Cantor Alyssa Rosenbaum

Cantor Alyssa Rosenbaum has been singing her entire life. Her deep love of Judaism combined with her musical expression and passion led her to the Cantorate. She received ordination as a Hazzan in May 2021 from the Academy for Jewish Religion in California. Cantor Rosenbaum grew up in the Northern suburbs of Chicago, at a traditional, conservative synagogue. While attending Lawrence University, she majored in German and minored in Linguistics, spending extensive time studying German-Jewish history and culture. She had opportunities to delve into this history during her semester abroad in Berlin and her travels elsewhere in Europe. She also had a summer internship at the Leo Baeck Institute in Jerusalem in 2012. As a linguist, Cantor Rosenbaum loves finding ways to connect Judaism with her love of languages, such as exploring Yiddish and Ladino. She moved to Los Angeles in August 2016. This afforded her the opportunity to not only become acquainted with the wonderfully diverse Jewish community of L.A, but also to develop a deeper relationship with her grandmother, who is a Holocaust survivor.
 
When she was new in L.A., Cantor Rosenbaum attended services at many synagogues, receiving exposure to a wide array of Shabbat experiences, where she interacted with Jewish people of many different backgrounds, affiliations, and ages. She worked at Sinai Temple in Los Angeles for three years, as a Hebrew/Trope specialist in the religious school and as a cantorial intern. While there, she also gained experience working with and being part of the young adult community. She then spent two years as Cantorial Soloist at Temple Beth Ami in Santa Clarita. Cantor Rosenbaum served as Cantor at Temple Sinai of Glendale from June 2020 - June 2022. During her time in cantorial school, she was a member of the Shalom Hartman Institute Rabbinic/Cantorial Fellowship, engaging in meaningful dialogue about Israel.
 
Cantor Rosenbaum’s passion for cultural exploration often intersects with her love of Judaism and appreciation for many types of music. She began learning guitar upon her enrollment at AJRCA and has since written numerous original songs–some secular and most liturgical. Her music draws on many influences, all from the heart. One of her original pieces, Psalm 150 (Hal’luyah), has been published by Transcontinental Music Publications’ Shabbat Anthology, Volume X. She is currently working to produce her debut album of original Jewish music. Cantor Rosenbaum’s cantorial thesis was on the evolution of niggunim (wordless Jewish melodies), exploring how styles change over time as old meets new. Her approach to the Cantorate is emblematic of this, and she looks forward to sharing her music, voice, and n’shamah with this wonderful community.