CANTOR ELAYA JENKINS-ADELBERG
Cantor Elaya Jenkins-Adelberg has deep roots in the East Bay. Cantor Elaya grew up at Temple Sinai, First Hebrew Congregation of Oakland, California, where she celebrated becoming a Bat Mitzvah, and was personally mentored by the Cantor, beginning as a child in the junior choir, and then as a service leader for Shabbat services. Cantor Elaya also served as a teacher at Temple Sinai and Temple Isaiah, a song leader at Camp Newman, and a counselor at our own Camp Kee Tov! Cantor Jenkins-Adelberg was ordained at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music, New York City, in 2017, where she also received her Master of Sacred Music in 2016. She completed her Bachelor’s degree in Jewish Studies at SFSU and graduated high school from Head Royce School in Oakland. While a cantorial student in New York City, she served as a cantorial intern at East End Temple in Manhattan and Temple Beth El in Jersey City, while simultaneously tutoring B'nai Mitzvah students at Central Synagogue and East End Temple in Manhattan. Cantor Jenkins-Adelberg also led High Holy Days at Temple Israel in Ottawa, Canada. She has extensive experience in leading worship, songleading, B’nei Mitzvah teaching, leading youth and adult choirs, preschool and children's musical programming, as well as pastoral care.
Cantor Elaya completed her clinical pastoral education internship at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco in 2015. Counseling and being present for people of all faith backgrounds during such vulnerable times in their lives was a life-changing experience for Cantor Elaya, and became the impetus for her recital and Master’s thesis on multi-faith healing music, "Mi Shebeirach, Anointing, Zikr”.
Cantor Elaya lives with her partner Ben Zeiger, and their two dogs. In addition to her passion for Jewish music and its ability to ground us in our lives, Cantor Elaya loves animals, practicing yoga, and exploring nature in a myriad of ways.