Bruce Corris, President of Congregation Shir Shalom, recently shared the news that Rabbi Alex Lazarus-Klein and Cantor Arlene Frank have both signed new long-term contracts through 2026.  We are delighted to cast this week’s spotlight on these two outstanding Jewish professionals.

Rabbi Alex and his family first came to Buffalo in 2008 when he began as the rabbi of Temple Sinai. In 2012, Sinai merged with Temple Beth Am to become Congregation Shir Shalom. A trained chaplain and gifted teacher, Rabbi Alex brings warmth, creativity, and compassion to his role of synagogue rabbi and throughout the community. He serves on many local boards and is a past president of the Network of Religious Communities.  This month, Rabbi Alex will expand his portfolio to include serving as Rabbinic Consultant for the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC).

The Rabbi is a 2004 graduate of the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and holds Masters and Bachelor’s Degrees from the Jewish Theological Seminary, as well as a Bachelor’s Degree from Columbia University. Before coming to Buffalo, Rabbi Alex served as rabbi of Temple B´nai Abraham in Bordentown, NJ, and directed the Community Partnership Program for the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia.  He resides in Amherst with his wife Ashirah and their three children, Jarah, Boaz, and Noam.

Cantor Arlene Frank joined Congregation Shir Shalom on July 1, 2016. She studied voice and music theory at the Mannes School of Music and was ordained as a Cantor/Teacher in Israel in 2003 at the Academy for Jewish Religion.  Prior to joining Congregation Shir Shalom, Cantor Frank served as cantor at Temple Beth El in Spring Valley, NY.  She previously was Student Cantor at Adas Emuno in Leonia, NJ.   Cantor Frank resides in Williamsville with her husband Michael.  They have three daughters: April, Rebecca, and Sandra. 

Mazel Tov to Rabbi Alex, Cantor Frank and the entire CSS family!