Cantor Roger Eisenberg has served conservative congregations for more than 20 years at the Westchester Jewish Center in Mamaroneck, NY and at Beth Israel Congregation in suburban Baltimore, where he was honored with the title: Cantor Emeritus, after `17 years of distinguished service. Five years of Cantoral studies at the Philip and Sara Belz School of Jewish Music at Yeshiva University began his defined journey into a Cantoral career, but even preparation needs preparation! It helped to have previously earned a Bachelors degree in Music Education/Music Therapy from Kansas University (KU), where, “on the side,” he assumed the responsibilities of Director of Hillel. However, KU’s fine educational programs soon became paled by something even more wonderful: It was there that he met his wife, Liz, aka, Leelah.
Just before graduating KU, they got married, then moved to Overland Park, KS, where he worked as a music therapist and sang in his synagogue’s High Holy Day Choir. In addition, he taught music, Hebrew and Jewish History and rituals for 12 years in the religious school. With a little more education, he became a career counselor and even managed a nursing home. Throughout his careers, he loved to sing, but it was never enough without family and community. So, he will tell you that the most wonderful celebrations in their life in Kansas were the births of their two children, Chaim and Shira.
Cantor Eisenberg is a singer and guitarist who has sung and performed on the Bima and on the stage. For him, music becomes a medium for spiritual inspiration. Yet, his career revealed an amazing paradox: The amount of time that a Cantor is actually engaged in public musical performance is paled by the amount of time devoted to teaching, counseling, pastoral care, and program development. Now, having trained more than a thousand children for B’nai Mitzvah and devoting the majority of his time and energy to the needs of his congregation and community, he and his wife are now blessed to spend more time with their children, and yes, grandchildren in their new life in Fountain Hills, Arizona.