By Marshall Weiss, The Dayton Jewish Observer

As of July, Cantor Joyce Dumtschin’s position at Temple Beth Or as full-time cantor will be eliminated and she will serve the congregation in the part-time job of music specialist.

Temple Beth Or President David London initially announced the board’s decision in a letter to congregants on March 7, and in a second congregational letter sent May 5 reaffirming the board’s decision following an April meeting for temple members about the staffing change.

“Based on exhaustive studies by the Budget and Finance Committee and the Personnel Committee, your Board unanimously decided to eliminate the full time Cantorial position,” London wrote to membership in the March 7 letter. “We believe this is essential for the long-term fiscal health of the Temple.”

The letter indicated that Dumtschin’s current contract with the temple would be completed at the end of June.

“We have established the position of Music Specialist, which is more appropriate for the size of our Temple. We are pleased to announce that Cantor Dumtschin has accepted this position,” London also wrote.

London and Dumtschin declined to comment for this article.

On April 10, Temple Beth Or’s board held a meeting for all members of the congregation to answer questions about the staffing change.

A second letter from London, dated May 5, was sent to the congregation. It stated that the board held a follow-up meeting on April 14 and “revisited a full range of options regarding the cantorial position and our fiduciary responsibilities to the congregation.”

In the May 5 letter, London said that the board “reaffirmed its decision to eliminate the cantorial clergy position” and “reaffirmed its approval of the amended Personnel Committee recommendation to create a Music Specialist position. As was originally approved by the Board, with specific sensitivity to Cantor Dumtschin, this position is to have additional education responsibilities so as to require adequate hours to make it eligible for benefits including health insurance.”

In 2009, Dumtschin was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome, a form of cancer in which bone marrow doesn’t make enough healthy blood cells.

A Chicago native, Dumtschin moved to Dayton with her husband, Irwin, in 1986. Shortly after they joined Temple Beth Or’s choir, in 1987, she was asked to become the temple’s volunteer choir director. In 1988, this became a paid position. In 1998, Dumtschin was invested as a cantor and has served Temple Beth Or in this capacity since, first part time and then full time.

“Temple Beth Or will continue to offer the same high quality services for worship, choir performances, life cycle events, education, and B’nai Mitzvah training,” London wrote in the March 7 congregational letter.