Congregation Kol Ami of White Plains Welcomes New Cantor

Congregation Kol Ami of White Plains is pleased to announce the appointment of Cantor David Rosen as its new Cantor. Cantor Rosen is an outstanding musical and pastoral leader, educator and Jewish scholar. He will be a full partner in the clergy team performing life cycle events and providing pastoral care to congregants as well as developing and implementing the music programs for all aspects of congregational life.

"We are thrilled to welcome Cantor Rosen to our thriving synagogue life." Said Kol Ami President Hank Rouda, "Cantor Rosen is representative of our philosophy of connecting Jewish music, spirituality and the congregation in a warm and inclusive manner."

After graduating from York University with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and an Advanced Certificate in Hebrew and Judaic Studies, Cantor Rosen attended the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, where he received a Masters of Sacred Music and was ordained as a cantor in 2003. Prior to Kol Ami, he served as the Cantor and Director of Youth Education for the Beth Radom Congregation in his hometown of Toronto, Canada. Cantor Rosen recently served as the President of the Toronto Council of Hazzanim and is a member of the Cantor's Assembly as well as an Executive Board member of the American Conference of Cantors where he has served on the Ethics Committee and Cantorial Certification adjudication committee. He has offered lectures and presentations on Jewish music, has been a guest conductor for various synagogue choirs, and has been a liturgical consultant for Jewish Day Schools in Toronto.

In 2008, Cantor Rosen travelled to Germany where he participated as a featured soloist in a series of concerts commemorating the 70th anniversary of Kristallnacht. As a living Kidney Donor, he has served as a motivational speaker for the Kidney Foundation of Canada and Trillium Gift of Life Foundation. Cantor Rosen is a member of the Toronto Interfaith Clergy Curling Association and through that organization has spearheaded and participated in many interfaith concerts. In 2013, Cantor Rosen co-founded the Toronto Jewish Choral Festival, a concert featuring the voices of 13 choirs and over 250 singers.

"Cantor Rosen has a magnificent voice that will fill our new sanctuary with song and bring a spiritual lift to all who attend our services." said Rabbi Shira Milgrom.

In the last several years, Congregation Kol Ami has focused its efforts on "Relational Judaism", or deepening the connections and relationships to lead to a truer sense of belonging to a connected and caring community. Cantor Rosen will carry on with that philosophy through the music that the congregation hears, learns and sings whether at services, in the choir or at a life cycle event.

"Kol Ami welcomes Cantor Rosen, his wife, Rabbi Illyse Glickman and their son Joel, into the Kol Ami family.", said Rabbi Tom Weiner, "We couldn't be more excited to have him lead us in the joy and beauty of Jewish sacred music."

Congregation Kol Ami is located at 252 Soundview Avenue, White Plains, NY. For more information about Congregation Kol Ami membership or High Holidays, contact Jane Friedberg, Executive Director at 914.949.4717 or jsfkolami@aol.com.