Cantor Josh Finkel

Core values include sincerity and integrity, warmth and dedication,

and embracing both tradition and innovation as we strive towards pluralism and community in all that we do.

מַה טֹּבוּ אֹהָלֶיךָ, יַעֲקֹב; מִשְׁכְּנֹתֶיךָ, יִשְׂרָאֵל.

How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob; your dwellingplaces , O Israel!

Professional Profile

• Joyful and creative Cantor with passion, training and expertise to help create vibrant and meaningful services and programming.

• Dedicated and charismatic teacher of all ages, with over a decade of teaching experience.

• Deeply committed to pastoral care and social justice.

• Successful creator and administrator of original curricula, and special services, concerts, fundraisers, interfaith services, Adult Education courses and lecture series, choral events and Purim Extravaganza.

Congregational Experience

•Congregation Beth Haverim Shir Shalom, Mahwah, NJ

• Shir Hadash Reconstructionist Community, Saint Louis, MO

• Temple Emanuel, Saint Louis, MO

• Central Reform Congregation, Saint Louis, MO

• Shomer Emunim, Toledo, OH

• Temple Emanu-El of West Essex, Livingston,NJ

• Hebrew Tabernacle Congregation of Washington Heights, New York, NY

• Reform Congregation Oheb Shalom,Reading, PA

• Ohel Avraham Synagogue, Haifa,Israel

Education

Ordination as Cantor and Masters in Sacred Music, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion

Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts, Bard College. Double-major in Theater and Film and Electronic Arts

Mental Health First Aid Certification, USA Mental Health First Aid

Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) Certification, i-To-i TEFL certification program

Other Leadership Experience and Awards

• ADL Regional Advisory Committee, Board Member

• Heartland for Humanity, Clergy and Musical Leader

• Camp Ramot Amoona, Saint Louis, MO, Songleader and Director of Music Programming, 2019

• Camp Ben Frankel, Belleville, IL, Judaics Director, 2018

• “Voices in Harmony”, Contributing Cantor and Choral Director for Interfaith MLK, Holocaust Remembrance and Thanksgiving Servicesin the Greater Essex area of New Jersey, 2014-2016

• Named to the Jewish Daily Forward’s “Soundtrack of Our Spirit: 21 Jewish Voices That Move Us” for composition titled “Jerusalem”, 2015

• NAACP Delegate to Washington D.C. with America’s Journey For Justice Marched with movement, went door to door to speak to senators and congresspeople about inclusive initiatives in Washington,2015

• Henry S. JacobsCamp, UticaMS, Director of Digital Media Department, 2010

• Recipient of the Josef Freudentahl Memorial Prize for Composition

• World Zionist Organization and Jewish Agency for Israel, Youth Delegate for ARZA and WZO and JAFI Congresses, Jerusalem, 2009

• Camp Sabra, Rocky Mount, MO, Senior Staff Member, Director and Editor of Promotional Video, 2008

Selected Teaching Experience

• B’nai Mitzvah Program administration and instruction across multiple institutions; over 1000 hours experience

• Shir Hadash Mini Minyan, Saint Louis, MO, 2017-2020

• Rhythm’n’Ruach music for young families, Saint Louis, MO, 2017-2020

• SMP: Songleader Mentorship Program, Livingston, NJ, 2014-2016

•Yiddish Music Seminar, Temple Emanu-El of West Essex, 2016

• Adult Education Course: Visions of Jerusalem through Song, Temple Emanu- El of West Essex, 2015

• Visiting Lecturer and Concertmaster at various university and Hillel-sponsored events.

Cantor Joshua Finkel and his wife, Emily Barth, have two children, Sophia and Jakob. Emily is a professor of early modern literature and culture and in addition to her academic work, her writing has appeared in Lilith magazine, the Cafe Review, and various other literary magazines. She is the co-advisor of her college's student Hillel group and loves being involved at synagogue, too. Sophie and Jakob believe that every synagogue they enter is an extension of their home and love to sing, do science experiments, and play with their cats, and can't wait for camp to start. In his spare time Cantor Josh hikes and cooks, and these days, Jakob and Sophie beat him at video games.