“When I was in ninth grade, we got a new cantor–a woman,” Cantor Camhi relates. “Before her, I never knew that a woman could be a cantor. She mentored me and inspired me to become a cantor. It was a way to join my two passions–music and Judaism–and have a fulfilling career. So at the age of 14, I found my path and started my journey to becoming a cantor.”

And Cantor Camhi’s journey has led her finally to Temple Shalom, where the congregation has taken her in with much anticipation and excitement. Cantor Camhi started her duties in July, leading services with Rabbi Malinger and teaching B’Nai Mitzvah students and says she already feels very welcome at TempleShalom.

“My first impression of Temple Shalom is how warm and welcoming everyone has been–it really is like a close family here,” she said.

“The thing I’m looking forward to most about being the cantor at Temple Shalom is becoming part of the fabric of what makes Temple Shalom Temple Shalom. I look forward to singing with the congregation and learning together.”

At Temple Shalom, the cantor is the keeper of the Jewish musical traditions and is responsible for transmitting this knowledge and history to the congregation through leading worship services with Rabbi Malinger, participating in life cycle events, teaching in the religious school and working with both the Junior and Senior Choirs. Cantor Camhi will also responsible for maintaining the Bar and Bat Mitzvah program, where students learn to read and chant liturgy, Torah and Haftarah portions.

Cantor Camhi will work personally with each student, ensuring the strong relationship between the students and their cantor.

“It has been said that, ‘To sing is to have prayed twice.’ It is my hope, as your cantor, to raise our collective voice in prayer through song. Music is the lifeblood of prayer–it is connected to memories, life cycle events and holidays. Music we heard as children in the synagogue and in the home stay with us throughout our lives and when we hear that particular prayer melody, it is as if we have come home.

“Synagogue music today is about combining those familiar melodies with more new and contemporary ones–it is about finding that balance between the traditional and the new.”