Cantor Joseph Flaxman

Cantor Joseph Flaxman serves Temple Beth Am and Rambam Day School in Pinecrest, FL, where he is grateful for the opportunity to guide people of all ages through spirituality and music. He was ordained at Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion in 2024, where he was selected as a Tisch/Star Fellow, a program that identifies exceptional rabbis and cantors to lead and transform synagogues and Jewish communal institutions. While at HUC-JIR, he served as cantor at Congregation Adas Emuno in Leonia, NJ, and as assistant cantor at Stephen Wise Free Synagogue in New York City under Cantor Dan Singer. He also broadened his clergy training through Clinical Pastoral Education at Morristown Memorial Hospital, the study of middot with the Institute for Jewish Spirituality, leadership development with Join for Justice, and service with the Reform Chevrah Kadisha of New York.

Originally from Succasunna, NJ, Cantor Flaxman grew up at Temple Shalom, where he helped lead junior congregation and served in youth group leadership. Inspired by his grandfather, who dreamed of becoming a cantor, he pursued music from an early age. He earned a Bachelor of Music from SUNY Fredonia and a Master of Music from the Manhattan School of Music, later performing leading and supporting roles in opera and musical theatre with the Metropolitan Opera Guild, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, the Munich Philharmonic as well as regional opera companies throughout the U.S. and Europe. He received recognition from the Liederkranz Foundation, Hans Gabor Belvedere Competition, Opera Index, the Bel Canto Foundation, the Orpheus Competition, and Competizione dell’Opera, among others. His performances have also been featured on NPR and WQXR’s MacGraw Hill Young Artist Showcase.

During his career on the international stage, Cantor Flaxman built meaningful Jewish connections by visiting and singing in synagogues across the U.S. and Europe. Celebrating Shabbat and holidays with diverse communities allowed him to experience the richness of Jewish life worldwide. Closer to home, his time singing in the choir at Park Avenue Synagogue, under the leadership of Cantors Azi Schwartz and David Lefkowitz, ultimately inspired him to pursue the cantorate. This calling now enables him to build meaningful relationships through communal music, learning, and pastoral care.

Beyond music, Cantor Flaxman is passionate about Israel, fitness, the outdoors, cooking, and coffee. He lives here in Miami with his wife Laura, their children Elias and Isaiah, and their beloved (and very sleepy) dog, Ziggy.