Michele Gray-Schaffer, who is also addressed as Cantor Michal, stands at the Congregation B'nai Abraham synagogue Wednesday in Butler.

Butler County is filled with a variety of people doing interesting things. This weekly feature offers snapshots of some of them by asking them five questions. The latest installment appears below.

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Wednesday begins a season of High Holy Days for Jewish communities like the Congregation B'nai Abraham on North Main Street. The synagogue's other beginnings include a new spiritual leader, Michele Gray-Schaffer, also addressed as Cantor Michal. Cantors play a similar role as rabbis. However, their training includes more music studies.

Here, Gray-Schaffer shares more about herself, her faith and her goals in the community.

QUESTION: What are the High Holy Days?ANSWER: It starts out with Rosh Hashanah, which is the start of our calendar year. The 10 days following it — before Yom Kippur — are a time for reflection and thinking about the wrongs we have done to others and to God.We ask God for forgiveness, and also we're asked to approach people who we have wronged. ... At Yom Kippur, we fast for 24 hours and pray a lot. We're repentant and we ask for forgiveness and we ask to be included in the Book of Life for the coming year.

QUESTION: Do you observe other traditions during this time?ANSWER: During our services we play a shofar (a ram's horn). ... We have melodies which are only used at this time of year.

QUESTION: Where did you serve before arriving in Butler two weeks ago?ANSWER: This is my first pulpit. I've only been an invested cantor for two years. So, obviously, it's a second career for me. I used to be a theatrical costume designer. I have a bachelor's and a master's, and I used to work in Pittsburgh. I worked in different theaters, but for a long time at Pittsburgh Public Theatre. ... My investiture is from the School of Sacred Music, Hebrew Union College in New York City.

QUESTION: What are your goals for the congregation?ANSWER: We're looking to really become a part of the community again. We're here. We're part of the community. We're part of Butler. ... We will be reaching out and inviting other congregations to some of our special services.

QUESTION: What other interesting facts can you share?ANSWER: I am a Jew by choice (instead of by birth). And something I consider incredibly beautiful: (The) Midrash: The stories we tell to help us understand the Bible better. (They say) that all the Jewish souls that were — and were to be — were at Sinai when the Torah was given. And that includes converts.