Tehilah & Cantor Rabbi Arik Wollheim
Tiferet Award
Chazzan Arik and Tehilah were both born and raised in Israel, but Tehilah’s connection to LA goes back to her childhood - spending summers and family events in Los Angeles with her grandparents z”l. Her perfect English accent is due to her Angelino mother and New Englander dad. Tehilah graduated from Horev High School in Jerusalem and served her National service at Sha’arei Tzedek Medical Center, heart surgery department. Before earning her Academic degrees (BA in Psychology & criminology from Bar Ilan University and MA in organizational consulting from the College of Management) Tehilah spent a year learning at Midrahsa Shuva. While still in Israel, Tehilah pursued some of her passions by taking photography courses and earning a professional makeup artist diploma. Tehilah has spent time travelling, especially to the far east and has worked as an organizational consultant in the private sector.
First imbued with the love and foundations for the cantorial art by his father, Arik advanced his cantorial studies and has been teaching B'nai Mitzvah since he was 9 years old. After graduating from Yeshivah Yavneh, Arik then became the head soloist of the Israeli Military Choir. Arik holds a Bachelor’s (Brooklyn College) as well as a Master’s (SUNY) degree in Music & Opera studies. Arik has performed throughout the world in a variety of operas and concerts of Cantorial, Jewish, and Israeli music. In 2001 Arik took his first position as a full time Chazzan at Congregation Agudath Sholom in Stamford, Connecticut where he stayed for 12 years. In 2008 Arik returned to Israel commuting to Connecticut every month, while studying at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem for his PhD. In Israel, Arik served as a faculty member at the Jerusalem Cantorial School and CEO of Renanot (The Israel Institute for Jewish Culture & Music). In addition to his duties at BJC, Arik has served as music director of Harkham Hillel Hebrew Academy and is a Professor of Jewish Liturgy at the Academy of Jewish Religion. In 2017 Arik received his ordination as a Rabbi after completing a three-year program with Rabbi Riskin and Ohr Torah Stone.
Tehilah and Arik met in Israel in 2008 and their first date was followed by five weeks of endless long-distance phone calls as they were on two different continents. In 2009 Tehilah & Arik were married and they are the proud parents of Yehudit (almost 11) Emmanuelle (almost 9), Hodaya (7) & Oria (almost 5).
Tehilah & Arik felt truly blessed nine years ago (February of 2013) when they joined our Beth Jacob community. This vibrant, renowned community that they had heard so much about turned out to be even more special than they originally anticipated, with warm, dynamic, accomplished members, and their love for the Shul has grown over almost a decade. The Wollheim’s favorite part of Beth Jacob is interacting with its wonderful members who they consider dear friends and part of their extended family. Shabbat meals at the Wollheim home is not only a special time spent with friends and words of Torah, but also a culinary celebration with Tehilah’s cooking and Arik’s choices of wine. Chazan Arik is deeply honored to dedicate himself to growing and strengthening Beth Jacob, with the partnership of Tehilah.
First imbued with the love and foundations for the cantorial art by his father, Arik advanced his cantorial studies and has been teaching B'nai Mitzvah since he was 9 years old. After graduating from Yeshivah Yavneh, Arik then became the head soloist of the Israeli Military Choir. Arik holds a Bachelor’s (Brooklyn College) as well as a Master’s (SUNY) degree in Music & Opera studies. Arik has performed throughout the world in a variety of operas and concerts of Cantorial, Jewish, and Israeli music. In 2001 Arik took his first position as a full time Chazzan at Congregation Agudath Sholom in Stamford, Connecticut where he stayed for 12 years. In 2008 Arik returned to Israel commuting to Connecticut every month, while studying at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem for his PhD. In Israel, Arik served as a faculty member at the Jerusalem Cantorial School and CEO of Renanot (The Israel Institute for Jewish Culture & Music). In addition to his duties at BJC, Arik has served as music director of Harkham Hillel Hebrew Academy and is a Professor of Jewish Liturgy at the Academy of Jewish Religion. In 2017 Arik received his ordination as a Rabbi after completing a three-year program with Rabbi Riskin and Ohr Torah Stone.
Tehilah and Arik met in Israel in 2008 and their first date was followed by five weeks of endless long-distance phone calls as they were on two different continents. In 2009 Tehilah & Arik were married and they are the proud parents of Yehudit (almost 11) Emmanuelle (almost 9), Hodaya (7) & Oria (almost 5).
Tehilah & Arik felt truly blessed nine years ago (February of 2013) when they joined our Beth Jacob community. This vibrant, renowned community that they had heard so much about turned out to be even more special than they originally anticipated, with warm, dynamic, accomplished members, and their love for the Shul has grown over almost a decade. The Wollheim’s favorite part of Beth Jacob is interacting with its wonderful members who they consider dear friends and part of their extended family. Shabbat meals at the Wollheim home is not only a special time spent with friends and words of Torah, but also a culinary celebration with Tehilah’s cooking and Arik’s choices of wine. Chazan Arik is deeply honored to dedicate himself to growing and strengthening Beth Jacob, with the partnership of Tehilah.