It’s Official! Shema Koleinu announces High Holy Days 5772!

It’s been a long time in the making!
7 years ago, I performed my first wedding.  6 years ago, I performed my first Bat Mitzvah.  Today, I am so proud to announce the official launch of “Shema Koleinu“, our non-profit synagogue-like organization that provides outreach to South Florida’s Jewish and Interfaith/Intercultural unaffiliated community.  After several years [...]

Unaffiliated Lifecycles? One Cantor’s view…

I just came across a well-written post by a Reform Rabbi in Washington, DC, in response to the recent NYT article that seems to be hitting a lot of nerves around the world.  While I recognize that some of my colleagues provide this as a fast track, meaningless way to substantiate a monstrous party – [...]

Danielle and Garrett – Why I do what I do

Danielle and Garrett are the perfect reason why I do what I do.

Many colleagues ask me why I invest so much time in my individual couples. They insist that I can be just as popular, and just as busy, but I don’t need to make my couples a part of my life.
WRONG!!!!
Without a couple [...]

A beautiful blend of both…

Kathy emailed me a year ago, as she and her fiance, Drew, and their Moms were coming to Fort Lauderdale, and were looking for someone to co-officiate their wedding.  As of yet, they didn’t have a venue, but both Kathy and Drew, an Interfaith couple, each had very different “must-have’s” in their wedding, and finding [...]

I’ll have a double helping of upbeat spirituality – hold the dogma!

Reading back over some of my past blogs, I was reminded of one of my all time favorites.  Given that the topic is so prevalent again, today, and I have so many new readers, I wanted to bring it out of hiding, and into the forefront again.  Enjoy!
Reprinted from August 17, 2008 by cantorballard
On the heels [...]

Cheryl and Prav’s Jewish-Hindu Islamorada Wedding Weekend

People always ask me..”What is the most unique wedding you have ever performed?”  I’m assuming they want to know about exotic locations I’ve been to, but unique weddings means something very different to me.
When I think about my most unique weddings, I immediately think about the unique relationships I have formed, not only with my [...]

A beautiful day for a Sister’s Wedding!

So, no sooner did I finish Jared’s Bar Mitzvah, that it was time to prepare for the exciting upcoming week!
First stop:  Greenville, NC, where I had the pleasure and privilege of officiating the wedding for Leigh & Matthew.  Leigh is Meridith’s sister, whose wedding I performed back in December of ’07.  The family has become [...]

Taking a moment..

I just looked at the date, and realized we are halfway through March, and I haven’t even finished blogging about February, yet.  March has already been a very fun month for me, as I just got back from spending a few personal days in Atlanta, and had such a great time.
When I came back from [...]

You Don’t Look Jewish-The Hebrew Mamita!

My friend Mindy just sent me this video, and I just had to share, just to share.
How many of us have been told “You don’t look JEWISH!”  I suppose I’ve always wondered what that meant, and felt strangely responseless upon hearing it, perhaps because I just couldn’t quite understand the purpose of the statement.
Here, Vanessa [...]

My Puerto Rico adventure

Another Destination Wedding has come and gone, and this one went WAY too fast!
I know I say this all of the time, but I am just so fortunate in that every one of my wedding couples is amazing – but truly, Eden and Eduardo were such an amazing couple in so many ways.  It was [...]

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