“A wonderful mixture of piety and levity.”

— Evelyn Wilk, minyan regular

 I had the opportunity to attend Zoom Minyan with Naomi every day for a year. I can not begin to describe what an amazing job she did at both the basics of davening and at creating community. Naomi has a beautiful voice, knows nussach and has a wide range of "tunes" for various prayers. She was able to make the service both interesting by using the tunes that everyone knew while sharing new tunes. Even more than that, Naomi created a supportive environment. There was a the community of regulars who came each day and then every day there were new people who came on for a yahrtzeit, to say a mi Sheberach for someone who was ill or to just be in prayer space even on zoom. She encouraged people to share who they were saying kaddish for or who they were davening for and created such a beautiful and supportive community that people often came back just to be part of that community and to start their day in such a meaningful way. Naomi is warm, funny, knowledgeable and would be a wonderful addition to any synagogue community.

— Rachel Lopatin, Huntington Woods, Michigan

A good cantor connects with congregants both before and after services as well during them.  In my experience, no cantor works the social hall better than Naomi Weiss.  She makes everyone of any age feel at home and their presence in shul valued.  Her people skills are a real gift to her work for the Jewish community.

— Rabbi Scott Aaron

Mazal Tov Naomi, on becoming a Cantor! You have a beautiful, soulful, nuanced voice, great technique, and a dynamic personality. I know you've been a prayer leader/bar/bat mitzvah tutor and served congregations for years, so this is wonderful news… Congratulations on combining those skills with a solid education, deepening your knowledge and graduating from Cantorial school. Wishing you a bright future. B'hatzlacha.

—Danny Maseng

Among Naomi’s special gifts are her spiritual leadership, her focus on connecting with people, her pleasure teaching and understanding what people need and how to offer it in a very individualized way, and her joy in the music and ritual of Judaism.  She offers all who hear her opportunity to resonate with the depth and beauty of the music of Judaism.  She knows how to meet her students at an appropriate level of challenge, be it remedial or gifted, and offers them inspiration, encouragement, and great content.  Naomi is a talented vocal artist, but she is so much more as a human being.  Her excitement about learning more and more about how to find deeper meaning and satisfaction in life through Judaism makes any conversation with her a memorable experience.   Furthermore, Naomi has a knack for a kind of compassionate counseling through telling stories.  She is innovative, courageous, and gentle.   She is an artist, a teacher, and a compassionate counselor.  She will bring grace and thoughtfulness to all her work and will be an inspiration and joyful presence for the people with whom she will be sharing her life’s work. 

— Kathy Greenberger, Psy.D. and bar mitzvah parent

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. Her unending energy is evident in all that she does. Additionally, her creativity knows no bounds. It’s most evident in her ability to find different ways in which to teach the same thing, so that it’s geared to the needs of her student. However, the way she puts those around her at ease, especially during life cycle events, is a true gift.

— Wendy K., bar mitzvah parent

When Naomi Weiss was the Ritual Director at Anshe Emet Synagogue, I saw her often at morning minyan.  Her warmth and energy were like a tonic that got us going early in the morning.  When she led the minyan and other services, her beautiful voice and spiritual focus were truly inspiring.  In addition, she was encouraging to the lay people who wanted to daven, giving us opportunities to lead and grow.  She provided personal tutoring for me to help develop my davening skills, which was very helpful to me.  Knowing Naomi has furthered my development and knowledge as a Jew. 

— Gail Golden, AES member and Minyan regular

My family had the opportunity to work with Naomi in preparing for my son’s Bar Mitzvah. Naomi tutored my son for well over a year in the midst of the Covid pandemic. We met in person with Naomi for our initial intake meeting and then did not see her in person until our son’s Bar Mitzvah rehearsal. The entirety of his Bar Mitzvah preparation was via zoom, but the relationship was never hindered-even via a computer screen!  Naomi was reliable, responsive, warm and engaging.  She made tutoring a time my son enjoyed rather than dreaded. My son’s Hebrew skills were not top notch and she never once made him feel badly about that. Rather, she met him at his level and patiently established a trusting relationship. She always had a smile on her face and had a way of empowering my son and instilling confidence in him we never knew existed. One of the qualities I enjoy most about Naomi is her ability to engage equally well with both adults and children. She is able to connect with people of all ages-a true talent. Lastly, Naomi’s voice!  Her voice is both beautiful and relatable. Listening to her sing and chant is truly an experience. With Naomi, you get the full package:  a warm, confident human being who connects in such an inviting, enthusiastic and engaging way. Naomi is a gift to all who know her.

— Julie L., bar mitzvah parent

Naomi is not your traditional chazan, and that is a great thing. As a former lead singer in a band and then a longtime ritual director, she brings a unique, experienced perspective of all facets of temple life (and regular life). We had the privilege of her working with all our children for their b’nei mitzvah, and besides the usual stuff of preparing them, she did something more: she nourished their soul (and same for us parents). “Yes,” she is learned (and then some), but she is also fun, down to earth, and alive in the best sense. And one more thing: her voice is beautiful. Really, any shul will find out in short order just how lucky they are to have her.

— Bill Choslovsky, AES member and b’nei mitzvah parent