Officers and Staff

DAVID LIPP

President
(502)458-5359
dlipp@adathjeshurun.com

David A. Lipp came to Congregation Adath Jeshurun as Hazzan in 1994. He has established a reputation as an inspiring leader of worship and transmitter of Jewish muscial tradition, ancient to contemporary.

He currently leads worship services, prepares youth for bar and bat mitzvah, teaches synagogue skills to children and adults, co-officiates at all life-cycle events, does pastoral work and directs the Adath Jeshurun Adult Choir. Cantor also teaches Melton and other adult education classes, sings in concerts and frequently represents the Jewish community at interfaith events. He was the featured soloist for one of Louisville's finest volunteer choruses, Voces Novae, on their first CD, Soul of the Synagogue.

Hazzan Lipp was born in Madison, Wisconsin, and grew up in Jerusalem, Haifa and Minneapolis. Before embarking on his current career, Cantor Lipp was an actor performing in local and regional theatre in the Midwest. He graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from the University of Minnesota and earned a Masters of Sacred Music degree from the Cantors Institute of the Jewish Theological Seminary.

He is married to Rabbi Laura Metzger, and they are the parents of a daughter.

LUIS CATTAN

Senior Vice President
(203)454-4673
lcattan@hotmail.com

Uruguayan born Hazzan Luis Cattan is the Cantor at The Conservative Synagogue in Westport, CT. Previously he served as a Cantor and Education Director at Beth Torah Benny Rok Campus in North Miami Beach. He also has served at the Cuban Hebrew Congregation as Cantor and Executive Director. Cantor Cattan has recorded two CDs and performed in Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Guatemala, Israel, Panama, Colombia, Puerto Rico and the United States.

He was the Cantor of the NCI (New Israelite Congregation), the main Conservative Congregation in Montevideo where he served for over 15 years not only as Cantor but also as youth Director and Religious School Director. He co-founded the Masorti Uruguay. Such involvement led later to his election as one of the five International Vice Presidents of Masorti Olami (the Zionist branch of the Conservative Movement). Cantor Cattan received Judaic studies in Uruguay (Nativ), in Israel (Machon L’madrichei Chul), and at the Latin American Rabbinical Seminar “Marshal T. Mayer” of Buenos Aires. He is a CICA graduate of the Cantors Assembly who studied Voice and Music Theory at the Falleri- Balzo conservatory in Montevideo Uruguay and the National Lyric Art School in the same town. He has also earned a Certification in Family Education issued by the Education Department of the Cantors Assembly.

He has also a Degree in Advertising and Marketing from the Catholic University of Montevideo, where he became the first Jewish student to be appointed as a delegate. He has a decade of experience in the advertising corporate world.
In Latin America he was also the Executive Director of the World Zionist Organization’s Zionist Activities Department. There, he developed multiple cultural and artistic programs that reinforced the tie between Israel and Latin American communities.

JOANNA DULKIN

Vice President of Administration
(609)921-0100
hazzanj@gmail.com

Hazzan Joanna Dulkin received her masters of Sacred Music and Investiture from the Jewish Theological Seminary in 2004 and completed the Institute for Jewish Spirituality's Cantorial Leadership Program in 2007. She is an honors graduate of Stanford University where she studied English, sang a cappella, and led community High Holiday Services. Her background as a songleader, musician and educator led her to the cantorate. She is also a published writer and an award-winning composer.

As the Hazzan of the Jewish Center of Princeton, New Jersey, Hazzan Dulkin is committed to innovative musical and spiritual leadership that inspires Jewish living and engagement at all ages and stages. She was the founding music director of Camp Ramah Darom, served on the faculty of Songleader Boot Camp, and has served internationally as Cantor-, Musician- and Scholar-in residence. In addition to her work with the Cantors Assembly, Hazzan Dulkin also serves on the Rabbinical Assembly's Siddur Lev Shalem committee.

Hazzan Dulkin and her husband, Rabbi Dr. Ryan Dulkin, are the proud parents of Zac and Jesse.

AZI SCHWARTZ

Vice President at Large
(212)369-2600
aschwartz@pasyn.org

Cantor Azi Schwartz is the Senior Cantor of Park Avenue Synagogue, the largest Conservative community in NYC and the flagship of Jewish liturgical music in North America. Worship services and programs led by Cantor Schwartz at Park Avenue Synagogue reach thousands of people in NYC as well as worldwide, via live streaming. As PAS Music Center's Director, Cantor Schwartz creates, commissions, records and publishes new liturgical music.

