Ruth Ossher

Cantorial Soloist

Our cantor, Ruth Ossher, has served HCS since 2008. She has studied Judaism throughout her life with various rabbis and cantors. Ruth trained as a cantor the old-fashioned way, through studying with a well-known cantor. She is most grateful to Cantor Jeffrey Shiovitz for the kindness and generosity of spirit with which he shares his knowledge.

Ruth graduated from the University of Toronto with a Master’s in Social Work, majoring in Research Methodology and Program Evaluation. For over 30 years, she has worked as a Jewish educator and she constantly applies her research skills to evaluating and improving the effectiveness of her teaching. She is a proud recipient of the Grinspoon-Steinhardt Award for Excellence in Jewish Education.

For several years, Ruth was education director of the Jewish Family Congregation of South Salem, where she completely redesigned the Hebrew School curriculum. She currently teaches in our Hebrew School and tutors our B’nai Mitzvah students.

Since 2011, Ruth has attended mindfulness meditation classes at the Center for Functional Medicine in Stamford, and has established an ongoing practice at home. She recently began using her knowledge and experience to lead short meditations during our services and at Hebrew school.

Ruth and her husband, Harold Ossher, live in South Salem. They have two married children, Joel and Danielle. Ruth is an avid knitter, cook, baker, hiker and reader.

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Email Ruth at cantor@hebrewcongregationofsomers.org