Zahava Fried, cantorial soloist and Jewish educator, is a native of Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania. She is currently the Cantorial Intern for Temple Beth Tzedek of Amherst in
Buffalo, NY. Alongside her cantorial internship, Zahava serves as the High Holiday Cantor for
Congregation Beth Ohr in Old Bridge, NJ. She also has the privilege to work for the Buffalo
Jewish Federation as The Manager of Young Family Engagement. She has a strong love for
Jewish liturgical music, Torah learning, and engaging her community through music and
creative arts to embrace the beauty of our shared tradition.

Zahava studied Judaic Studies at Yeshiva University, and went on to earn a B.A. in
Education with a concentration in Early Childhood Studies from SUNY Empire State University.
She originally began her career as a Jewish day school preschool teacher and administrator,
where she often incorporated music and singing as a pedagogical tool when teaching young
children. It was during this time that Zahava recognized her desire to meld her love of Judaism,
education, and music together and began her educational journey to become an ordained
cantor. She is currently in the process of earning Cantorial Ordination at The Academy for
Jewish Religion based in Yonkers, NY. In addition, Zahava is also working toward her M.A. in
Jewish Studies at Gratz College where she is a Legacy Heritage Midcareer Fellow.

Zahava, her husband, and two daughters reside in Buffalo, NY, where she can usually
be found drinking copious amounts of coffee while singing and teaching Torah!