HUC-JIR Presents Doctor of Music, honoris causa, to Donn R. Rosensweig

Rabbi David Ellenson, President of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, awarded Cantor Donn R. Rosensweig with the Doctor of Music at Graduation Ceremonies in New York on Thursday, April 29, 2010, at Congregation Emanu-El of the City of New York.  Cantor Rosensweig was honored for 25 years of scholarly distinction as an alumnus of HUC-JIR.

Cantor Rosensweig of Temple Emanuel, Andover, has been serving his congregation since 1986.  He has taught and led his congregation in prayer for the past 24 years and has represented them in the wider Jewish community through activities of the Merrimack Valley Jewish Federation and the New England Board of Cantors.  He has served the latter organization as its president and currently serves as President of the Federation.

Cantor Rosensweig has represented his congregation in interfaith activities under the auspices of the Andover Clergy Association and the Greater Lawrence Council of Churches.  He has also served on the Boar dof the Andover Chamber Music Series.

Over the years, Cantor Rosensweig has taught and prepared over 1000 thirteen-year olds and dozens of adults for their Bar and Bat Mitzvah ceremonies.  He has taught Jewish music in the religious school and conducted for hundreds of children in the temple’s Junior Choir as well as training and leading the adult choir.  One highlight of the music program came in the co-commissioning and joint world premier performance of composer Michael Isaacson’s Re-Creating The World, a millennial service for Cantor and children’s choir in the year 2000.

At the graduation ceremonies of HUC-JIR on April 17, Cantor Rosensweig will be awarded an honorary Doctorate of Music commemorating his twenty-five years of service to the Jewish people and to the Reform movement.