Clergy

Rabbi Michael began his tenure at Congregation Shirat Hayam in July 2015.  He draws from the best of Jewish tradition to create open, accessible and meaningful experiences which leave you feeling welcome, connected, and enriched.  He is particularly committed to helping everyone find their own Jewish practice.

Previously, he led Congregation Sha’are Shalom in Leesburg, Virginia where membership increased by thirty-two percent and religious school enrollment by eighty percent during his seven year tenure.

Rabbi Michael learned the aleph-bet (Hebrew alphabet) at age 25 and fell in love with Jewish life while living in Jerusalem and studying at Pardes.  Prior to becoming a rabbi, Rabbi Michael was a baker (from age 9 – 14), taught Algebra through Teach for America, and worked in technology.  He is married to Sarah; their children, Liora, Noam, and Aleza, were born in 2007, 2009 and 2018.  He enjoys basketball and the outdoors.

Sarah serves as the Cantor at Congregation Shirat Hayam beginning July 2021. Cantor Sarah prides herself on being warm, friendly, and approachable, singing with the congregation rather than for them.  She is passionate about bringing Judaism to young families and welcome all people into the synagogue doors.

During her own Bat Mitzvah preparation, Cantor Sarah discovered she had a talent and a love for singing Jewish melodies. She continued to sing on the bima throughout her teenage years and began filling in for cantors during college. She studied music education and voice at the University of Miami Frost School of Music and also holds a Master’s degree in Non-profit Studies from Arizona State University.

Cantor Sarah’s professional experience, in addition to her previous long-term pulpit in Boca Raton, includes running a successful mommy and me music program and coordinating youth programming for a major orchestra. Her performance background ranges from choral soprano to musical theater, which she loves to perform at yearly synagogue concerts.

Sarah is married to husband Peter, also an accomplished musician on bass trombone. Peter often accompanies our clergy and other musicians (on a cajon) during our Shabbat Renewal service. He is also an accomplished baker and owner of Dad Bod Breads (and bakes our challah here). They enjoy juggling their hectic music schedules around caring for their three daughters Aria, Ada and Ailsa, and making music together as a family.

Lisa Jane Lipkin is a cantorial soloist, recording artist, award-winning singer-songwriter, and music educator with a sense of the sacred running through all she does. She is passionately committed to creating and offering prayerful song that invites others into their own sacred knowing and into holy connection with one another.

Lipkin has a BA in Music from Rutgers University and has done Jewish studies with Aleph, Davvenen’ Leadership Training Institute, Academy of Jewish Religion, Rising Song Institute in addition to private studies with Cantors Anita Schubert and Elizabeth Sternlieb.

Her recordings include “A Prayer for Peace”, original Jewish prayers and chants, in addition to two secular albums of original songs. Lipkin’s compositions have been featured in film and have appeared on compilation recordings and in volumes such as “Kol Isha (A Woman’s Voice)”. She has composed for, arranged, and led a variety of Jewish and ecumenical choral groups including founding and directing female acapella quartet, “With Spirit Sing!”

Lisa will be joining the Shirat Hayam team while Cantor Sarah is on leave.