Born and raised in Jerusalem, Israel, Shirel Richman is anticipating cantorial ordination in May, 2024, from Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion in New York. She is currently interning 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. 

At HUC, Shirel 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 is a Hebrew Language teacher at HUC, teaching cantorial and rabbinical students from all HUC campuses. 

​

Shirel earned her Master’s degree in Sacred Music from HUC-JIR.  Shirel 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. Shirel has taught Music, Hebrew Language, and Judaic Studies in New York and Boston Jewish day schools. In Israel, she worked as a soloist in the Israeli Opera and served 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.

Richman is currently working on her thesis Tefilat Ha-Adam - The North American Cantors’ Manual for the New Israeli Reform Siddur. Her aim is to bring Israeli music and liturgy from this prayer book to North American congregations in an accessible, relatable, and enjoyable way. Her work includes musical arrangements for synagogue choirs and ensembles, as well as deep textual and liturgical analysis of the pieces. The thesis focuses on the juxtaposition of modern and traditional liturgy and the new meanings that are born when we pray them side-by-side. The thesis tells the stories behind these Israeli songs, their historical and social backgrounds, and paints a picture of a diverse and rich Israeli society. In her cantorate, Shirel’s hope is to bridge the gap between North American and Israeli Jewry through music, prayer, and common values. 

Shirel lives in Metuchen, New Jersey, with her husband, Lincoln and their daughter, Aliyah Emet.