Today is December 26, 2024 /
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Rav-Hazzan Scott M. Sokol joined the professional staff of Beth Sholom in September of 2005. This year marks his tenth anniversary as our part-time cantor. His primary position is Head of School at the MetroWest Jewish Day School (MWJDS), a K-8 pluralistic day school, which recently moved to Temple Beth Sholom. Before taking over the leadership at MWJDS, Rav-Hazzan Sokol was Dean of the Jewish Music Institute and Director of both the Cantor-Educator Program and the Special Education Program at Hebrew College. He has a BA in Psychology from Brandeis University, MA and PhD degrees in Cognitive Neuropsychology from Johns Hopkins University, MSM and Cantorial Investiture from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America and rabbinic ordination from the Rabbinical Seminary International.
Rav-Hazzan Sokol enjoys his life as a “multi-professional” and has managed to achieve a high level of success in his various professional paths. A former clinician and professor of neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, he remains a Fellow of the American Psychological Society and is the current Secretary of the American Academy of Pediatric Neuropsychology. He has received several awards including the American Psychological Association’s Young Psychologist Award, a Fulbright Young Scientist Award, and was the first cantorial student to receive the prestigious Wexner Fellowship. In 2014, he was honored by Hebrew College receiving their highest award, the Benjamin Shevach Memorial Award for distinguished Jewish educational leadership.
Rav-Hazzan Sokol is an accomplished violist and singer. He is a featured soloist on several recordings with the Zamir Chorale of Boston, for whom he served as assistant conductor and vocal coach for several years. He is also the co-founder of Koleinu: The Jewish Community Chorus of Boston, and Sheminiyah, a professional octet of cantors. Rav-Hazzan Sokol has served on the executive council of the Cantors Assembly of America, and is the former editor of The Journal of Synagogue Music. Rav-Hazzan Sokol lives in Framingham with his wife, Dr. Francene Reichel and their two sons, Benjamin (18 years old) and Samuel (15 years old).