Cantor Lilah Sugarman joined Congregation B'nai Yisrael in July 2019.
She believes in empowering individual voices to create inclusive sacred communities through song, study, celebration, and tzedakah. Cantor Lilah was raised in Los Angeles, California where she grew up working and volunteering at her home synagogue, Kehillat Israel. Her family and synagogue community fostered a deep love for Judaism, learning, and music. Cantor Lilah attended San Diego State University where she graduated with high honors in Music, English, and Dance. In 2012 Cantor Lilah began her pursuit of a life-long dream of becoming a Cantor at the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music at Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion where Cantor Lilah received her Master in Sacred Music and ordained.
In addition to her love for Jewish music, Cantor Lilah is also passionate about learning and teaching Torah. She has taught Hebrew, religious school, and B’nai Mitzvah students for ten years, in San Diego, New York and Los Angeles. She has also taught dance classes as well as early childhood music classes and voices lessons.
In the Book of Psalms, it is written: "Let them Praise God's Name in Dance.” This text speaks to Lilah’s interest in engaging in full body Judaism that engages the mind, body and spirit. She explores this idea in the intersection of movement and prayer through the way she leads prayer, teaches music, and through teaching Jewish yoga classes. Lilah is a 200 hour certified Vinyasa yoga instructor.
Cantor Lilah has served communities in New York, New Jersey, Massachusets, Colorado, and, most recently, California.
Now with Congregation B'nai Yisrael, Cantor Lilah partners with Rabbi Strom and our leadership to foster relationships and create meaningful Jewish experiences. Some of what she does includes leading services and holidays, conducting the adult and youth choir, teaching JID Program, working with B’nai Mitzvah students, officiating at lifecycle events, engaging in interfaith work with the community, and teaching Jewish Yoga classes.
Cantor Lilah lives with her husband Ben and their three cats. Ben received his Master in social work at the Silberman School of Social Work at Hunter College. Together they love to cook, read, be outdoors, and create music.
