A renovated sanctuary is not the only change at United Hebrew Congregation this summer. Cantor Ron Eichaker will retire Aug. 31 and transition to his new role as cantor emeritus. Cantor Shirel Richman, who was born and raised in Jerusalem, will succeed Eichaker.

Richman, after serving as a Musician of Excellence and commander in the Israeli Defense Forces, received her bachelor’s degree in music and vocal performance from the Buchman-Mehta School of Music at Tel Aviv University. She also holds a master’s degree in vocal performance and an advanced certificate in music education from CUNY Brooklyn College. 

Richman has worked as a soloist for the Israeli Opera, and as a ​​music, Hebrew language and Judaic studies teacher in New York and Boston area Jewish day schools. 

Most recently, Richman finished her master’s degree in sacred music at Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) in New York and was ordained in May. Richman moved to St. Louis at the end of June with her husband, Lincoln Richman, and their daughter Aliyah Emet. 

Richman, whose first day at UH was July 1, said: “I love it here. Everybody is just so welcoming and so warm. Everyone wants to know how they can learn about me, about my family and how they can help with the transition.” 

Richman spent two weeks at the beginning of the summer working alongside Eichaker preparing for the future, which involved co-teaching and discussing High Holiday services.

“My success is [Eichaker’s] success is UH’s success,” Richman said. “We are all working together to make this transition as smooth as possible.”

Throughout this transition, Richman said she is eager to understand [UH’s] minhag hamakom, or the customs of a place. 

“The first thing I’d like to do as [the] new cantor is to learn, not exactly to change,” Richman said. “I am going to be part of a thriving community. I’m not here to fix things because things work.”

In addition to learning, Richman hopes to bring elements of her culture to the UH community. She is eager to share her love for Israeli music with congregants. 

Rabbi Brigitte Rosenberg also is eager to incorporate Richman’s background into life at UH.

“She brings a knowledge of newer music, newer traditions and [newer] tunes to prayers that maybe we haven’t fully heard,” Rosenberg said. “She brings a set of traditions, music and a view of the world, and I think it is an important one to share.”