One Minute With Anna West Ott

By Libby Barsky
August 15, 2008

Name: Anna West Ott

Occupation: Cantor at Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple New Brunswick

Address: East Brunswick

Family:  Three sons: Michael, 26, high honors graduate of  Cook College, Rutgers University, works in information technology for Verizon Wireless, and lives in Bedminster; Andrew, 22, Rutgers senior majoring in exercise science works part-time at Sports Physical Therapy Institute in Somerset; Charlie, 18, East Brunswick High School graduate to be a freshman at Rutgers University School of Engineering. Brother David West lives and works in Beverly Hills, Calif. as partner in law firm Gibson, Dunn and Crucher with wife Susan, who is a teacher of organizational psychology at the University of Southern California, where their children, Henry and Chloe, are students. Brother Yale West is a distributor for Arctic White LLC and lives in Bethlehem, Penn. with wife Maryanne and daughters Leigha, a Temple University Senior, and triplets Caroline, Katharine, and Maura, who are starting college.

Community Activities: Five years ago became co-founder and co-director of the Jewish community chorus of Central New Jersey, Makhelat Hamercaz with Hazzan Sheldon Levin of Metuchen's Neve Shalom. Conducts Anshe Emeth Teen choir, whose members are also part of The International Jewish High School Choir, HaZamir, who sang at Carnegie Hall's Israel at 60 concert, directed by Mati Lazar. Past director of Kol Halayla, the Rutgers Jewish a cappella group. Organized Anshe Segulah Men's Chorus for four local Yom Hashoah observances.

Hobbies: "I listen to music all the time and always think about new pieces and tunes and think about how to make them happen. I also enjoy spending time with my children."

Self-portrait: "I'm a musician and teacher and consider myself fortunate to do what I truly love and make a living at it. Music is my life, my blood and it always has been. Deciding to become a cantor, commuting four years to school in New York and eventually landing at Anshe Emeth where my job isn't just a job, it's a life."

Motto: "Always be kind."

Greatest accomplishment: "I'm very proud of my sons who are intelligent, clever, kind, and considering careers that will make the world a better place. I am also proud of my three choirs and 'Awesome Band' at Anshe Emeth who bring life and ruach to our services and concerts."

Bad habits: "Buying too many CD's."

Favorite TV Show: "I love watching old movies on TCM uncut and commercial-free."

Favorite food: "A roast chicken I make with lemon, rosemary, and thyme, whose gravy poured over a baked potato is absolute Nirvana."

Best childhood memory: "My years from nursery school to 8th grade at Hillel Academy in Perth Amboy -- the original post-denominational Hebrew Day School. We had incredibly dedicated and inspiring teachers in both religious and secular departments. All parents were hands-on and active and my classmates were like my family. My graduation and my brothers' bar mitzvahs took place at the magnificent Shaarey Tefilo in Perth Amboy."

People don't know that I... "Was in several musical productions for Plays-in-the-Park, a high quality regional theater held in Roosevelt Park, Edison, sponsored by the Freeholders of Middlesex County for 46 years. Prior to becoming a cantor, my musical lives included singing rock, folk, opera cabaret -- terrific experiences relevant to what I do now."

Last book I read: "The World Is Flat," by Thomas L. Friedman.

The biggest asset in the local Jewish communities: "The number of people willing to give voluntarily of their time and expertise to enhance our activities at Anshe Emeth, and at other synagogues and Jewish organizations to celebrate Jewish life together."