To begin I must say that I am incredibly blessed with an amazing husband and two wonderful and brilliant children who make me proud every day!
My Jewish journey began when I converted to Judaism in 1988 and continues until this day. My second year as a Jew my husband, son, and I joined Temple Emanu-El, of Oak Park MI. We were members for 30+ year and I had the pleasure of serving as their Cantorial Soloist from 2012 until 2023 when we moved to Vero Beach FL where I now serve as the Cantor of Temple Beth Shalom of Vero Beach.
I have had the pleasure of serving as the Communication and Publicity VP and now Member on the Board for the Guild of Temple Musicians (GTM), this is an organization that supports Jewish musicians around the world. I also served on The Michigan Board of Cantors (MBC) as their secretary. This is a group of Michigan Conservative and Reform Cantors and Soloists that come together monthly to talk about what is happing in each of our communities and worldwide regarding the Cantorate.
Today, it is my pleasure to be a part of the Treasure Coast Interfaith Community. This is a community of clergy and lay people who come together to discuss community building and support for all faiths of the Treasure Coast. I am also a member of the Treasure Coast Clergy Association and Treasure Coast Jewish Film Festival which is committed to bringing Jewish education and entertainment through film. Addressing antisemitism is a priority. Here in Vero we are blessed with such a strong community that supports the Jewish Community, but antisemitism has a long reach this is why myself and my congregation are involved in a statewide messaging campaign “Spread Sunshine Not Hate” run by the Vero BEach Kind group. We go to places where there maybe conflict and by being there and wearing our message on t-shirts and hats we help to keep the conflict to a minimum.
I have earned a BA in Music and Judaic Studies Minor from Oakland University where I also established a student organization for the music school and created a grant in honor of Jazz Professor and Professional Danny Jordan z”l, as well as helped to promote and establish the Judaic Studies Minor Program as Student Liaison. I earned a Masters in Judaic Studies from the University of Michigan, of which I was awarded the Simeon Brinberg Outstanding Masters Student Award. I earned a Certificate in Hebrew Studies from Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and was ordained as a Cantor and a Rabbi at The Academy for Jewish Religion (AJR). While at AJR I served as Cantorial Liason, VP, and Presidant of the Student Association and was awarded a Fellowship to study with the Shalom Hartman Institute. I have studied under some amazing Cantors and Rabbis, Cantor Norman Rose z”l, Cantor Sol Zim, Cantor Lisa Klinger-Kantor, Cantor Michael Kasper, Rabbi Joseph Klein, Rabbi Arturo Kalfus, Rabbi Stephen Fuchs, Rabbi Jeffrey Segelman and many more. I have also studied under opera professionals Candice DeLattre and Nadine Washington, jazz professionals Danny Jordan z”l, Tad Weed z”l, Sean Dobbins, Dr. Miles Brown, Carl Cafagnia, and Scott Gwinell, and Conductors Michael Mitchell and Bradley Bloom.
I have performed in shows such as “Fiddler on the Roof”, “Secret Garden”, “Cheaper by the Dozen” and have performed both solo and in concert at Bakers Key Board Lounge, Cliff Bells, and The Berman Center.
I have had an incredible journey thus far and I am looking forward to the future and what it has to offer.