Avitall Gerstetter


Avitall Gerstetter is the first female hazzan in Jewish Renewal and the first female cantor in Germany. She was ordained in 2002. She served as a cantor in Berlin together with cantor Mimi Sheffer and Rabbi Daniela Thau; this was the first time after the Holocaust that women had led the services of the High Holy Days. In 2007 Avitall was awarded the title of ‘Ambassador for Tolerance’ by the Bündnis for Demokratie und Toleranz of the German government. She serves as cantor in the Oranienburger Straße Synagogue and in the Hüttenweg Synagogue in Berlin, and has created several CDs.