Nathan Lam has been the cantor at Stephen S. Wise Temple since 1976. He is a founding Dean of the Academy of Jewish Religion’s California Cantorial School. He has been president of the Cantor Assembly, the largest organization of cantors worldwide, and currently serves as president of the Cantors Assembly Foundation. He witnessed the absorption of the Persian Jews as they had to adapt to the Ashkenazi customs already present at the temple. He recalls that 1981 was a peak year, with largest influx of new Persian attendees at the temple, as many began to move to the Valley. Cantor Lam asserts that although there may be cultural differences over food and observance, we all have the same collective narrative as Jews. He states that the Temple leaders knew it was significant to bring in this new group of Jews and help them feel welcome; he underlines the fact that all Jews were once immigrants to America, whether it was the German Jews or the Russian Jews. It is a Jew’s duty to welcome and take care of another Jew, reinforcing the ideal of Kol Israel.

On the subject of Iranian members’ participation in the predominantly Ashkenazi prayer services, Rabbi Yoshi bemoans the fact that the prayer services do not yet include as many Persian or Sephardic melodies as he would like. However, he explains that he and Cantor Nathan Lam are working together closely to try and incorporate more Persian melodies. Rabbi Yoshi also recalled an occasion where a Piyyut, a liturgical poem, was introduced into the prayer service. After the services, a Persian grandparent approached Rabbi Yoshi to thank him for the incorporation of the melody. As a result, the melody was included again the following year and received significant positive feedback.

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