Temple Beth-El Cantor Lisa Hest to retire from synagogue after 26 years

Joe Nikic

After 26 years serving as cantor for Temple Beth-El in Great Neck, Lisa Hest will soon play her last tune at the congregation.

Hest said she is retiring from her work at the congregation in June, but enjoyed every moment of her time at the temple.

“It’s just been a wonderful time,” she said. “I feel like it was the perfect career for me and a very good place for me to work because I got to work with people of all different ages.”

After graduating from Queens College, Hest received her master’s degree in sacred music from the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion in New York City.

She also studied opera at the New England Conservatory of Music and the Manhattan School of Music.

Hest said she has appeared on various radio programs including WQXR, a New York City-based classical music station, and WXTM in Chicago.

She also said she has played at “major concert halls” throughout New York City and toured through Israel playing music.

While Hest has had an extensive music career, she said she is very proud of the music and programs she played a part in at the temple.

“I got to lead children’s choirs and adult choirs and I wrote some plays for the various holidays,” she said. “We’ve always had talented people to help out with them.”

Temple Beth-El officials said that on top of her musical teachings, Hest also educated congregants and community members on Yiddish, Ladino, Israeli and Jewish Broadway composers.

Hest said she has seen changes in both the temple and in the Great Neck community over the years.

“There’s been change in a lot of congregations. The makeup of Great Neck has changed a lot,” she said. “The temple is not the size it was when I first got there.”

Change is a positive thing, Hest said, and she thinks the changes at the temple have made it a better place.

“I think our rabbis are attracting young families and they are always looking for new ways in engaging families and sort of helping people bring their best,” she said. “In other words, it’s a place now that is very open to congregants coming and speaking and performing or in many ways bringing whatever they can to the congregation and I think that that’s very good.”

Temple Beth-El will honor Hest on June 3 with an “Erev Shabbat” service and on June 4 with a “farewell concert and celebration.”

Temple Beth-El officials said the celebration will include cocktails, dinner and musical entertainment by Hest’s son, Ari, and the Jewbadours, as well as other people she has worked with in music through her career at the temple.

Hest said it was “lovely” that the temple would honor her for her services over the years.

“It’s a little overwhelming,” she said. “I’m not used to that much attention and I tend to not go for too much attention, but I’m sure I will love it.”

Those interested in attending the services can call Amanda Greenawalt at 516-487-0900, ext. 108 or go on Temple Beth-El’s website at tbegreatneck.org for more information.

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