Briskin Cantor-in-Residence Weekend

Friday, March 28

6pm | Musical Kabbalat Shabbat with Hazzan Austerklein and Justin Zvi Pelis

7pm | Kabbalat Shabbat Dinner with Hazzan Austerklein and Justin Zvi Pellis

Saturday, March 29

9:30am | Shabbat Services with Justin Zvi Pellis and Hazzan Austerklein

Sunday, March 30

2pm | Briskin Cantor-in-Residence Concert

This year’s Briskin Cantor-in-Residence Justin Zvi Pellis is finishing his final year of cantorial studies at JTS. Justin brings a multifaceted background in voice performance, composition, and Jewish leadership to his cantorate. With a deep passion for music and a commitment to community building, Justin looks forward to creating sacred spaces where every voice can rise in harmony.

Raised in Mount Kisco, NY, Justin’s connection to Judaism was deeply shaped by his upbringing at home, where creativity and observance of chagim & kashrut were emphasized. Justin’s outlook was further shaped by his time at The Leffell School, Bet Am Shalom, and a transformative gap year in Israel at Mechinat Nachshon. 

Justin completed his undergraduate studies at Goucher College, where he majored in Music. While studying abroad at Hebrew University in Jerusalem, COVID forced him to return home to finish his studies, where he connected with his local Orthodox shul and quickly took to leading services. This was when he felt a calling to enroll in night classes at Yeshiva University’s Belz School of Music, and shortly thereafter, the H.L. Miller Cantorial School.

Currently, Justin serves as Cantorial Intern at Temple Israel Center of White Plains, NY, and at Or Hadash in Fairfield, CT. He also is the Conducting Intern at NASHIR! The Rottenberg Chorale. His composition works include the “Teki’ot Suite for Shofar, Trumpet, and Hazzan” (2022). Justin is profoundly grateful to his mentors and The Nachshon Project for helping him refine his vision for Jewish musical leadership.