Clergy

Cantor Diamond, the spiritual leader of Congregation Beth Ohr, came to the
Cantorate with a sense of purpose that was instilled from a young age. As a
second generation Cantor, Jewish music and Yiddishkeit were always present in his upbringing. A native of the Midwest, he earned two bachelor’s degrees, a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance, and Bachelor of fine arts in Theatre from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin. At Lawrence,
Cantor Diamond studied opera, musical theatre, and plays. He completed his
Cantorial Ordination at the Jewish Theological Seminary, where he received a Masters degree in Sacred Music. During Cantorial school, Cantor Diamond
completed 400 hours of chaplaincy training through the Center for Pastoral
Education at JTS, where he worked as Chaplain Intern for older adults
through DOROT (a nonprofit organization whose goal is to alleviate social
isolation and provide concrete services to older adults).

Before coming to CBO, Cantor Diamond served as Cantor for Temple Sinai in Middletown, New York, and Student Cantor for White Meadow Temple in
White Meadow Lake, New Jersey. Cantor Diamond enjoys bringing Torah,
music, and spirituality into people's lives through many pathways -- leading prayer, teaching classes, building a singing community, and pastoral outreach to our members. When he isn’t at the synagogue he is enjoying time with his wife Jamie and their daughter Rose.

You can reach him directly at cantor.diamond@cbohr.org
He is excited to meet you and to explore what being Jewish means to you
together.

Cantor Yavneh comes from a long and distinguished line of professional chazzanim.  His father, Cantor Ephraim Yavneh, Z’l served his Queens congregation for sixty years, the longest any chazzan has served one congregation in the history of the American Cantorate.  His uncle Zalmon Zt’l, was known as the ‘neshomah chazzan’ and served his congregation for over 50 years.  The Cantor’s mother, Gloria, A’H, served as the President of the Women’s Division of Jewish Ministers and Cantors Association of America and Canada for over a decade.  At the age of three, Cantor Yavneh stood at his father’s side on the Bimah joining in t’filot and shira.  At the age of four, he made his professional debut on a concert stage.  Cantor Yavneh first officiated as a professional chazzan at the age of 17.  He graduated from Baruch College in 1973 with a Bachelor of Business Administration and received a post-graduate degree as a Cantor from the Herzliah Teachers Seminary where he studied with the world famous Cantor David Kusevitsky Zt’l.  Studying under the late Cantor Zvee Aroni, Cantor Yavneh began many years of professional voice instruction in the Bel Canto tradition.  Through his years of training, Cantor Yavneh has become an expert and a master of correct traditional nusach hatfilah.  Cantor Yavneh was one of the first to introduce Carlebach-style davening, beautiful “user friendly” Niggunim, and today’s popular Israeli/Chassidic music to lead the Congregation in prayer.  Cantor Yavneh’s greatest accomplishment is his work and close relationships with the children of the BJC.  He has trained over 350 b’nai and b’not mitzvah during his tenure.  He strives to teach and bond with all of our children as if they were his own!  During the High Holidays, temple members, both kids and adults join Cantor Yavneh on the Bimah to sing duets, solos and complicated musical pieces.  Cantor Yavneh resides in Bellmore with his lovely wife, Andrea.  They have two children, Joshua and Samara, who is married to Eric Feiler.  The Yavnehs are blessed with three grandchildren.