A native of the northwest suburbs, Scott Simon is honored to be serving in his Chai (18th) year here at Temple Chai. Cantor Simon grew up studying privately with the icon of the Chicago cantorate, Cantor Shlomo Schuster throughout his youth and went on to graduate from DePaul University with a Music degree in vocal performance. He continued his cantorial studies in Jerusalem at both the Jewish Theological Seminary and Hebrew Union College while also singing in the renowned Jerusalem Great Synagogue Choir and studying privately with the internationally famous Hazzan, baritone Naphtalie Herstik. Cantor Simon received his Investiture as Cantor and Masters degree at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion-School of Sacred Music in NYC in 1994 and has served as the Hazzan at many traditional and Reform pulpits on the east coast and in the Chicago suburbs. Cantor Simon uses his warm heart and incredible Tenor voice to continually ignite our prayer with deep meaning and inspire at Shabbat and Holy Day services, introducing an ever evolving variety of Jewish prayer music composed by himself and today’s top singer songwriters to the congregation. He is a passionate educator of students of all ages of not only secular and Jewish music and liturgy, but also Torah study and Jewish meditation and Aging. He is devoted to the students of our B’nei Mitzvah program and directs all of the adult and teen music programs in the congregation, including our Song Leader Training Program, the “Kol Chai” Adult Choir and directing and performing with our Temple Chai Band, ‘The Chai Hopes,’ an ensemble of amateur synagogue musicians and seasoned Chicago pros. Mrs Gail Simon, a revered music teacher and choral director at a local middle school, directs our mighty “Ruach!” children’s choir, one of the most active youth organizations in the Temple. Cantor Simon is also a composer and liturgist for the congregation’s Sabbath and holiday worship services and a composer of fun, upbeat children’s songs many of which are taught, sung and loved by the children of Temple Chai. His creativity knows no bounds and is the fun loving force behind the Temple’s witty and outrageous Purim Spiels year after year. He is an active member of the American Conference of Cantors, The Reform Cantors of Chicago and the Cantors Assembly. Cantor Simon lives in Mundelein with his wife Gail and their three children, Nadav, Haggai and Lily all musicians and performers.
