JENNIFER RACHEL ROLNICK KEREN
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On three things the world stands: on justice, on truth, and on peace. ~ Pirke Avot 1:18
I grew up in Sugar Land, Texas, the child of not one, but two attorneys, in a home where Jewish life and community were central. My parents were deeply involved in our synagogue, and from an early age I was surrounded by Jewish music— music that was not only sung, but lived. I found my own voice in my synagogue’ s youth choir, where I first experienced the power of song to create connection, meaning, and sacred space. With my parents’ encouragement, I began studying piano at the age of five and later pursued vocal training, setting me on a path that has shaped my life ever since.
I studied classical voice and psychology at the University of Miami’ s Frost School of Music, earning my B. A. in 2005. Following in my parents’ professional footsteps— after all, I am the child of two lawyers— I went on to earn my Juris Doctor from Nova Southeastern University in 2008. While I valued the intellectual rigor of legal study, my heart was continually drawn back to music and to Jewish communal life. Eventually, I returned to my first love: Jewish music and spiritual leadership.
Since 2023, I have been a member of the student community at AJR, where I am honored to be ordained today. This next chapter reflects my ongoing desire to grow as a spiritual leader and to serve the Jewish people with depth, compassion, and integrity.
I am passionate about giving voice— through song— to the stories, dreams, and aspirations of the communities I serve. Music, for me, is both prayer and pastoral care, a bridge between tradition and the lived experiences of today. I currently serve as the Senior Cantor at Temple Shalom of Newton in Massachusetts, where I am grateful to partner with clergy, staff, and congregants in building a vibrant and inclusive Jewish community.
Outside of synagogue life, I find renewal in nature. I enjoy hiking and exploring the outdoors with my husband, Ido, and our sons, Shai and Raffi, who continually remind me of the joy, wonder, and responsibility of passing our traditions on to the next generation.
In 2017, I was ordained as a cantor by JTS, where I received both a Master’ s Degree in Sacred Music and a Diploma of Hazzan. I later earned a Master’ s Degree in Jewish Education from the Baltimore Hebrew Institute at Towson University, deepening my commitment to teaching, learning, and nurturing Jewish identity across generations.
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