Cantor
Michelle Freedman Joins GRJC
Glen Rock Jewish Center members
attended Friday night prayers “under the stars” on August 15, led
for the first time by Cantor Michelle Freedman. Services were
preceded by their annual backyard barbeque at the home of Rabbi
Neil Tow. Despite ominous skies and the imminent threat of
thunderstorms, more than 125 members and children attended the
festivities and services, which remained, for the most part, rain
free.
Cantor Freedman comes to Glen
Rock Jewish Center with an extensive and varied background, which
includes education and psychology, in addition to music.
“Becoming a cantor infused
everything I love,” said Freedman of her decision to pursue her
career nearly 15 years ago, “…singing, music, teaching, psychology
and, of course, Judaism.”
Cantor Freedman has always loved
teaching, and this will be the first time that all the different
age groups of the Center will have the opportunity to work with
their cantor. She will teach music to the entire Hebrew School,
as well as the pre-school; she will teach trope (chanting) to the
6th graders; and she will also take on full responsibility for
teaching a 7th grade class, who are preparing for their B’nai
Mitzvot.
“How great it will be to watch
the kids grow up,” she said of this opportunity.
Freedman will lead High Holiday
services, as well as other holiday services throughout the year.
She will also work with the choir, lead Junior Congregation and
preside over Shabbat services once a month.
Freedman received a Bachelor of
Music in Opera (her undergraduate degree) from the Hartt School of
Music and two masters degrees, in Vocal Performance and Vocal
Pedagogy, from the New England Conservatory. She went on to the
Jewish Theological Seminary, where she was invested as a Cantor
and received her masters in Sacred Music. She taught pre-school
in Boston and Orthodox pre-school classes at Hebrew College.
Freedman was the full-time cantor
for nine years at Temple Israel of Ridgewood before coming to Glen
Rock Jewish Center. She currently resides in Ridgewood with her
three-and-a-half year old twin girls.
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