Cantor Schwartz performs in concerts and interfaith missions around the world. During Pope Francis' visit to New York in October 2015, he represented the Jewish people at the multi-religious service at the National September 11 Memorial & Museum, where he chanted the memorial prayer and a prayer for peace.

Cantor Schwartz serves on the faculty of the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music at HUC-JIR in New York City, of the faculty of H.L. Miller Cantorial School at the Jewish Theological Seminary, and on the faculty of the cantorial school of Abraham Geiger College in Berlin.

Born and raised in Israel, Cantor Schwartz earned a master in music (M.Mus) from the Mannes School of Music in New York City, where he majored in voice and conducting. He is a graduate of the Tel Aviv Cantorial Institute and also studied classical music at The Jerusalem Rubin Academy of Music and Dance. Prior to embarking on his professional musical career, Azi graduated from the Har Etzion Hesder Yeshiva and completed his military service as a soloist in the Israeli Defense Forces Rabbinical Troupe.

Azi is married to Dr. Noa Schwartz, and they have three children.

MATT AXELROD

Treasurer
(908)889-1830
mgaxelrod@verizon.net

Hazzan Matt Axelrod was born and raised in the Boston area. He is a graduate of Brandeis University and received his Masters of Sacred Music and Investiture from the Jewish Theological Seminary in 1993. While studying at JTS, he came to Congregation Beth Israel in Scotch Plains, NJ as the latest in a series of student cantors. Upon graduating from the Seminary, Hazzan Axelrod remained at Congregation Beth Israel and became their first full-time cantor. He has proudly served in that community ever since.

Active in both the Jewish and interfaith communities, Hazzan Axelrod is a past president of the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Ministerium, comprising clergy of various faith communities as well as leaders of local civic organizations. Additionally, Hazzan Axelrod has served on the United Synagogue Commission on Jewish Education and is a past president of the Cantors Assembly New Jersey Region. He sings with the New Jersey Cantors Concert Ensemble, which performs throughout the state and helps to raise scholarship funds for cantorial students.

Hazzan Axelrod has been a regular columnist and contributor to the online Bar & Bat Mitzvah Guide, and is the author of Surviving Your Bar/Bat Mitzvah: The Ultimate Insider’s Guide, and Your Guide to the Jewish Holidays: From Shofar to Seder. He has been a frequent presenter at synagogues, Jewish community centers, and conferences to speak to groups of parents and teens about the process of preparing for their b’nei mitzvah and how to successfully navigate that period.

Hazzan Axelrod is also an avid aviation enthusiast and is a licensed pilot and flight instructor. When not flying over New Jersey in his Piper Cherokee, he is likely out running and training for his next marathon. He is married to Dr. Tali Axelrod, superintendent of schools in Alpine, NJ, and they are the proud parents of two college-aged sons, Judah and Josh.

ELISHEVA DIENSTFREY

Secretary
(703)998-6460
HazzanERLD@hotmail.com

Originally from Albuquerque, NM, Hazzan Elisheva Dienstfrey did not really grow up with the Cantorial musical tradition ringing in her ears. She did, however, participate in Jewish musical activities from the time she joined the synagogue children’s choir at age 7. Since then, Hazzan Dienstfrey has toured Europe with the U.S. National Chorus, obtained a dual degree in Music and Religious Studies from Occidental College, studied at Hebrew University and the Pardes Institute in Jerusalem, worked as Cantor of the Society for the Advancement of Judaism in New York City, and graduated from the H. L. Miller Cantorial School of the Jewish Theological Seminary.

Hazzan Dienstfrey has served as Hazzan of Agudas Achim Congregation in Alexandria, VA since July of 2000. In addition to her usual cantorial duties at Agudas Achim and her work as an officer of the Cantors Assembly, Hazzan Dienstfrey is an enthusiastic member of the Agudas Achim house band, Ein Lanu Z’man.

The only job she enjoys more than her work as a Hazzan is that of partner to her wonderful husband, Tobias, and mother to her beautiful children: Margalit, Akiva, Dassi, and Lev.

