My Journey - by Beth Wasserman Rosenfeld

I have been singing since I was 3. Being very driven, I knew at 10 that I would study voice when I attended college. After graduating from The American University in Washington, DC with a BA in Music, Voice Performance, I began my first career, a 15 year journey around the country as a Musical Theatre Singer/Dancer/Actor. While it was exactly what I had always dreamed of, at some point, something was missing.

As I was trying to figure out how to use my gift of singing in a different, more meaningful

way ,I went back to The American University and received an MA in Music Production

combining Music Composition and Audio Technology. My thesis album of original songs, Revolving Door, became my calling card, as I used the CD to interview for a second career as a Cantor and Jewish Music Educator first in DC, and then in Los Angeles.

Cantor Beth

As a cantor, I have been blessed with a career spanning over two decades and congregations throughout southern California. I was the Assistant Cantor at Kehillat Israel in Pacific Palisades for almost 9 years, being mentored by Cantor Chayim Frenkel and leading musical services with renown Jewish musicians including Cantor Doug Cotler, Craig Taubman, and Julie Silver, and concertizing with Cantors Nathan Lam, Joseph Gole, Roslyn Barak, Alberto Mizrahi, and many others. My favorite Kehillat Israel concert was held at Royce Hall to a sold-out crowd of 1500 people, during which my dear friend and congregant, Bob Saget, of blessed memory, introduced me. After singing my Duke Ellington song that night, I received a standing ovation.

Little did I know when I made that decision to leave DC that my future husband was in LA waiting for me. Just two short months after moving to LA, I met Ira Rosenfeld, a former drummer, actor and stand-up comic, and we married within the year. He taught religious school with me and became an ordained rabbi. We are now the clergy team of Cantor Beth and Rabbi Ira, bringing light and joy to Jewish communities wherever we are invited to do so through our non-profit, Or Echad – One Light. Together we have officiated more than 275 Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, and dozens of weddings and funerals.

Motherhood

When I became a mother, 25 years ago, I began a new journey as my life started to change

focus. When my first child started to fall behind the “typical” developmental markers, missing – very mildly – certain milestones, I was surprised and confused. It’s taken me decades to learn about the myriad things I never thought I would ever need to know! From then on, my journey through motherhood has been unexpectedly different, and ultimately has taught me lessons I feel grateful for, and feel true joy whenever I can share my experience with others who are just beginning this journey.

Life Coach for Neurodivergent Youth and Young Adults

In order to help my kids and myself, I have done extensive studying over the years. Most

recently, I have become a Certified Professional Life Coach, specializing in helping parents, and specifically moms, of neurodivergent youth and young adults. My education has given me a better understanding of Neurodivergent diagnoses and markers leading to diagnosis, helping others find assessments and supports, and given me the skills to work with the family dynamic that is critical to success for ND people and those who love them. I help families with teens and young adults who may have Autism, ADHD, Twice Exceptional, Dyslexia, Visual Processing, and Slow Processing. With my personal experience, I have been able to help others better understand and navigate Public School, IEPs, 504s, and various accommodations. I have also helped many families whose kids need to find Residential and Therapeutic Boarding school placements, either in conjunction with the school district or through their own private pay resources.

Mother of a Young Adult with Life Threatening Food Allergies

Having a child with life-threatening food allergies to peanuts and tree nuts is another kind of

challenge that never crossed my mind, nor the immense amount of struggles that can go along with it, including making sure your child is safe, even in a “nut-free” school. The plethora of information regarding medical treatments is astounding, and then, the rights of someone whose life depends on careful monitoring can be overwhelming. Through personal experience, I am able to help others who may be dealing with looking for solutions to food allergies, and also needing support in the classroom, through the school district, and especially on field trips or overnight trips, to keep their kids safe. It is your legal right to make sure your kids are safe. I have resources. I have information. I have first hand knowledge of being a mom who never expected to learn about this topic. I am here to listen, support, and help if you want it.

Mental Health Advocate

I have been working as a Mental Health Advocate for about 15 years. I am Certified in Mental Health First Aid for Teens through NAMI where I’ve learned the red flag signs of self-harm and suicidal ideation. I have also been involved with suicide prevention by gathering groups of families together with recovering teens who bravely and openly shared their stories in order to help others, along with experts in the field to provide guidance for all in attendance. I have helped parents seek out mental health supports at varying levels including helping families and kids find therapists to get support for early intervention of anxiety, panic attacks, depression, OCD, Compulsive Overeating, ARFID, and other mental health challenges. And, when the struggles are too great, I have helped families research and find the appropriate Residential Treatment Programs, Partial Hospitalization Programs, and Intensive Outpatient Programs that will be the right fit for their child and their family.

Certified Personality Type Evaluator for Youth

Finally, I am certified in the study of the Myers-Briggs' style Murphy-Meisgeier Type Indicator for Children (MMTIC), helping all youth to learn about their personality types to help bring awareness to both social and academic situations and ultimately, career paths. There are so many reasons why self-awareness is important in life, and the younger the better. For instance, once a kid understands that he/she/they are innately an introvert, they begin to recognize the way they their energy is drained after spending so much time out with friends, or at work or school. The exact opposite is true for extroverts. We need to be around people to gain our energy, and it’s drained whenever we spend time alone. This important information can help anyone understand themselves better, and ultimately is critical in career plans. If someone is an extrovert, and chooses an introverted career path, or vice versa, the plan will ultimately fail because even if the work is something they love, and that they are intellectually and instinctively good at, they will fail, or simply be miserable. Myers-Briggs teaches us the 16 personality types that explain a lot about who we are: Extrovert/Introvert; Intuitive/Sensor; Thinker/Feeler; and Judger/Perceiver. Once someone understands how this is a part of their personality and uses this knowledge to their advantage with career, socializing, and yes, even finding a spouse, it can be a huge eye-opening experience that brings an edge of awareness to everything they do.

Recognizing and Understanding My Own Neurodivergence

Through my family’s journey, I have discovered that 1) I am dyslexic, 2) I am a visual and kinesthetic learner (not an auditory one), 3) I have AuDHD – two diagnoses that when they come together are kind of like a train wreck. The Autistic part of me really likes things to be neat, organized, methodical, planned, and not at all spontaneous. The ADHD side of me is distracted so often that keeping my space neat and organized is a huge challenge, making plans and following through consistently is hard, and although I am not spontaneous, I do like life to be fun and exciting sometimes and want to “just do it,” whatever “it” is – usually against my better Autistic judgment, and often not turning out so great. Think: impulsive drive to do something wacky, which might be okay-ish when you’re a bit younger, but not now. Most importantly, all of this knowledge has helped me to realize that this is me! It’s all just pieces of who I am -- a complex neurodivergent human being who used to think I was just “weird” andnever fit in anywhere. Now, I don’t try to fit in. I’m just me, and that’s pretty fantastic.

The Fantastic Part – or Maybe Something Sort of Interesting….

In my spare time, I really enjoy spending time with my immediate and extended family and my beloved friends. I actively work on de-stressing by coloring, and exercising – going to Ballet, Zumba, Barre, Aqua Aerobics, and by sharing a snuggle with my delicious pup, Jesse, who brings smiles, joy, and sometimes calm to my life (when he’s not jumping on me or others!)