B’nei Mitzvah

Cantor Miranda Kark Beckenstein, known to all as Cantor Mandi, was born in Cape Town, South Africa. She was educated in the public school system and then at the University of Cape Town, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and Music, followed by a Performer’s Diploma in Opera. A bursary from UCT for postgraduate study to her to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London. Returning to Cape Town, she sang professionally with the Capab Opera Company, performing in operas, operettas, and musicals.

During her high school days, beginning in August 1962, she joined the Junior Choir of the local Reform Temple, Temple Israel of Wynberg, followed quickly by the Senior Choir. Over the years, she served as a chorister, soloist, and ultimately as conductor of both the Junior and Senior Choirs. She was closely connected to the choir and South African Reform Judaism from August 1962 through April 1985, with a break for 2½ years while studying in London, until she left for the USA in May 1985.

In 1985, she was accepted into the four-year Cantorial Masters Program offered by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion’s Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music in New York. In 1989, she graduated with a Masters Degree in Sacred Music as well as ordination as a Cantor. She has served Reform Congregations in New Jersey, Connecticut, and New York State as a Cantor and Educator, as well as Nursery School Director. She was the Coordinator for Alumni Relations for the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music for 6 years, working to keep all Cantorial Alumni of the DFSSM close to their school after graduation. In 2014, her alma mater awarded her a Doctorate of Music, honoris causa, for her devotion to K’lal Yisrael and the education of young people. In the same year, The American Conference of Cantors awarded her the Sh’liach Tzibbur Award in recognition of her devoted service to Judaism and the Cantorate. She has also been awarded a Greenspoon-Steinhardt Award for Excellence in Jewish Education and received recognition as an exceptional teacher, mentor, and leader in the Greater New York area. She continues to teach and inspire young students as a B.Mitzvah and Hebrew Prayer teacher at Temple Beth Abraham in Tarrytown, NY, Park Avenue Synagogue in New York City, and Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Los Angeles.

Outside of her passion for all things Jewish, she loves History and Genealogy, Music, Art, Knitting and Embroidery, Theatre and Ballet, Opera and Musicals, Stamp Collecting, Gardening, and Reading. She “is addicted” to TV series like Outlander, GOT (when it was airing), and pretty much any British-produced Series on PBS. She is the mother of one daughter who made Aliyah and the proud granny of a 6-year-old Sabra, Maya.

Cantor Mandi is very excited to be working with students at Temple Beth Sholom and looks forward to many fruitful years together.

Cantor Marnie Camhi brings over two decades of experience and service in Jewish congregational leadership, education, and music throughout New York and New Jersey. She was ordained in 2006 by the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music at the Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of Religion in New York City, where she earned a Master of Sacred Music. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance, graduating cum laude from Binghamton University in Binghamton, NY in 2001.

She is a passionate educator, currently working virtually as a Hebrew and T’fillah teacher and B-Mitzvah tutor for programs and synagogues in California and Georgia. She has extensive experience training B-Mitzvah students of all learning abilities.

In addition to her cantorial and educational work, she is a member of the American Conference of Cantors and the Women Cantors’ Network

Cantor Camhi composes Jewish liturgical music and has been published in several anthologies. She also writes Purim Spiels that have been performed all across the USA, Canada, Europe, Australia and South Africa.

She is excited to be part of Temple Beth Sholom!

Karen Pincus has been a dedicated presence in the South Florida Jewish community since 2007, uplifting each k’hillah k’doshah she has served through sacred song, prayer, and heartfelt leadership. From 2017 to 2021, she served as Cantorial Soloist-Educator at Temple Israel of Greater Miami, where she played a vital role in shaping future Jewish leaders through her B’nai Mitzvah and song leader programs.

Karen continued her service to Jewish youth at Temple Solel in Hollywood from 2022 to 2023, acting as Cantorial Soloist and B’nai Mitzvah Educator. A proud member of the Guild of Temple Musicians since 2009, Karen holds a B.A. in Religious Studies from Florida International University, along with certificates in Judaic Studies and the Study of Spirituality.

From 2019 to 2023, she was a member of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation’s Cantorial Cabinet and remains actively involved in its Mishkan Miami Refuat Ha-Nefesh program, supporting spiritual healing within the community.

Karen is currently continuing her Cantorial studies through the Cantors Assembly’s CICA program (Cantorial Intern of the Cantors Assembly), with the goal of becoming a fully accredited Cantor.

She has been happily married to her husband, Alan, since 1989. Together they are the proud parents of Adam, who lives in New York with his wife, Melissa, and their son, Noah; and Lauren, who lives and works in Chicago with her husband, Danny.

Shoshana was born in Israel and grew up in Tel Aviv. She moved to Florida in 1980 and started teaching at the Jewish Community Center in North Miami Beach. In 1981, Shoshana started her work as a Hebrew teacher at the School for Living Judaism. She has enjoyed preparing many children and adults for Bar and Bat Mitzvah. She feels that it is a mitzvah to teach Jewish kids and adults in the Diaspora about Israel, Judaism and Hebrew. Shoshana received her degree in Early Childhood Education through Elementary School Education from the Kibbutzim Seminary in Tel Aviv. In addition, she received a Senior Hebrew Teacher Certificate for Adult Education from the Israeli Defense Forces and a Senior Hebrew Teacher Certificate as a Second Language from Tel Aviv University. She holds a Judaic Studies and Hebrew Language Teachers License from The Greater Miami Board of License. Shoshana served in the Israeli Defense Forces teaching new immigrant soldiers from all over the world. Before coming to Florida, she taught Hebrew for Jewish students from South America and the United States. Shoshana has enjoyed teaching Hebrew and Judaic Studies for children of all ages and adults at Temple Beth Sholom.