Our Spiritual Leader

Cantor Marilyn Selby Okoshi

זַמְּרוּ לַה’ בְּכִנּוּר בְּכִנּוּר וְקוֹל זִמְרָה

zamru laShem b’khinor, b’khinor v’kol zimrah

Sing to God with the harp, the harp and voice singing together: Ps 98

Cantor Marilyn Selby Okoshi was ordained as a hazzan by the Jewish Theological Seminary where she also earned masters degrees in Sacred Music and Jewish Educational Leadership. After practicing corporate and securities law for over 30 years, Cantor Selby Okoshi returned to her love of Jewish studies and pedagogy that was honed at Gratz College Hebrew High School and a passion for Jewish music that began when she was a member of the children’s choir at Temple Sinai in Philadelphia.

Holder of a JD from Stanford Law School, she worked full time as an attorney in New York City and in Tokyo, Japan. Marilyn also holds an MA in East Asian History and a BA in Diplomatic History and Economics (with a minor in French) from the University of Pennsylvania. She is fluent in Mandarin Chinese, having lived and studied in Taiwan after graduating from university; and she is fluent in Japanese, after studying Japanese during law school and then living and working in Japan for close to four years. Marilyn has served in Conservative, Reconstructionist and Reform congregations as service leader and teacher and believes in welcoming all to participate and learn about our Jewish heritage and traditions. Cantor Selby Okoshi has two adult sons, Ethan, the elder, living in Japan and Jacob, the younger, living with her and her dog, Tatsumaki in Annville.

Cantor Selby Okoshi is a spiritual work-in-process, always looking for ways to deepen her connection to others and to the divine. Music is her medium for that connection and endeavors to imbue her prayer services with that spirit while also listening and responding to modalities that resonate with those in the congregation. Jewish life is not a spectator sport. The Cantor hopes each person in our community will engage and say “put me in, Coach!”