Joy in the Rotunda: Three Trans Cantors Make Their Mark on the Jewish World

In November, on Transgender Day of Remembrance, Cantors Kalix Jacobson '23, Jordan Goldstein '23, and Ze'evi Tovlev '23-the first openly trans or non-binary cantors to be ordained-hosted a groundbreaking concert called We Remember. It marked the first time trans cantors have come together to present something by the trans community, for the trans community, in honor of the trans community.

More than 100 people braved the cold to gather in the unheated Rotunda Collaborative in Pittsburgh. Bundled in hand warmers, sweaters, and lap blankets, the audience experienced something beyond a simple concert-it was a moment of connection, acceptance, and affirmation.

For Cantor Goldstein, the event represented something essential. "For a lot of us, and for a lot of minority identities in general in Jewish space, we constantly have the onus to create these opportunities for ourselves," they explained. "And, largely because we have each other, we had the opportunity to do something to be seen in that specific overlap of non-binary AND clergy. While Hebrew Union College has been quite a big supporter in helping us in a lot of that, there's still a lot of learning to be done. And we had the opportunity to bring the conversation to the fore, so we took it."

From Harmony to History

The idea for the concert series emerged organically during Hava Nashira, the songleader conference in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. The three cantors found themselves in a dorm room, singing three-part harmonies and sharing original compositions. "We were singing songs that the three of us had written, and we were like, this is fun! Can we do more of this?" recalled Cantor Ze'evi Tovlev.

Goldstein suggested a concert in a group chat, and Cantor Kalix Jacobson ran with it. "We were talking about how wonderful it is to make music together, and how kind of rare this moment is for the three of us," Jacobson said. They reached out to Sarah Stock Mayo, who runs the Rotunda Collaborative, secured funding through another friend, and within two weeks had messaged the group: "Alright, put it on your calendar, November 20."

The Pittsburgh Chronicle got involved, Goldstein posted about it on Instagram, and the response was overwhelming. "A large part of why that article blew up was because Cantor Josh Breitzer immediately saw it and used his connections to immediately put it through all the official avenues he possibly could," Goldstein explained.

The support from established cantorial leaders proved particularly meaningful. Cantor Barbara Ostfeld enthusiastically promoted the concert. "Barbara and I were communicating the entire time," Jacobson shared. "She posted the day after the concert and said, this happened last night, rejoice!"

A Series Takes Shape

The success of the November concert has led to plans for at least two more performances. The cantors chose dates that align with key moments in the transgender calendar: Transgender Day of Remembrance in November, Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31, and Pride Month in June.

"These anchor points for the three concerts will allow us to bring slightly different flavors to the song choices," Tovlev explained. "On Transgender Day of Remembrance, we really leaned into songs of grief and mourning and despair, as well as songs of hope and community and resilience. Moving forward to March and June, I think we're going to move into more of the celebratory, joyful, affirming."

Impact Beyond Music

The November concert resonated deeply with attendees. "One of the things that I really loved was that we had so many attendees who came up to us and said I am also trans and non-binary, and this was incredible for me personally," Tovlev recalled. "And we had people coming up to us to say, I've never been to a concert about transness and Judaism, ever."

The response from the broader cantorial community was equally enthusiastic. Goldstein attended a concert in New York shortly before their performance and was struck by colleagues' reactions. "The number of our professional colleagues who were coming up to me about how excited they were was deeply affirming," they said.

For Tovlev, the realization of their work's historical significance came gradually. "I was so wonderfully surprised by how many people have come up to me, congregants, colleagues, friends, who have said this is historic," they reflected. "These are just two of my favorite people, who I want to hang out with, and sing with, and make harmonies with, but I forget that we're making history here."

Saving Lives Through Visibility

For the three cantors, being visible as successful trans clergy carries profound responsibility. Jacobson came out as gay in 2008 and as nonbinary in 2010, living in St. Louis, Missouri, "which was not the most accepting place in the world." Goldstein was the first other non-binary person they ever got to know in person. "I felt alone in the universe for 8 years," Jacobson said.

