Cantor Emily Sleeper Mekler was the Cantor and Music Director of Sinai Temple in Springfield, Massachusetts for the last 29 years. During her tenure at Sinai Temple Cantor Mekler created, organized and conducted many musical programs for choirs and instrumentalists with both professional and lay musicians which greatly endeared her to Sinai Temple.
One such example of Cantor Mekler’s accomplishments was her initiation and implementation of the First-Ever Women’s Weekend at Sinai Temple in the spring of 2008. This event included the first Sinai Temple Women’s Seder; the introduction of the New Women’s Torah Commentary and a trip to Mayyim Hayyim (the pluralistic mikveh in Newton, MA). Another example was a 5-session Jewish Music Adult Education curriculum pilot program entitled “Hadassah presents: A Jewish Music Celebration for Seniors”. In July, Cantor Mekler (together with Cantor Elizabeth Berke) won the National Hadassah Hannah Goldberg Award for this innovative program.
Cantor Mekler received her Cantorial Certification through Hebrew Union College in New York City and has studied voice with various coaches, including the well-known opera star, Phyllis Curtin; Mme. Philine Falco at the Boston Conservatory of Music; the Berkshire Music Center at Tanglewood; and Dr. Peter Harvey at the Hartford Conservatory of Music. Cantor Mekler has performed extensively in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York and New Jersey. She is a native of the Springfield, Massachusetts area and has a daughter, Rebekah, and partner, Marc Cohen.
Cantor Mekler will provide Cantorial services for High Holidays, B’nai Mitzvahs beginning September 1st (both Friday night and Saturday morning), four holiday services, and several Friday night services during the year. Cantorial services for the remaining Friday nights will be provided by Rabbi Hager, Rebecca Chaimovitch, Jennifer McCann, and others on a rotating basis.
