Dear Talmud Torah Families and Friends,
We are very excited to announce our new Head of School, Hazzan Jeremy Lipton.
Hazzan Lipton will join Talmud Torah on July 1, after serving as the Cantor of Congregation Agudas Achim in San Antonio for 10 years and the Senior Cantor of Temple Beth Am in Los Angeles for 17 years.
He brings to Talmud Torah many years of expertise, enthusiasm and experience as an educator, administrator, and congregational leader.
Through his decades of service as a cantor and pulpit leader, Hazzan Lipton understands and is well-versed in the needs and demands of students and families seeking engaging, meaningful Jewish educational experiences. At his San Antonio congregation, he created and implemented educational curriculum for the synagogue’s religious school, including the facilitation of weekly musical services, communal singing, and classroom instruction. He was also the architect and administrator of the synagogue’s revamped B’nai Mitzvah program that trained an average of 25 students annually.
In addition to his pulpit roles, Hazzan Lipton has served as an Adjunct Professor and Lecturer in Liturgy and Nusach at the Jewish Theological Seminary, the Academy for Jewish Religion, and the American Jewish University’s Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies. He is an active member of the Cantors Assembly, where he has held numerous national leadership roles including Chair of Placement and Human Resources and Chair of the Education Committee. He is also a lifelong learner.
He received his Master of Music Degree from California State University and his Hazzan-Minister Commission from the Cantors Assembly at the Jewish Theological Seminary, and he is currently a candidate for a Master’s Degree in Jewish Studies and Rabbinic Ordination from the Academy for Jewish Religion.
Hazzan Lipton’s multi-faceted background includes producing, directing, and performing at a wide array of concerts and musical events across the country. He and his wife Kay, an accomplished musicologist, are the proud parents of two adult sons.
Hazzan Lipton came to our attention through the leadership of Hazzan Joanna Dulkin of Adath. We were searching for a leader who demonstrated passion for Jewish education and alignment with our mission to provide a foundation and lifelong tools for living an intentionally Jewish life. We sought a professional who demonstrated effective communication skills, innovative and flexible thinking, and the ability to evaluate, manage and adapt to change. We found Hazzan Lipton to exhibit strengths in all of these areas. He visited our community in late May and was enthusiastically received by our teachers, board members, and clergy. In our extensive interview process, he proved to be insightful, articulate, and passionate about Jewish education. Given his background, he will be instrumental in furthering our efforts to coordinate our curriculum with the needs of our two congregations.
Debby Litman will be working with Hazzan Lipton on the leadership transition. We thank Debby for her commitment and dedication to our school. She made a tremendous impact over her 12-year tenure on Talmud Torah’s staff, most notably in her care and concern for our students. As Interim Executive Director for the past two years, Debby was instrumental in many curriculum enhancements and provided outstanding leadership during the move to our shared space with HMJDS.
As we transition to new leadership, we are confident that the future of Talmud Torah is strong and in excellent hands. Please join us in welcoming Hazzan Lipton to our school and our community.
