RESUME
Professional
info
Cantor Jacob Greenberg prides himself on his versatility as a clergy member and his array of skills. He currently serves as Cantor-Youth Director of Congregation B’nai Israel in Toms River, NJ.
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Cantor Greenberg leads Shabbat and Holiday services; serves as primary Torah reader, Ritual Director, and Minyan Coordinator; and officiates at life cycle events and provides pastoral care.
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He enjoys sharing his original liturgical melodies, which have become a part of his congregation's standard repertoire.
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He has taught adult education classes on Jewish music, liturgy, Halakha, and Hebrew decoding; he coordinates the Hebrew High School program as its lead teacher; and he tutors all B'nai Mitzvah students at his congregation.
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Cantor Greenberg advises both the USY and Kadima chapters and oversees the teen board.
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Cantor Greenberg loves to concertize in many different styles: Liturgical and non-Liturgical Jewish music, Israeli, Yiddish, Broadway, Folk, Opera, and Jazz. He sings repertoire in eight different languages: Hebrew, Yiddish, Ladino, English, Spanish, Italian, German, and French.
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He loves to teach, preach, and learn Torah from all angles; he teaches text-studies, delivers sermons and Divrei Torah.
Musical Skills
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Spiritual Prayer-Leader
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Song Leader
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Composer
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Ensemble Director
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Music Educator
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Concert Performer
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Prayer and Cantillation Teacher
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Parody Writer
Organizational Skills
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Team Building
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Event Planning
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Interfaith Relations
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Budgeting
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Public Relations
Work
experience
Cantor | Congregation Beth Israel
Scotch Plains, NJ | 2023 - Present
Cantor & Youth Director | Congregation B'nai Israel
Toms River, NJ | 2020 - 2023
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Serving as Sh’liach Tzibbur, Ritual Director, primary Torah reader, and Minyan Coordinator.
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Officiating life cycle events and providing pastoral care.
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Coordinating the B’nai Mitzvah program and Hebrew High School (lead teacher), teaching adult education classes and religious school tefillah and shirah.
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Advising both the USY and Kadima chapters.
Interim Cantor | Congregation B'nai Israel
Toms River, NJ | 2019 - 2020
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Leading Shabbat services and reading Torah three weekends a month. Also serving as Sh'liach Tzibbur for festivals and other holidays.
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Tutoring B'nei Mitzvah and teaching music in the religious school.
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Delivering sermons and coordinating services when Rabbi is absent.
President & Concert Chair | Cantorial Student Assoc. (JTS)
New York, NY | 2019
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Led monthly student body meetings. Served as a liaison to staff, faculty, and other student organizations.
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Organized the annual “Tzedakah Concert.” Responsibilities included coordinating with multiple school departments; communicating with the honoree, a piano accompanist, and performers; managing a concert budget; and overseeing a team of student volunteers.
Summer Student Rabbi | Congregation B'nai Tikvah
North Brunswick, NJ | Summer 2019
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Delivered the sermon during Friday night and Saturday morning services.
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Coordinated Shabbat services and provided commentary. Led services as Cantor and read Torah.
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Led and coordinated Sunday morning services.
Summer Fellow | Nishma (JTS)
New York, NY | Summer 2019
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Ritual Director for twice-daily services.
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Taught a weekly Torah reading class. Tutored students in davnen.
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Studied Talmud and Halacha in the Yeshiva program.
Hazzan-in-Residence | Congregation Etz Hayim
Arlington, VA | 2018-2019
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Led High Holidays as Hazzan Rishon in main sanctuary (2018 & 2019).
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Served as Hazzan one Shabbat a month.
Cantorial Intern | Congregation Beth El
Bethesda, MD | 2018-2019
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Led services and read Torah.
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Assisted with musical programs.
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Taught music and led song sessions in the religious school.
Clergy Intern | Rutgers Hillel
New Brunswick, NJ | 2018-2019
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Advised student leaders on event planning and organizational decisions.
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Met with students for learning (e.g. Talmud, Halacha, T'fillah) and in pastoral and engagement capacities.
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Organized Jewish learning programs.
Chaplaincy Intern | Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
Baltimore, MD | Summer 2018
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Completed a summer intensive unit (400 hours) in the CPE program.
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Performed hospital visits for patients, family members, and care givers of all backgrounds.
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Led religious services of all varieties.
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Participated in classroom learning and prepared case studies.
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Charted chaplain interactions as part of official medical records.
Admissions Intern | Office of Admissions (JTS)
New York, NY | 2016-2017
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Coordinated prospective student visits and interview/audition dates, and cold called interested students.
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Assisted with marketing and recruitment materials.
Programming Coordinator | Camps Airy & Louise
Thurmont, MD | Summer 2016
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Planned and coordinated camp's programming including camp-wide events, on-site and off-site programs, and other miscellaneous events.
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Past positions include Counselor-In-Training Program Coordinator (2015), Religious Services Leader (2013-14), and Unit Leader (2014).
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Presented with the “Ida M. Lewis Memorial Counselor of the Year Award” (2013).
Further Clergy Skills
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Public Speaking
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Teacher of Torah
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Pastoral Care
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Active Listener
Education
The Jewish Theological Seminary
New York, NY | 2016 - 2020
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Earned a Master of Sacred Music and Cantorial Ordination from the H.L. Miller Cantorial School.
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Organizations: Cantorial Student Association (President), JTS Student Ambassador, Nishma, and Admissions.
The Hartt School of Music, University of Hartford
West Hartford, CT | 2012 - 2016
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Bachelor of Music, magna cum laude: Vocal Performance with a Pre-Cantorial Emphasis.
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Studied Hazzanut with Cantor Sanford Cohn (The Emanuel Synagogue, West Hartford, CT).
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Studied voice with Claude Corbeil.
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Organizations: Residential Life (RA), Hillel Executive Board, Relay for Life (Team Captain), Student Government Association (Ethics Committee Chairman), Hartt Opera Theater, Alpha Epsilon Pi (President), and Interfraternity Council Executive Board (Vice President: Communications/Public Relations).