It's Happening In Miami

Temple Judea in Coral Gables, one of Miami’s largest Reform congregations, today announced that Cantor Lisa Verona Segal has joined its clergy. In her role, Cantor Segal will provide spiritual leadership through music, teaching, and song to the Temple Judea community. She will deliver sermons and officiate at life cycle events in collaboration with Temple Judea’s Rabbi Judith Lazarus Siegal and Rabbi Jonathan Fisch.

“We are thrilled to welcome Cantor Segal to our community to elevate our worship, learning, and life cycle moments with her gift of music,” said Rabbi Siegal. “Her guitar playing, beautiful singing, and breadth and depth of Jewish knowledge and cantillation, along with her ability to create and maintain deep relationships across the age spectrum will be a welcome addition to our clergy team. Rabbi Fisch joins me in welcoming our clergy partner to Temple Judea.”

Cantor Segal completed her Cantorial Certification from the Hebrew Union College/Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music (HUC/DFSSM) in 2007 and served as Miami Beach’s first female Cantor at Temple Beth Sholom for 12 years.

“Temple Judea joyously welcomes Cantor Segal as a new member of our clergy and our Temple Judea community,” said Temple Judea’s President, Mark Kass. “She is a gifted Cantor and musician who fills worship with spirit, warmth, and meaning and is an important leader in the South Florida Jewish Community and the Reform Jewish movement.”

A Miami resident since 1981, Cantor Segal is a trailblazer in the Miami community. She supported several synagogues, including Temple Judea, as a freelance soloist. Additionally, Cantor Segal taught Judaic music at Lehrman Day School and Beth Am Day School, served as a music teacher, Cantorial Soloist, and Associate Cantor at Temple Beth Am until 2011 prior to Temple Beth Shalom.

Cantor Segal is a proud member and past board member of the American Conference of Cantors (ACC) and the Cantor's Assembly. She is the chair of the Greater Miami Federation Cantorial Cabinet and shares her passion for Jewish liturgical music and worship. She founded the “Rock On Shabbat” band and has brought it to many local synagogues throughout the community.

A proud University of Florida graduate, Cantor Segal resides in Miami’s vibrant MIMO neighborhood with her husband Jimmy. She enjoys spending time with her children Danny (Melissa) and Andrea, who have built careers as a screenwriter, lawyer, and therapist respectively.

About Temple Judea: Now celebrating 75 years of Jewish Learning and Living in Coral Gables, Temple Judea is one of the largest Reform synagogues in Miami with approximately 650 member families. The Temple grounds itself through its foundational statement - “Through a strong Jewish Community, we better ourselves and the world.” For more information, visit www.JudeaGables.org.