Meet Our Leaders

[ Rabbi ] [ Cantor ] [ Board of Directors & Office Staff ]

RABBI

Congregation Ahavat Olam's spiritual leader is Rabbi Michael A. Klein. Congregation Ahavat Olam was formed in 2007 by the merging of two neighboring Conservative congregations, Congregation Ahavat Achim in Howell and Congregation Ahavat Shalom in Lakewood. Rabbi Klein led Congregation Ahavat Achim since 1988.

Rabbi Michael A. Klein was born in Brooklyn, New York and was raised in a modern orthodox family. He attended Yeshiva Ohel Moshe in Brooklyn and later studied at the Hebrew High School of greater New York. As a youngster he was very active and involved in the Brooklyn synagogue where he attended services.

While attending college he worked as a summer counselor for the New Jersey YMHA camps. Rabbi Klein earned a Bachelor's of Science degree for his undergraduate studies and was awarded a Master's of Business Administration degree following his graduate studies.

After working in both the private and public sectors for a number of years, Rabbi Klein felt the need to fulfill a lifelong wish to serve the Jewish community and pursued the rabbinate. He then began his studies towards ordination at the Rabbinical School of P'Nai Or in Philadelphia.

Since 1988, he has been president of The Shore Area Board of Rabbis and has served on the Rabbis Advisory Council of The Monmouth County Jewish Federation. He has also been a member of the Board of Ethics of Howell Township from 1990 until the dissolution of all local Boards of Ethics by the State of New Jersey.

Rabbi Klein is married to Annie Klein and they have two adult children. They also have two grandsons with whom he enjoys spending his free time. His email address is RabbiKlein@ahavatolam-nj.org

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CANTOR

Born and raised in Israel, Cantor David Amar was brought up in the Modern Orthodox movement and was very active in his community. He started singing on stage at the age of 5 in his father's boy's choir. At a young age, Cantor Amar regularly attended the B'nai Akiva Youth Group organization, later becoming a counselor and a regional youth group adviser. Cantor Amar attended Or Etzion (run by Rabbi Drukman), the world's only Jewish religious military academy. The academy has the saying Safra and Sifa (the Torah and the sword) as its motto and prepares students to be examples to others.

After graduating Or Etzion, Cantor Amar took a leave of absence from the military to study at Yeshiva. The Cantor attended Yeshiva Ateret Cohanim in Jerusalem, led by Rabbi Aviner, and then Yeshiva Shavei Hevron, led by Rabbi Bliecher. Upon completion of his studies, Cantor Amar served in the Israel Defense Force for four years. He was stationed both at the northern Israeli border and Lebanon in an Armor division. After completing his service, Cantor Amar received an honorable discharge with the rank of lieutenant.

The Cantor then started his community work and professional training. In a developing town, he taught at a junior high school and was a teenage counselor for the town's social service department. At the same time, Cantor Amar continued his education in Jerusalem, as well as starting his Ashkenazi Cantorial training at the Great Synagogue in Jerusalem (the Re'nanot Institute). As a second generation Sephardic Cantor and a third generation Rabbi, Cantor Amar found the importance of the sacred melodies as a part of praying. Following his parents to New York City, Cantor Amar attended Yeshiva University and the Bells School of Music. Cantor Amar was ordained as a Chazzan by The Jewish Ministers Cantors Association of America. He also received a Semicha from the Tiferet Yisroel Yeshiva which is associated with the American Seminary for Contemporary Judaism.

Cantor David Amar joined Congregation Ahavat Olam In August 2009, as he takes the role of the Hazzan. He sees, in this position, an opportunity to continue the quest of finding new and exciting ways to educate our youth, and making the connection to Judaism interesting and approachable to all.

Cantor Amar is married to Milen and together they have Maya, Daniel, Aron & Shalev. He firmly believes in the importance of living a Jewish life and its continuity from generation to generation. His email address is CantorAmar@ahavatolam-nj.org

[ Rabbi ] [ Cantor ] [ Board of Directors & Office Staff ]

[ Rabbi ] [ Cantor ] [ Board of Directors & Office Staff ]