Rabbi Cantor Samuel B. Radwine graduated from the University of Illinois with a B.A. in Instrumental Music Education and went on to teach within the Bethany, Illinois public school system. Sam left Illinois for New York City, where he studied at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music and was ordained as a cantor in 1981. After serving pulpits in Fairlawn, New Jersey and Danbury Connecticut, he came to Congregation Ner Tamid, in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, where he served both as Cantor and Director of Education, becoming Cantor Emeritus in 2013. During his time in California, Rabbi Cantor Radwine served on the faculty of Hebrew Union College, Los Angeles campus, and for the Rabbinical and Cantorial Schools of the Academy for Jewish Religion California. After “retirement”, Sam and his husband relocated to Palm Springs, where he served as Cantor for the Sun City Jewish Congregation and Har El Congregation, both in Palm Desert.
In 2017, Rabbi Cantor Radwine relocated to Bentonville, Arkansas, and joined the local synagogue, Congregation Etz Chaim. Not too much time passed before Sam was asked to become the community’s spiritual leader. It was while in this role that he decided to pursue rabbinic smicha.
Rabbi Cantor Radwine is the Dean of the AJRCA Cantorial School.
Email: sradwine@ajrca.edu