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Announcing Cantor Alexandra S. Fox

Dear Fellow Congregants,

The Board of Trustees recently convened another search committee to find a clergy partner for Rabbi Rachel Sabath Beit-Halachmi, Ph. D., when she joins us on July 1st. With a permanent senior rabbi named and having shown the world that our congregation is serious about our future, our posting was a hit! The committee received an unprecedented number of applications and over the last several weeks conducted interviews, spoke with clergy and congregants from candidates’ prior congregations, as well as their seminaries, and reviewed countless audio, video and writing samples. 

Our goal was to find a cantor who could reinvigorate our b’nai mitzvah program, provide pastoral counseling, and increase engagement. This candidate must not simply provide the music, but also expand our musical program.

After our exhaustive search and on behalf of the Board of Trustees, we joyfully and proudly announce the selection of Cantor Alexandra S. Fox as Har Sinai - Oheb Shalom Congregation’s inaugural cantor!

In 2013, Cantor Fox earned a Bachelor of Science in Music History from Hofstra University in New York and served as a Chaplain Intern while undergoing her Clinical Pastoral Education course at Northwest Memorial Hospital in Chicago, earning the Compassionate Cantor Prize from the Reform Cantors of Chicago. Cantor Fox earned a Master of Sacred Music and Cantorial Ordination from the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion, Debbie Friedman School of Music. After graduating at the top of her class, she served for two years as the cantor at Peninsula Temple Sholom in Burlingame, California where she created a pop-up adult choir and a children’s choir.

Cantor Fox’s journey to the cantorate began when she was eight years old, inspired by her beloved childhood cantor. Originally from Michigan, Cantor Fox is a keyboardist, guitarist, and composer and is particularly excited to work with our many volunteer musicians. She is warm, engaging, experienced, and is looking forward to putting down roots in Baltimore.

We thank the members of the search committee for their incredible dedication, and we are grateful to Rabbi Rachel Sabath who, on her own personal time, was an active participant in the entire process and says, “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to have a clergy partner with the talent and experience of Cantor Fox. Because of her musical and many other professional skills, I believe that Cantor Fox will be a wonderful partner. Together with Cantor Fox, and the support and commitment of the HSOSC community, I look forward to leading us toward a bright and inspiring new era.”

Despite a few setbacks and even a global pandemic, our congregation has shown that with hard work, resilience and perseverance, our future is as bright as ever! 

Be sure to “save the date,” Friday July 2nd as Har Sinai - Oheb Shalom Congregation welcomes our new, settled clergy with a community Kabbalat Shabbat service!

 We join together:

.בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה, יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ, מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ וְקִיְּמָנוּ וְהִגִּיעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה

Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, shehecheyanu, v'kiy'manu, v'higiyanu laz'man hazeh.

Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this season.

B’Shalom!

Mina Wender and Ken Bell
Co-Presidents

Members of the Search Committee: Chairman Ed Wender, Rabbi Sabath Beith-Halachmi, PhD, Jessica Krasnick, Katie Applefeld, Micah Damareck, Lois Fekete, Laya Fridman, Michael Greenebaum, Abby Hoffman, Becky Kent, Barbara Schlaff, and Glenn Ulick.

Fri, March 29 2024 19 Adar II 5784