At BJC, we have a Hazzan as our spiritual leader. The concept of leadership for Jewish congregations has undergone many changes over the course of our history. During the Middle Ages, as more complex music came into fashion, the office of cantor (or Hazzan - meaning "director") was established to have someone who distinguished himself with music and who could lead worshippers. As time went on, the Hazzan assumed many responsibilities beyond leading prayers, including working as a scribe and teacher. Rabbis were often relegated to the role of teacher and judge. Over time, the people demanded more of their rabbis and they became more of a preacher. As Jews left their ghettos of Europe and came to America, they wanted to blend into their new culture. Jewish congregations adopted the model where services were led by pastors and priests, and rabbis were equated to them. This was simpler than explaining the complexities of Jewish communal life, where functionaries played many, often overlapping, roles. In an authentically Jewish model, a knowledgeable Hazzan is as well suited to lead a modern congregation as is a rabbi.

Hazzan Sunny Schnitzer serves as the spiritual leader and Kol Bo of Bethesda Jewish Congregation. He has also served congregations in Virginia, Long Island, and Baltimore MD, mixing both traditional and contemporary forms of worship. Hazzan Schnitzer holds a Bachelors Degree in Judaic Studies from Baltimore Hebrew University, where he received awards for scholarship and biblical text study and was valedictorian of the class of 1993. He was ordained in 1997 as Hazzan and Teacher in Israel by the Academy for Jewish Religion, a trans-denominational rabbinic and cantorial seminary in N.Y.C. He has also served in the chaplaincy program at Sloan Memorial Cancer Center in New York City. Hazzan Schnitzer is a renowned teacher of authentic Jewish Meditation using imagery suggested by passages from the Zohar and Hekhalot literature as well as meditations written by Moses Cordevero and Rab Nachman of Bratslav. Hazzan Schnitzer’s unique approach to these sources makes them accessible to those who do not read or speak Hebrew fluently As a performer Hazzan Sunny radiates a passion and energy for Jewish music and Jewish people that captivates listeners. His original and spirited melodies are a celebration of Jewish heritage. Using his unique style of musical composition known as Midrashir, Sunny brings to audiences his interpretation of well known, and some not so well known, tales of Torah. Sometimes funny, sometimes sad, always inspiring, Sunny shows us new ways to express the Jewish neshama. His musical duo “B’shert”, has released two recordings of original Jewish music and performs all over the U.S. and in Israel. Now as a solo act, Sunny continues to create new songs and stories to light up the Jewish soul..