I was a junior cantor. Not to flex, but I was a junior cantor! I grew up going to a Reform synagogue, Temple Judea in West L.A., and I became very close with my cantor. I’m still very close to him, Cantor Yonah Kliger. And he has always been a beautiful mentor in my life.
Obviously, I love to sing. I grew up singing, so he quickly kind of roped me into doing a lot of singing with him at shul. We used to sing before I went away to college [at Wesleyan University]. We used to sing “Sim Shalom” every year during the High Holiday services.
I remember the day before my Bat Mitzvah, he was like, “Beanie, I really think that when you’re older, you should become a cantor.” I remember looking at him and just shaking my head and I was like, “I’m so sorry to disappoint you, but I want to be an actor.”
My path as a cantor ended quickly, but my connection to Cantor Kliger remains steadfast, and is a powerful reminder of the most precious gift we are given – to always have a beautiful line of support waiting in the wings.
Beanie Feldstein is an American actress who is recently starred as Fannie Brice in the 2022 Broadway revival of Funny Girl. @beaniefeldstein
