Neighbors
Lashir appoints new conductor
Lashir, the Jewish community of Princeton, is pleased to announce the appointment of their new
conductor, Ra'anan Shefa. Born in Israel, Shefa received his undergraduate degree in choral conducting from the Rubin
Academy of Hebrew University in Tel Aviv and his master's degree in choral conducting from the Westminster Choir
College in Princeton. An accomplished conductor and arranger, Shefa has sung with the Jerusalem Chamber Choir,
the Cameran Singers, and Rinat, the former national choir of Israel. He currently lives in Twin Rivers with his wife,
Aviva, a teacher and singer, and one of his two sons. The other son lives in Israel. 
For more information about Lashir, contact Robin Wallack at rlw@patmedia.com or Karen Bartels at
karenbartels@verizon.net.
New cantor at Highland Park congregation
The Highland Park Conservative Temple and Center-Congregation Anshe Emeth is happy to announce the arrival of its
new cantor, Michael Weis. Weis is a third-year student at the H.L. Miller Cantorial School and College of Jewish
Music in New York City. Originally from a secular home in the suburbs of Chicago, he graduated from Stanford
University in 1986 with a degree in Economics before pursuing an acting career in Los Angeles for several years.
He later founded and operated a graphic design and printing company for 13 years. His interest in becoming a cantor
grew out of his volunteer experience leading services in a traditional progressive synagogue in Los Angeles where,
for the first time, he was introduced to the depth and beauty of Jewish tradition and fell in love with the sound of
Jewish prayer. He is engaged to be married this coming December to Lisa Tannenbaum of Brooklyn.
On August 13, women from the community gathered at the home of Dina Kanelsky for a glass painting workshop, where
they decorated glass honey dishes in honor of the upcoming new year. Later, they enjoyed food for the soul, discussing
the High Holidays.