Cantor Jenna Pearsall began serving Central Synagogue as Cantor in 2022 and is from Wixom, Michigan. She was ordained in 2022 by the Hebrew Union College: Jewish Institute of Religion, also obtaining her Masters in Sacred Music in 2021. Her senior thesis focused on the impact of the pandemic on synagogues, clergy teams, and hybrid worship, with regard to how the music of our synagogues evolved and changed. She completed one unit of Clinical Pastoral Education at New York Presbyterian in the summer of 2021. Before cantorial school, she obtained two Bachelors degrees in Judaic Studies and Anthropology from the University of Michigan. While at U of M, she worked at her home congregation, Temple Israel of West Bloomfield, lending her voice to their Kabbalat Shabbat and Shacharit services. Cantor Pearsall has also had experience volunteering as a Shiva leader in college, interning at Beit Tefilah Yisraeli, leading High Holy Day services for two years as an undergraduate at Temple Beth El of Flint, and working as Student Cantor at North Country Reform Temple. She took a trip to India with JDC Entwine to meet the Jewish community and to see the rich history of Judaism within the country.

Cantor Pearsall has worked as a Judaics Specialist and Music Specialist for JCC Day Camps in Detroit and Manhattan. She has also worked for Central Synagogue as a B’nei Mitzvah tutor, and as T’filah leader for K-5 for the Downtown LCLJ, and religious school teacher for an uptown sixth grade class. Cantor Pearsall lives with her husband Connor and two cats, Winnie and Wally. She is excited to continue on with Central in this new role!