After singing at his grandfather’s funeral, Jacob Agar gave up a promising opera career to become the new cantor of Beth Sholom Congregation of Elkins Park, writes Rita Giordano for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Agar was asked to sing some prayers by the officiating rabbi. The experience ended up changing his life.

“I felt the connection to everyone there. I felt like I was doing something spiritual,” he said. “There was no acting, there was no pretending. I realized, ‘Ah, this is what I really want to do.’”

Twenty-eight-year-old Agar joined the congregation on August 1. He won over the recruiting committee with his versatile musical ability as well as his eagerness to reach out to the children and young people while also appealing to lovers of traditional musical forms.

“His maturity level is well beyond his years,” said congregation president Jeffrey Gordon. “He’s a real – there’s a Yiddish word – mensch. He’s a decent guy. We think he fits perfectly into our organization. No question.”

The new cantor is now hoping to engage current congregants and attract new ones with music.

Read more about Jacob Agar at The Philadelphia Inquirer by clicking here.

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