Cantor Gelman is now our Cantor Emeritus, as of July 1, 2007. A celebration of his thirty-six years of dedicated service to our community is scheduled for the coming year.

Cantor Harry Gelman is the longest serving member of our Temple staff, having led his first service at Temple Aliyah on Shabbat Hanukkah of 1971. Born and raised in New York City, Cantor Gelman studied Physics and Mathematics at City College of New York where he earned a B.S. degree, and at New York University where he earned his Ph.D. He has since pursued simultaneous careers in both physics and as a Cantor. His passion for Jewish music developed as a member of choirs in the Bronx, and he has since studied under the auspices of Cantors Phillip Pfeffer, Gregor Shelkan, and Earl Lefkowitz. Before coming to Temple Aliyah, he also served at Temple Emmanuel in Wakefield, MA.

As a physicist, Cantor Gelman worked for fourteen years at GTE as the Manager of the Electromagnetic Effects Branch and Director of the High Voltage Lab. Over the past eight years, he has taught Physics at the University of Massachusetts at Boston, including the first year introductory course, upper level undergraduate courses, and graduate courses. He also supervises Masters degree candidates.

As our hazzan, Cantor Gelman has led our services with great gusto. His greatest pride, however, comes from his passing on his skills to others. Over his thirty years, he has patiently instructed hundreds of Bar and Bat Mitzvah students, teaching them the trope, their Torah and haftarah portions, and the davening of the service. He has also taught these skills to countless adult members of the congregation. On a lighter side, his performances have been the highlight of many Temple Cabarets and shows.

Cantor Gelman is a member of the Cantorial Council of America, and the Jewish Ministers' Cantors Association of New England. He is recently married to Phyllis Cohen. He enjoys traveling the length of the East Coast to visit his five children, Leland, Jonathan, Haywood, Ruby, and Gilana, in New Hampshire, New York, and Florida, along with his three grandchildren, Ilana, Alec, and Ian (and one more on the way!).

To contact Cantor Gelman, please call the synagogue office (781-444-8522) or send an e-mail message to: cantorgelman@templealiyah.com