Cantor Jaclyn Chernett, the first woman in the UK to be ordained as a Jewish cantor, is a founder member of Kol Nefesh Masorti Synagogue, as well as a founder of Masorti Judaism in the UK. A love of Jewish teaching and its expression through the music of the liturgy has been Jaclyn’s passion over many years, and led her on an exciting journey of learning and teaching. Jacky received an MPhil in Ethnomusicology in Biblical Chant before embarking on her studies toward ordination at the New York Academy for Jewish Religion, an inspiring pluralistic rabbinical/cantorial school.

In 2007, Jaclyn set up EAJL (the European Academy for Jewish Liturgy) which provides competent lay individuals and groups with dedicated professional coaching and mentoring in leadership of Jewish prayer. It is now awarding diplomas to high level students and will soon be taking its first ordinands.

Cantor Jaclyn took part in COZ (Conversations on Zoom) in the new International Forum for Jewish Music Studies on Tuesday 26th January 2021, with her colleague Cantor Jalda Rebling (Berlin) discussing musical and textual traditions of prayer and the overriding importance of its purpose and soulful expression through the work of EAJL. 

Cantor Jaclyn was in conversation with Cantor Steven Cotsen from the New London Synagogue in November 2020.  They discuss their journeys as leaders of prayer and talk about the people who inspired them to pursue this calling. And, of course, they sing!

She lives with her husband Brian in Edgware and they are the proud parents of their three daughters and grandparents of nine grandchildren and three granddogs.