Cantor Ellen Tilem

Cantor Ellen Tilem was born in Freehold, New Jersey and raised in Marlboro, New Jersey. She attended the University of Hartford, Hartt School of Music and Greenberg Center for Judaic Studies, in West Hartford, Connecticut. In 1990 she received a Bachelor of Music, with a Major in Voice and a Minor in Judaic Studies. Cantor Tilem studied for the Cantorate at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion-School of Sacred Music, where she was Invested as Cantor and received a Master of Sacred Music in 1994.

During her Cantorial studies, Cantor Tilem served at Congregation Kol Haverim, Glastonbury, CT, Temple Sinai, Newington, CT, Congregation Beth El, Torrington, CT, Temple Sinai in Lawrence, New York, and Union Temple, Brooklyn, New York. Upon her Investiture in 1994, she assumed the pulpit at Temple Emeth.

Cantor Tilem is involved in many facets of Temple life. She performs life cycle rituals including baby namings, weddings and funerals. She visits congregants in the hospital and does counseling. She is proud of her forty-five voice junior choir, Etz Chayim, as well as her dedicated Temple Emeth Adult Choir "Kol Emeth". Each Thanksgiving Cantor Tilem directs the Teaneck Interfaith Youth Chorus, which she founded ten years ago.

Cantor Tilem completed Hospital Chaplaincy Training Programs at New York Hospital, New York City, and Methodist Hospital, Brooklyn, New York. She is a member of the American Conference of Cantors and the Teaneck Clergy Council.

Cantor Tilem resides in Teaneck with her husband, Peter and their beautiful daughters, Eve, Leila and Eliana.