Elena Schwartz, a cantor-educator at Temple Sinai of Roslyn Heights, has joined the its clergy in light of the “evolving needs of the growing temple,” Sinai officials announced Monday.
Entering her third year as leader of the temple’s religious education program, Schwartz is overseeing several new or expanding initiatives, including new Judaic and Hebrew language classes, a seventh-grade curriculum that temple officials called “very hands-on” and its special-needs program.
Schwartz, of East Hills, who is married to fellow Temple Sinai cantor and clergyman Sergei Schwartz, was installed to the now six-member clergy in June.
Sinai officials also said the temple is expanding its book discussions, meet-up events and “Early Bird Wednesdays,” a study hall and enrichment program for students that takes place prior to religious education classes, are also expanding this fall.
Schwartz was born in Ukraine and grew up during the former Soviet Union, later earning a bachelor’s degree in music and education from the Rubin Academy of Music & Dance in Jerusalem and a masters degree in Jewish education from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 2002.
She then received cantorial training and earned her second masters degree from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion’s Debbie Freeman School of Sacred Music and was invested as a cantor in 2006.
