Temple Or-Elohim, located in Jericho, recently hired a new cantor. Cantor Abbe Sher started work there in October 2000 and has found a new home.

Sher was the cantor for another congregation in Oakdale and not looking for a new place. One of the congregants from Temple Or-Elohim knew Sher indirectly and suggested that she look into their temple. After some time and interviews, Sher found herself transferring in Oct. 2000.

Sher did not have to relocate as she was already living in Melville and the commute was actually closer for her to make the ten-minute trip to Jericho. Before moving to Melville, she lived in Westchester and was commuting to Oakdale, a commute that became very tiresome thus helping make the decision to move to Melville an easier one.

Sher will fill the role of cantor perfectly as she has an extensive background in music. She is an opera singer and has two graduate degrees in opera. "I had an operatic career for many years until I decided to become a cantor," said Sher.

"There is a very active choir and the opportunities as a musician are really quite open unlike a lot of places that might not be as musically inclined and musically sophisticated," said Sher.

Sher's responsibilities as Temple Or-Elohim include directing the choir, teaching music in the Hebrew school and coordinating the entire Bar Mitzvah Program, She also works with Rabbi Marvin Antosofsky in coordinating services and leading services on Fridays and Saturdays.

Rabbi Antosofsky, who has been with Temple Or Elohim for about 25 years, was also the congregation's cantor for about 20 years and then Cantor Sher took over the role, although he is still currently the Rabbi.

One of Sher's main goals is to integrate into the community. She plans to meet as many of the congregants as possible and involve herself in their lives and the lives of their children as much of possible. "Most of them I will be teaching in Hebrew School or Bar Mitzvah lessons," said Sher.

It is very important, according to Sher, for her to develop a strong relationship with the people that she works with. "In Oakdale, I worked in conjunction with a Rabbi and we got along really well," said Sher. "That was a big problem for me to be leaving a place that I knew I was very comfortable."

When she came to Jericho, she immediately had a new sense of home. "Having this comfortable feeling is something that you really hope for in preparation for a position and something that does not always happen," said Sher. "Especially when working with a clergy partner, people often have hard times with temperaments and the ways they handle their temperaments. The Rabbi and I get along so well."

Sher is happy with her decision to come to Jericho and sees a great future there. "I felt so comfortable right from the start," said Sher. "It is an amazing match."

Sher and her husband, Cantor Moshe Bear a cantor at the South Huntington Jewish Center, have two children 11-year-old Mia and 3-year-old Nathaniel.