discussion, and deeper engagement with Jewish texts.
• Musical Composition: Composed original music for High Holy Day and weekly Psalms-based services.
• Digital Content Creation: Produced podcast-style reflective teachings during Elul to engage the community and maintain spiritual connection.

• Liturgy Leadership: Led traditional High Holiday services in collaboration with the University Rabbi and Director of Jewish Studies, guiding students through the complete nusach and liturgy.
• Musical & Chanting Instruction: Taught students Torah and Haftarah chanting (High Holiday trope), and prepared them for active participation in services.
• Student Engagement & Programming: Organized student involvement throughout the services; led small “breakout” discussion sessions on holiday themes and weekly parshiot to deepen understanding and spiritual reflection.