ALISA POMERANTZ-BORO

Immediate Past President
(856)675-1166 x138
HazzanAPB@bethelsnj.org

Hazzan Alisa Pomerantz-Boro grew up on Mercer Island, Washington, in a rabbinic home, instilled with a love of Judaism and music. From an early age, she knew she would continue the long family line of rabbis, cantors and educators. Hazzan Pomerantz-Boro was invested as a Hazzan and earned her degree in Sacred Jewish Music from the Cantors Institute of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, where she was awarded the Jacobson Memorial Prize in Hazzanut. She also holds a B.A. in Near Eastern Studies and Music from the University of Washington.

Hazzan Pomerantz-Boro is delighted to be serving as the Cantor of the magnificent Congregation Beth El in Voorhees, NJ since 2004. While in Cantorial school, she held the position of Assistant Cantor at New York’s prestigious Park Avenue Synagogue. Following her investiture, she was the Hazzan at Tifereth Israel Synagogue in San Diego, CA for 13 years. In May 1991, Hazzan Pomerantz-Boro was among the first 14 women to be inducted into the Cantors Assembly.

Hazzan Pomerantz-Boro is thankful to Gd for the gifts of music and miracles, to her beloved husband Stephen, and to their beautiful children, Rebecca and Joshua. She hopes and prays that by lifting our voices together, we will continue to build a better world.

STEPHEN J. STEIN

Executive Vice President
(330)864-8533
stephenstein@cantors.org

Stephen J. Stein has been the Executive Vice President of the Cantors Assembly since 1998. Founded in 1947, he is only the third person in the organization’s history to serve at its helm. During his tenure, he has devoted much attention to enhancing an appreciation for the unique contributions of cantors to the Jewish world and beyond, as well as to the evolving multi-faceted roles of the contemporary cantor. He has focused, as well, on building bridges with other Jewish communal institutions, notably within the Conservative movement. Hazzan Stein stepped away from serving as a congregational cantor in the summer of 2015 to devote his undivided focus to the CA. Four of his former students have followed in his footsteps and are now members of the CA; three of them are graduates of the cantorial school at the Jewish Theological Seminary. He is a graduate of both Duquesne University and JTS. Hazzan Stein’s additional accomplishments include the creation of recordings of Jewish music for Public Radio, featuring the music department of Kent State University, which have aired throughout the United States.

JEREMY LIPTON

Director of Placement & Human Resources
(330)864-8533 ext. 204
jeremylipton@cantors.org

Hazzan Jeremy Lipton has been an extremely active member of the Cantors Assembly since 1989 and has held numerous leadership positions on both regional and national levels, including as Member of the Executive Council, Treasurer, Vice President Administration, Chair of the Long-Range Planning Committee, Chair of the Education Committee, and Co-Chair of the Cantors Assembly Western Region. As the Coordinator and founding Faculty member (1991-2008) of the highly successful Baal Tefillah Institute (a joint project of the Cantors Assembly and American Jewish University), Hazzan Lipton has trained hundreds of lay and professional leaders in cantillation and nusach hat'fillah for the entire liturgical year. He has also held academic posts as Professor of Liturgical Studies at the Cantorial School of the Academy for Jewish Religion, California, as well as Adjunct Lecturer in Nusach and Liturgy at the American Jewish University's Ziegler School off Rabbinic Studies.

Hazzan Lipton holds both Bachelor's and Master's of Music Degrees in Music/Vocal Performance from California State University. His multi-faceted background encompasses an array of teaching experiences, including those in a number of colleges and universities throughout the southern California areas, where he has also taught voice, Choral Conducting and Opera. As a performer, he has concertized frequently and has appeared in numerous Cantorial concerts, opera, oratorio, recital, recordings, radio, television and film. Hazzan Lipton and his wife, Kay, a noted Musicologist, are the proud parents of two sons, Jonathan and Adam.

BRUCE BRAUN

Membership Chair
(330) 864-8533 ext. 202
brucebraun@cantors.org

Hazzan Bruce Braun is a graduate of The University of Akron, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting. He studied Hazzanut with Hazzan Moshe Taubè.

Hazzan Braun has served Shaaray Torah Synagogue in Canton, Ohio, for over 40 years and has been the Spiritual Leader of the congregation since 2000. Hazzan Braun and his wife, Dianne, an attorney, are the proud parents of Allison, who is an RN, and Daniel, who is a student at Kent State University.

A member of the Cantors Assembly since 1985, Hazzan Braun joined the CA staff in February, 2014, as Membership Chair.