The Cantor For A New Generation
“Naomi’s passion for Judaism, teaching, learning, singing, and making those around her feel a part of things, are at the core of who she is, a true gift.”
—Wendy K., congregant & b’nei mitzvah parent
Cantor Naomi Weiss (she/her) recently completed the Cantorial Internship Program to become a Hazzan under the mentorship of Hazzanim Alberto Mizrahi and Sarah Alexander. She has extensive experience as Ritual Director in Conservative synagogues – four years at Congregation Beth Shalom in Northbrook, Illinois, followed by five years at Chicago’s Anshe Emet Synagogue, where she won the Sisterhood's Woman of Achievement award. Prior to that, she worked for seven years as a freelance cantorial soloist, leading services and tutoring b’nei mitzvah students in the Greater Chicago area, most notably at Beth Emet The Free Synagogue, Anshe Emet Synagogue, Chicago Sinai, and Temple Sholom. (Her work at Beth Emet Synagogue is mentioned in the book American Grace by Robert Putnam and David Campbell, Simon & Schuster, 2010.) She also taught religious school and preschool music, and did some camp song leading. Cantor Naomi is passionate about making the bar and bat mitzvah experience a positive, challenging, and rewarding one for our children.
Born in San Jose, CA and raised in the Washington, DC area, Naomi attended religious day schools and was part of a close-knit Jewish community. With BA and MA degrees in Design from UCLA, Naomi’s first career was in the Visual Resources profession. She was the Slide Librarian at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art Visual Resource Center and the Librarian/Rights and Reproductions Coordinator at the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art. Her love and talent for music led her to perform as the lead vocalist and bass player in the ethereal folk band The FloatingHouse for 15 years.
Naomi is active in the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs and Women’s League. She regularly leads Kabbalat Shabbat for the International Kiddush Club co-sponsored by FJMC, Mercaz, and Women’s League. Naomi is an avid single malt scotch enthusiast, practices meditation and yoga regularly, and loves to hike in any natural setting, but particularly in redwood forests. Her husband, Dr. David Weil, works for Agilent Technologies as a Master Scientist with expertise in mass spectrometry.
Naomi is excited to be relocating to Tiburon, CA this summer, where she will begin serving Congregation Kol Shofar as the congregation’s assistant clergy and first-ever cantor. Stay tuned for updates!