Cantor Florence Merel
Temple Sinai's Cantor since 1999.
Cantor Florence Merel has brought a spirit of music and participation to our congregation. Her responsibilities include leading worship, participating in life cycle events, teaching the B'nei Mitzvah and Confirmation students, conducting the Adult and Intergenerational Choirs, and visiting the sick. Prior to joining Temple Sinai, Cantor Merel was at Temple Emanu-El in Edison, NJ, for 13 years. In 2004, Cantor Merel recorded the CD, "Coming Home for Shabbat- Coming Home to Temple Sinai," which is a collection of traditional and contemporary Shabbat music.
Cantor Merel grew up in Hillside, NJ, and her love of Judaism and synagogue music was influenced by her involvement in Temple B'nai Abraham, formerly located in Newark. She attended Rutgers University and has a BA in Music and a Master's Degree in Elementary Education. She was certified as a cantor by Hebrew Union College and The American Conference of Cantors in 1998. For the past few years Cantor Merel has had a leadership role in the URJ's New Jersey - West Hudson Valley Council of Reform cantors. Cantor Merel was recently appointed to the URJ's Joint Commission on Worship, Music, and Religious Living.
Cantor Merel is married to Loren Hurwitz who has taught various grades in our religious school and currently teaches the Adult B'not Mitzvah class and Adult Hebrew classes. She has a daughter, Melissa, who is a senior at Dickinson College as well as two step children, Leora and Heath, and three grandchildren.
