The Jewish Family Congregation of South Salem is pleased to announce the appointment of Cantor Kerry Ben-David, effective July 1, 2005.

 In 1975, Kerry Ben-David received a doctorate in musical arts from The Juilliard School.  He was invested as cantor at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion’s School of Sacred Music in 1985. 

For the past 21 years, he served as the cantor of the Scarsdale Synagogue-Tremont Temple, where he was much loved and respected.  In preparation for his retirement from that position, Cantor Ben-David sought a smaller congregation where he could continue to enhance services with his warm, rich voice, and where he could be part of a vibrant community.  

Mrs. Ben-David, who sang at the Metropolitan Opera under the name Bonnie Godfrey, is also an accomplished musician; she looks forward to the opportunity to chant Torah at JFC, and is pleased to become part of a congregation she has known for several years.

The JFC community is pleased to welcome this distinguished and accomplished cantor, and to benefiting from his great musical knowledge and experience.  JFC has not had a male voice leading its worship in more than 10 years.   Rabbi Carla Freedman, who has served the congregation since 1997, is enthusiastic about working with the new cantor: “I look forward to sharing JFC’s bimah with him and working together to enrich our community’s joyous services”.