Cantor Janet Leuchter has been cantor of Congregation Beth Elohim since July 2001. She previously served as cantor of Temple Avodah, Oceanside, NY, and was invested by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 1999.

A native of Vineland, New Jersey, she has lived in NYC for many years. She is known for her involvement as a performer and teacher of Yiddish songs. Active in the early years of the klezmer revival, she was the vocalist with the pioneering women's band Klez-meydlekh and has taught at the Yiddish Folk Arts Program ("Klez-Kamp") and other national festivals. A classically trained mezzo-soprano, she has sung in concert, oratorio and opera in the metropolitan area. She has performed with trail-blazing playwright/directors Maria Irene Fornes and Elizabeth Swados, and composed the music for Fornes' Obie-award-winner Eyes on the Harem.

She can be heard on Zumerteg-a CD of Yiddish songs by songwriter Bella Gottesman--as well as on the soundtracks of several acclaimed documentaries, including Partisans of Vilna. She is also the featured cantor on the CD Dancing with the Dead-the Music of Global Death Rites, on Ellipsis Arts. You can also hear her here , chanting the Torah blessings.

Rose Moskowitz was born in Cuba and came to Brooklyn as a young child. She is a graduate of Brooklyn College and received her Master of Music degree in piano performance from the Manhattan School of Music. Postgraduate studies include organ, voice, and viola, accompanying courses at The Juilliard School, and foreign language study at Columbia University and New York University.

A longtime Park Slope resident, Rose taught piano and music theory for many years at the Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, and has given many performances as soloist, chamber musician, and vocal and instrumental accompanist. Prior to becoming Music Director at Congregation Beth Elohim, where she accompanies Cantor Janet Leuchter and directs the Beth Elohim Choir, Rose was organist and choir director at Borough Park Progressive Synagogue and Beth Shalom People’s Temple.

She currently directs the Park Slope Senior Center Chorus, and co-directs, with Jeff Warchauer, the New York City Workmen’s Circle Chorus. When she not at Garfield Temple, Rose can be found playing the viola with the Impromptu String Quartet. An avid student of languages, she will gladly converse with you in her native Spanish and Yiddish, and would be thrilled to practice her French, Italian, German and Chinese.

The CBE Choir enhances our Shabbat and holiday services and special occasions throughout the year. New members are always welcome. The choir is made up of adults who love to sing and whose own spiritual connection with Judaism has been deepened through their participation. It is led by CBE Music Director Rose Moskowitz, a well-known Park Slope pianist, conductor and teacher. The ability to read music is not required.

The choir meets every Sunday morning, 9:45 am-12:00 pm, in the sanctuary. It sings every third Friday of the month at the 8:15 pm Shabbat-evening service, as well as on the second day of Rosh Hashanah and S'lichot. This spring it will also take part in our Yom Hashoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day) commemoration, and in our "Klezmer Shabbat" in May. The choir has also sung in an annual city-wide Jewish choral festival and at Methodist Hospital.

Founded in 1997 by Ms. Moskowitz, the choir possesses a wide and growing repertoire of outstanding Jewish choral music from early Baroque to contemporary, as well as classical selections on Jewish themes. Its members enjoy performing as well as stimulating congregational singing in services. For more information, please call Music Director Rose Moskowitz, 718-788-5226.

The Junior Choir is an enthusiastic group of 3^rd-6^th graders, led by Cantor Leuchter, who bring us joy in various venues throughout the year. Once a month, the choir helps lead Shabbat-evening family services at 6:45 p.m. The choir also performs on holidays and other special occasions, such as Purim, and takes part in a city-wide annual Jewish choral festival.

The Junior Choir rehearses every Sunday, 12:30-1:45 p.m., following religious school. Pizza lunch is served first. New members are always welcome. Enrollment in CBE's Religious School is NOT required for joining the choir.

For more information, please contact Cantor Janet Leuchter at ext.218.