Cantor Inbal Sharett-Singer Named As Next Temple Israel Cantor

After a nationwide search, Temple Israel announced in an email Monday morning that Cantor Inbal Sharett-Singer would be arriving this summer to succeed the retiring Cantor Barry Abelson, becoming the second cantor in the synagogue’s 144-year history.

“All of us who met her were touched by her warmth, generosity of spirit, and her uplifting voice,” Rabbi Marcia Zimmerman said in the announcement email. Sharett-Singer currently serves as Cantor of Riverdale Temple in New York City. She and her husband Jonathan are parents to Amit, Noa, and Emmanuelle.

Sharett-Singer is a graduate of HUC-JIR’s Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music. Born and raised in Israel, she served in the IDF (Air Force) before moving to New York City in 2006. She graduated with honors from the Conservatory of Music at Brooklyn College. She has performed as a soloist throughout Israel, Europe, and the United States, performing the United Nations and New York’s Town Hall Theater. She also proudly served as a National Anthem Singer for the NYC Marine Corps.

Cantor Inbal Sharett-Singer singing Avinu Malkeinu by Max Janowski/Folk from Cantor Inbal Sharett-Singer on Vimeo.

Abelson announced in August that he would be retiring from Temple Israel after 35 years, when he became the first fully-trained cantor at Minneapolis’s first Jewish congregation. In that announcement, he said that he would continue to serve the Temple Israel community half time for two more years, doing pastoral care visits and other work.

“As the first cantor at Temple Israel, I look forward to welcoming another ordained colleague to continue Temple’s musical tradition as our new Cantor, leading the congregation in worship and life cycle events,” he wrote. “It has been my honor and pleasure to be with you through so many Shabbat services and holidays, through life cycles of grief and joy, through so many of life’s moments. It has been a blessing to be here with you.”