Born and raised in Jerusalem, Israel, Shirel Richman is currently serving as the Cantor at United Hebrew Congregation (UH), in St. Louis, Missouri. At UH, Cantor Richman is responsible for all congregational music for Shabbat and holiday services, Hebrew language and music curricula for the Hebrew school and adult education programs, pastoral care, lifecycle events, and community outreach. Cantor Richman supervises and teaches the Bnai Mitzvah program connecting students, families, and tutors.

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She leads Torah Study, adult Hebrew Language classes (liturgical Hebrew and modern Israeli conversational Hebrew), Elul programs leading up to the High Holidays, volunteer choirs, and partners with interfaith clergy and non-profit organizations in the community at large.

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Cantor Richman was ordained in May, 2024, from Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) in New York. She interned at Temple Emanu-El of Westfield, New Jersey, and was a Song Leader/Educator at Central Synagogue in New York City while interning as the sole cantorial presence at Temple Israel of Staten Island, New York. 

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At HUC-JIR, Cantor Richman won The Joyce Rosenzweig Prize for Creativity in Worship Music, and The Temple Israel of Boston Cantorial Prize to a Worthy Student, Established by Cantor Roy B. Einhorn. She worked as a Hebrew Language teacher at HUC-JIR for cantorial and rabbinical students on all HUC-JIR campuses. 

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Cantor Richman earned her Master’s degree in Sacred Music from HUC-JIR. She also earned a Master’s degree in Vocal Performance and an Advanced Certificate in Music Education from CUNY Brooklyn College. Her Bachelor’s degree is in Music Performance from the Buchman-Mehta School of Music at Tel Aviv University. 

She has taught Music, Hebrew Language, and Judaic Studies in Jewish day schools in New York and Boston. In Israel, she worked as a soloist in the Israeli Opera and was designated as a “Musician of Excellence” in the Israeli Defense Forces, where she served as a Commander. She performed as a soloist in England, France, Switzerland, Austria, New York, Canada, and Israel.

Cantor Richman’s ordination thesis was Tefilat Ha-Adam - The North American Cantors’ Manual for the New Israeli Reform Siddur. Her aim was to bring Israeli music and liturgy to North American congregations in an accessible, relatable, and enjoyable way. Her work included musical arrangements for synagogue choirs and ensembles, as well as deep textual and liturgical analysis of the pieces. In her cantorate, Cantor Richman’s hope is to bridge the gap between North American and Israeli Jewry through music, prayer, and common values. 

Cantor Richman lives in Chesterfield, Missouri, with her husband Lincoln, who is a Jewish educator, song leader, and licensed social worker, and their daughter, Aliyah Emet.