About Cantor Wallach
It is Risa’s honor to serve as Cantor at Temple Beth-El in Hillsborough, New Jersey.
Cantor Risa Wallach received cantorial ordination with a Masters in Jewish Education from Hebrew College in Newton, MA in 2015. Her past performances include solos with the Koleinu Jewish Community Choir of Boston and with Kol Arev, the vocal ensemble of the School of Jewish Music of Hebrew College, solos with the New Jersey Cantors Choir Ensemble, as well as in concerts at Temple Beth-El in Hillsborough, NJ and at Congregation B’nai Shalom in Walnut Creek, CA. She has studied voice with Tova Morcos and Cantor Lynn Torgove.
Cantor Wallach has extensive experience in religious school education, musical collaboration and provision of pastoral care.
She was awarded the Cantor Rick Boyar Award for excellence in Hazzanut from Hebrew College in 2015. She provided caring support to patients as a medical social worker at Sutter Visiting Nurses and Hospice of San Francisco for eight years, and holds a Masters of Social Work from Smith College School for Social Work. She has also been an active member of the elected Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County, CA.
Cantor Wallach recently trained in the Institute for Jewish Spirituality’s 2-year Clergy Leadership Cohort 5, gaining skills as a practitioner and teacher of mindfulness and a spiritual and pastoral presence informed by Hassidic, social justice-influenced and interfaith textual sources. She continues to train at mindfulness retreats and classes in person and online with the Institute for Jewish Spirituality.
These and some of the artists, authors and clergy who have influenced and inspired Cantor Wallach over time, and whose work she continues to follow or perform:
Composers
Lazare Weiner
Louis Lewandowski
Solomon Sulzer
Solomone Rossi
Gerald Cohen
Daphna Rosenberg
Yoel Sykes
Benjie Ellen Schiller
Rachelle Nelson
Lisa Levine
Flory Jagoda
Thinkers
Rabbi Amy Eilberg
Rabbah Kaya Stern-Kaufman
Rabbi Yael Levy
Cantor Matthew Austerklein
Rabbi Sam Feinsmith
Rabbi Jill Jacobs
Jewish Studio Project
Reb Zalman Schachter-Shalomi
Rabbi Benay Lappe
Rabbi Amichai Lau Lavie
Cantors
Cantor Barbara Ostfeld
Cantor Lori Corrsin
Cantor Benjie Ellen Schiller
Hazzan Lizzie Shammash
Cantor Lynn Torgove
Cantor Gideon Zelermeyer
Hazzan Brian Mayer
Performers
Freydele Oysher
Chava Alberstein
Nava Tehila
Hazzan Moshe Ganchoff
Hazzan Leib Glanz
Natalie Young
Joey Weisenberg
Non-Jewish Artists & Performers
Joni Mitchell
Ella Fitzgerald
Sarah Vaughn
Kitka
Bobbie McFerrin
Pete Seeger
Alison Krauss
Gillian Welch
“There’s so much I can say about how wonderful and how impactful Cantor Risa Wallach has been in my life this last year. It all started as I walked into Temple Beth-El for the first time. Cantor Wallach was the first one to greet me with a huge smile. She made a point of learning my name on that day. I have had the incredible honor of having her counsel me in some of my darkest moments this past year. She is kind and thoughtful. Her suggestions are always well thought out and she follows up constantly to make sure that I am OK. I’ve had a lot of obstacles this last year and having her support and encouragement from the clergy perspective has made the darkest moments much lighter to carry.
I have had many other opportunities from sponsored events to special interest committees to a meditation class led by Cantor Wallach to interact with her warmth and guidance. Each time I know that it’s a blessing. She leads with the principle of Tikkun Olam in all she does.
I cannot thank her enough. I’m not sure where I would be right now without her in my spiritual journey and my life is a whole. That’s not hyperbole either, it’s been a rough time. Having a place to call home to worship and a smile to welcome me there means more than words could say.”