Community Synagogue of Rye

Cantor Daniel Mutlu is a first generation American whose parents hail from Istanbul, Turkey. Dan grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts where he attended the Yeshiva Academy Achei Tmimim, forging an early sense of Jewish identity that would come to evolve in later years. In public high school Dan stumbled upon his love for music when he accidentally enrolled in a music theory course during sophomore year. The next year, Dan's family made aliyah to Israel, but Dan stayed behind with hopes of attending one of Boston's eminent music conservatories. He succeeded in this dream and graduated from the New England Conservatory of Music in 2001 with a bachelor's degree in vocal performance and a lovely and talented future bride, Nina! While teaching elementary and middle school music in the Worcester Public Schools system, Dan discovered his call to the cantorate and to the Reform movement, becoming an active member of Temple Emanuel, Worcester and serving as cantorial soloist there. In 2003, Dan and Nina, newly married, moved to Israel where Dan undertook his first year of studies at Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion. After returning to the States, he continued his studies at HUC and returned to Temple Emanuel in the capacity of Student Cantor. Meanwhile, in New York City, Dan performed extensively with organizations such as the Park East Synagogue Choir, The Zamir Chorale, and the prestigious Trinity Choir Wall Street, where he garnered glowing reviews from The New York Times. He supplemented his Jewish training by working as a b'nei mitzvah tutor at Congregation Rodeph Sholom in Manhattan.

As a graduate of a yeshiva elementary school, a bar mitzvah of a Conservative synagogue, and a cantor of the Reform movement, Cantor Dan believes that Jews of all movements should strengthen one another in faith, community, and Torah. Dan wishes to bring Jews into the full life of the synagogue as well as into the greater community through the diverse beauty of Jewish music.

Emma Gottlieb is originally from Toronto, Ontario, where she was active in NFTY-NEL and in Hillel at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. There she completed a dual degree in Religious Studies and vocal music. Emma then completed 2-1/2 years of cantorial studies at Hebrew Union College but transferred into the rabbinical program where she has just completed her third year.

She served as Student Cantor at the Garden City Jewish Center and Temple Israel of Jamaica. This past year she was the Rabbinic Intern for the URJ Department of Worship, Music & Religious Living and now will join us at Community Synagogue of Rye. She has been on staff at several URJ camps (KUTZ, Camp George and Camp Harlam). Emma also has had much experience as a song-leader, music teacher, Hebrew and B'nei Mitzvah tutor, and Religious School teacher.