Cantor Sara Kheel has been the cantor at Temple Beth Shalom since 2018. She hails from Los Angeles, CA. She began her involvement in the Jewish community early in life, attending Jewish day school and spending her summers at Habonim Dror Camp Gilboa. She grew up at Temple Judea in Tarzana, CA, where she also sang and led services as a young adult. It was there that she began her trajectory toward the cantorate. She received her B.A. in 2007 from the University of California, Berkeley, majoring in Theater and Performance Studies and minoring in Spanish Language and Literature. Prior to enrolling at cantorial school, Cantor Kheel worked as the Programming and Engagement Director at Hillel at Pierce & Valley Colleges. She was a founding board member of Jewish young professionals’ organization Valley Ruach and the Assistant Director and President of Los Angeles-based Jewish a capella group Shir Ba’ir. She spent several summers as a camp counselor, songleader, and educational professional. Cantor Kheel was ordained from Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion in 2017. During cantorial school, she held pulpit positions in Garden City, NY; Fairbanks, AK; Annapolis, MD; and York, PA. Immediately following ordination, she spent a year as a chaplain resident at NYU Langone Hospital – Brooklyn. You can find Cantor Kheel around her congregation singing with children, tutoring b’nei mitzvah students, rehearsing with the choir, and heading up the Caring Community Group. Around town, Cantor Kheel is a member of the Indian River Cares Social Justice Working Group and the Treasure Coast Interfaith Community. Cantor Kheel is also the chaplain at Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital. In her spare time, Cantor Kheel enjoys visiting Disney World, trying new recipes, and composing new music.