Opening day at Eisner Camp (2013)
Cantor Vladimir Lapin is the inaugural holder of the Cantor Sarah J. Sager Chair in Music at Congregation Mishkan Or (formerly Anshe Chesed Fairmount Temple) in Beachwood, OH. As part of the clergy team at Mishkan Or, Cantor Lapin leads weekly, holiday and lifecycle services, engages in adult Torah study, oversees the b'nei mitzvah program, offers continuing education lessons to children and adults, and offers pastoral support and care to the community. Beyond the sanctuary, Cantor Lapin is actively involved in community outreach, contributing to various educational and cultural initiatives throughout Cleveland and beyond.
Cantor Lapin received his cantorial ordination from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion's Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music, from which he also holds a master’s degree in Sacred Music. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Public Relations from Temple University in Philadelphia and a graduate diploma in Vocal Performance from The Mannes College of Music in New York City. Prior to entering the cantorate, he worked as a public relations professional in New York.
Cantor Lapin has collaborated with wide ranging artists, and as an active recitalist and soloist, he has performed in sacred and secular music concerts throughout North America, Israel and Europe. Most recently, he was the featured soloist in Ernest Bloch’s Sacred Service with the Kent State University Orchestra and Choir.
Cantor Lapin is an active member of the American Conference of Cantors (ACC); he joined its Executive Board in 2019. He also serves as a member of the Hebrew Union College -Jewish Institute of Religion’s Alumni Council.
Before joining the clergy team at Fairmount Temple, Cantor Lapin served as cantor at Temple Beth-El of Great Neck in New York. While a student, Cantor Lapin served as the cantorial intern at B’nai Jeshurun - Barnert Temple in Franklin Lakes, NJ. He has also served as the student cantor at Congregation Beit Simchat Torah (CBST) in New York City. He completed a unit of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at The Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati, OH, where he worked in the mental health and the intensive care units. He has been a member of the religious school faculty at Temple Sha'aray Tefila and Congregation Rodeph Sholom in New York City. Additionally, he has spent several summers as the Director of the Nature Program (Teva) at URJ Camp Eisner in Great Barrington, MA.
Cantor Lapin is the recipient of the Rabbi Jack Stern & Lawrence Hoffman Prize in Liturgy (2014), the Be Wise Fellowship (2013-2015), the Rabbi Sarah Messinger Prize (2014), the Yiddish Song Prize (2014), the Lutwak Memorial Cantorial Prize (2013) and the Levenstein Prize in Human Relations (2015).
Cantor Lapin was born in Belarus, and grew up in Philadelphia. He is married to Rabbi Elle Muhlbaum, and together they are proud parents of two children.