Cantor honored for inclusion work in area Jewish community

Faryn Kates Rudnick, 33, of Vernon Hills, is a recipient of the 2015 Samuel A. Goldsmith Award, presented at the Sept. 17 Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago's 115th annual meeting, held at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.

Now in its 28th year, the award is presented to young professionals who have shown outstanding performance in their work at a Jewish agency in the Chicago area.

When accepting her award, Rudnick said that in the past, people who were disabled often had limited responsibilities in the community.

"We have come to understand that having a disability is anything but limiting," Rudnick said. "Becoming an inclusive community is about changing culture, changing language … so our houses are truly houses for all people."

Rudnick has been Cantor at Temple Beth-El, Northbrook, since 2013. Over the past two years, she initiated a congregational Disability Awareness program, and as a result, Temple Beth-El has been recognized by the Union of Reform Judaism as an exemplar congregation for their inclusion work.

"From the moment she joined our community, Cantor Rudnick exhibited a passion for making Temple Beth-El an open and inclusive environment for those with disabilities," wrote Sidney M. Helbraun, Rabbi, Temple Beth-El, in his nomination of Rudnick. "Her innovative ideas regarding inclusion have enhanced the vision of our congregation and the community."

Rudnick is the incoming president of the Reform Cantors of Chicago, and a member of the American Conference of Cantors social action committee. She has chaired the Hebrew Union College Day of Learning, and co-led a workshop in inclusion at the annual ACC convention this year. She represents the ACC on the Jewish Disabilities Network, is a member of the Synagogue Federation Commission's Inclusion Program Planning Committee, and has been a presenter for the Union for Reform Judaism's inclusion initiative.

Rudnick holds a bachelor's degree in Music Education from Miami University of Ohio; a Master of Fine Arts in Music Education from Montclair State University in New Jersey, and a Master of Sacred Music and Cantorial Ordination from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York City. She has been a music educator in the Oakland Public School District, New Jersey.

The Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation is one of the largest nonprofit social welfare institutions in Illinois. The organization funds a vital network of agencies that act upon core Jewish values, including caring for people in need and sustaining the Jewish community.

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