Cantor Elise Barber has served Temple Beth El since 2011. She received her cantorial ordination and M.A. in Jewish Studies from Hebrew College in Newton Centre, MA and received her B.A. in Theatre from American University in Washington, D.C. Elise also attended a summer intensive program at the Manhattan School of Music.
She enjoyed a professional acting and singing career as a child and well into her twenties performing in the first national Broadway tour of the musical Titanic as well as West Side Story Suite with the New York City Ballet. Favorite roles include Louisa in The Fantasticks, Bella in Rags, Sister Margaretta in The Sound of Music, and Anne Frank. In 2012, Elise was featured in Frauenstimmen: Women’s Voices from Ravensbruck at the Fenway Center in Boston. In 2006, Ms. Barber performed a solo concert of Jewish music in Cuenca, Spain.
Elise has served as a service leader and/or teacher at several synagogues including Congregation B’nai Jacob in Woodbridge, CT; Congregation Beth Israel in Worcester; Congregation Beth Jacob in Plymouth; Temple Hillel B’nai Torah in West Roxbury; Temple Ner Tamid in Peabody; Temple Aliyah in Needham; Temple Israel in Hull; Congregation Dorshei Tzedek in Newton; and Temple Beth Zion in Brookline. She has also performed in concerts at many of these synagogues as well as at Sinai Temple in Springfield and the Jewish Fellowship of Hemlock Farms in the Poconos. In 2021, Cantor Barber was a featured performer on a nationally broadcast Mr. G (Latin Grammy winner) Hanukkah concert. Elise performed as a soloist with the Springfield Symphony in 2019, 2020, and 2022. She is a proud alumna of The Zamir Chorale of Boston where she was also a featured soloist. Elise has been working on education and community outreach with PJ Library both through the Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts and the Springfield JCC. Elise is a passionate teacher, helping students connect to their tradition and to each other building a stronger community. She draws great joy from forming close relationships with people and is excited about the opportunity to listen carefully to the needs and interests of individuals, families and organizations.
Elise lives in Deerfield with her husband Rabbi Ben Weiner, son Efraim, and daughter Batya.