Woman Cantor Barred in Baltimore

BALTIMORE, MD.—Members of the Cantors Association of Greater Baltimore, an organization of Orthodox and Conservative cantors with some Reform members, recently decided, by a one-vote margin, to maintain their all-male membership.

The issue was raised when Cantor Gail Hirschenfang, who assumed her duties at the Baltimore Hebrew Congregation last fall as the city’s first woman cantor, submitted a membership application to the Association.

In response to the vote, the Baltimore Conference of Cantors, a new cantorial group, was organized, which will be open to women members and has already admitted Cantor Hirschenfang.