A conversation with a colleague during cantorial school crystallized the stakes. When the colleague wondered where all the other trans people were, Jacobson replied simply: "They're dead." The comment wasn't meant to shock, but to convey a painful reality. "Because they didn't have these opportunities," Jacobson explained. "By allowing people to know that they too can be exceptional, we are saving lives."

Goldstein now works with trans youth in congregational settings and takes seriously the role of being a visible trans adult. "I get to be the trans adult who's alive and succeeding in their life, and for so many of them, I'm the first taste of that they've ever had," they said. "I do not take that lightly, even though that's not why any of us got into this in the first place, but it is a responsibility and opportunity that we get to be an example of existing happily. Really living, not just surviving."

Tovlev shared a particularly touching example: a 4-year-old in their youth choir who, when exploring their gender identity, told their parents, "Mom, I think that I'm not a boy or a girl, I think that I'm a cantor, like Cantor Ze'evi." As Tovlev says, it's "silly, but also really revolutionary."

The HUC Legacy

All three cantors credit Hebrew Union College with providing not just education, but lasting relationships and mentorship. "We have an exceptional class that we are still very close to," Goldstein said. "The whole class is family at this point."

Jacobson highlighted the unique nature of cantorial work: "When you go to cantorial school, you are almost never placed with a lot of other cantors." The network from HUC becomes essential-this past December, they had their seventh annual Hanukkah gift exchange, connecting via Zoom to share in each other's lives.

Tovlev uses skills learned at HUC daily, particularly in liturgical innovation. They described studying Jewish philosophy and theology with Goldstein and Rabbi Kari Tuling: "Until this day, it was one of the most impactful courses that I took, and I use it every day." Tovlev's senior thesis on nonbinary liturgy grew in large part from the theologies they'd explored with Rabbi Tuling. Jacobson's thesis exemplifies HUC's support for original research-a project connecting the LGBT community on the Lower East Side with the Khazntes, five women who wore "cantorial drag" and sang in tenor octave about 100 years ago. "I learned that Rabbi Wendy Zierler did the last Khaznte thesis. I had not said a single word to her in 4 years, went up, shook her hand, and said, hey, I need you to be my thesis advisor, nice to meet you.

"And she was my champion. Everyone at HUC wants you to succeed, and if you ask something that's even a little unreasonable of them, like, hey, will you advise an original research thesis that's 153 pages long, please? They say yes."

A Call to Action

Looking forward, the cantors are clear about what they need from the broader Jewish community. "There's still so much learning to be done," Goldstein said. "And I hope, if anything, folks see this concert series and think there should be more of this! Great. Help us do it."

They emphasize that the work of representation shouldn't fall solely on those already fighting for acceptance. "It's not just us. It's cantors of color who deserve a lot more representation than they get. It's cantors with different abilities. It's trans women," Goldstein noted. "There's so much diversity and amazing, wonderful things that happen when we not only accept, but actually highlight that diversity."

Acknowledging their own privilege-their connections to HUC, their whiteness, their more masculine presentation-the cantors are eager to extend support to others. "I want everyone to be part of the journey," Goldstein concluded. "We need that support, and we can do so much more and so much better if we have help. So, reach out to us, let's make more."

About the Cantors

Jordan Goldstein (they/he) recently transitioned from a congregational role and is now freelance, based in Brooklyn. They work with teens at BBYO and with several congregations, bringing their background in the song-leading world to bridge it with the cantorate. They are currently recording their own music.

Kalix Jacobson (they/them) currently serves at Temple Emanuel of South Hills in Pittsburgh, PA. Come July, they will begin their tenure at Temple David in Monroeville, PA, as sole clergy-the first transgender cantor and one of just a handful of transgender Jewish clergy to ever do so. When they aren't on the bimah in PA, you can likely find them on the bimah in Little Rock, Arkansas at the congregation their family founded in the 19th century, or eagerly sharing their research with a new community.

Ze'evi Tovlev (they/them) serves as Cantor of Temple Shalom in Chevy Chase. A composer and liturgist, they are one of the pioneers of nonbinary Hebrew liturgy, expanding the words we use for ourselves and God in prayer. They live in Kensington, Maryland with their spouse Rabbi Ariel Tovlev and their four cats.