Getting to know Cantor Jordan Goldstein
Cantor Jordan Goldstein (they/he) was ordained in May of 2023 by the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music at HUC-JIR. They care deeply about building community, weaving together traditions new and old, and dreaming big about the future of American Judaism. They are rarely found without a guitar nearby, and spend much of their free time playing, singing, and writing music.
Cantor Goldstein joined Congregation Beth Chaim of Princeton Junction, NJ as their cantor in 2023. Previously, they served as the cantorial intern at Congregation Beth Elohim in Brooklyn, NY while collaborating with many synagogues and communities in the New York City area as an educator, musical leader, activist, and aide for students with disabilities. He has songled at 4 different URJ camps, including being the Head Song Leader at URJ Jacobs Camp and URJ Eisner Camp. Some of his notable work includes having been a co-founder and director of the organization Kol HaChaverim (an online space for LGBTQIA+ Jews to gather and sing together during the pandemic), a co-founder of the interfaith choir Project Harmony, featured in the documentary "All God's Children,” and participating in the early organization and think tank of Yom HaTzedek and the Tzedek Box project.
Cantor Goldstein is a proud and outspoken member of the LGBTQIA+ community, being both bisexual and non-binary. At their ordination, they became the first out trans or non-binary person ordained as a cantor, alongside fellow trailblazers Cantor Ze'evi Tovlev and Cantor Kalix Jacobson.
When they aren’t at Congregation Beth Chaim, you can find them grabbing the nearest instrument to initiate a jam session, picking out a new flavor of ice cream to try at the Bent Spoon, playing with their rabbit (named II Samuel, after the book of Prophets), or fitting in a session with their D&D party.

Havdalah concert featuring Rabbi Noah Diamondstein, Leo Henkin, Rose Snitz, and a third of the HUC DFFSM cantorial school students

Mentoring the next generation
West Windsor Interfaith Juneteenth Service
Leading Song Leader Boot Camp in Ma'ariv

Preschool music class
Guiding religious school students in leading the community in prayer
Simchat Torah Across Brooklyn
Song leading as a team at URJ Eisner Camp

A Wicked/Wizard of Oz Purim Megillah reading and shpiel
Leading Shacharit at Hava Nashira

Making an anxious B'Mitzvah student more comfortable on the bimah with a furry friend!

Rehearsing with Brooklyn cantors for a community-wide Yom HaShoah ceremony

Installation Shabbat with Cantor Josh Breitzer, Rabbi Noah Diamondstein, and Leo Henkin

Sharing the Social Justice medley I arranged for my recital to honor the opening of the Tzedek Box art exhibition at HUC-JIR New York

Conducting fellow cantorial students for a classmate's recital
Project Harmony interfaith choir

Rosh Hashanah Family Service

HUC cantorial student coalition at Hava Nashira

Prayer leading in the Sea of Galilee
Informal jam session with members of Kehilat HaLev in Tel Aviv
High Holy Days at Washington & Lee University

Yom Kippur Ne'ilah joy

Senior Recital at HUC-JIR NY, singing with Elana Arian

Passover seder communal singing

Outdoor Shabbat
Eisner Camp opening day song session

Sound check with Congregation Beth Elohim musicians