About Cantor Simkin
My cantorate is driven by my love of Jewish life and peoplehood. I am committed to collaborative partnership in crafting intentional experiences and building vibrant Jewish community. It is a privilege to utilize the rich framework our tradition provides to walk with you and your family through all of life’s stages.
I grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs where my synagogue community was a cornerstone of my upbringing. I spent my summers at URJ Camp Harlam where I ultimately decided after my first Shabbat there that I wanted to become a cantor. In order to pursue my dream, I transferred to the local Jewish Day School. I received my Bachelors of Music from Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA where I majored in Vocal Performance with a minor in Psychology.
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In 2015 I moved to Jerusalem in order to begin my Cantorial studies at Hebrew Union College- Institute of Religion in the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music. I was honored to receive the Tisch-Star Cantorial Fellowship which enabled me to study the integration of native Hawaiian mindfulness practices in the Jewish community of Honolulu in the summer of 2018. Throughout my training at HUC- JIR I was fortunate to serve wonderful Jewish communities in six different states. My Clinical Pastoral Education experience at Memorial Sloan Kettering inspired my 2020 cantorial thesis, Mourning into Dancing: Jewish Music at the Intersection of Joy and Sorrow.
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After my cantorial ordination, I served Temple Emanu-El of Edison, NJ as their Cantor and Youth Engagement Director before becoming their Spiritual Leader. I currently serve Temple Beth Tikvah of Wayne, NJ as their part-time Cantor as well as Temple B’nai Jeshurun of Short Hills, NJ as their Adjunct Cantor.
I live in Metuchen, NJ with my husband, Adam and our son, Tal. Together, we enjoy visiting nearby parks, walking into our area’s downtown, and sampling local bakery confections.