Cantor Anna Zhar

Anna Zhar grew up in the former USSR where she began attending music school at the age of five. Her first choral experience was at 10 years old. Cantor Anna went on to earn a degree in Choral Conducting and Music Education from the Tchaikovsky Music Academy in Moscow.

In 1991 she immigrated to Israel with her family, where she graduated with honors from the Rubin Academy of Music in Jerusalem. Cantor Anna worked with many choirs in Israel, including the Tel Aviv Philharmonic Choir, Jerusalem Chamber Choir, and the Jerusalem “Cantus” and “Oratorio” choirs. Cantor Anna was very involved in music therapy at Yad Sarah in Jerusalem.

While in Israel she learned about the Reform Jewish Movement and decided that becoming a Cantor would enable her to combine her love of music with her passion for Judaism. Cantor Anna and her husband Gary moved to the United States, where she earned a Master’s Degree in Music Arts and Choral Conducting from San Francisco State University. She was ordained at Hebrew Union College in 2007. She was the Cantor at Temple B’nai Israel in Southbury, CT for 2 years.  She was then the Cantor at Temple Beth Jacob in Newburgh, NY for 7 years, where she enjoyed organizing programs with Israeli themes. Cantor Anna came to Temple Beth Sholom in New City in the summer of 2012.

Cantor Anna has very strong connection to Israel. She, along with her whole family, and many congregants, participate in the Salute to Israel Parade each year. Longing to bring a lasting bond between Temple Beth Sholom and Israel, Cantor Anna created an Israeli Exchange Program with the Yoana Jabotinsky Boarding School in Israel. For 8 days in April 2016 Temple Beth Sholom families hosted 10 Israeli students and their teachers. In November 2016 Cantor Anna led 11 students and 8 adults from Temple Beth Sholom to the Yoana Jabotinsky School to complete the exchange. The success of this program was immense, and Cantor Anna looks forward to its continued success.

Cantor Anna and Gary reside in New City.  They have four children; Daniel , Avital, Roni, and Ariel.