Cantor Fredda Rakusun Mendelson comes from a lineage, which includes a grandfather born in Riga who spent his life as a cantor in many cities in America, after emigrating in the early 1900's. Her love of music was also passed on through her mother who played the piano, her dad who sang and played the violin, uncles who sang and one uncle who was a well known Dixieland clarinet and saxophone player. By 4th grade Cantor Mendelson was studying violin and became proficient in keyboard, piano and vocal studies during high school. She continued her musical education receiving a BS in Music Education from Ohio State University and a Masters of Degree Music from the College-Conservatory of Music, University Of Cincinnati. She pursued an operatic career as a Verdi mezzo-soprano throughout America and many cities around the world. Her European opera debut was as Azucena in Frankfurt Germany.

She met her future husband, Cantor Jack Mendelson while at the American Opera Center, part of the Julliard School, in 1978. With his encouragement she began studying at the Hebrew Union College in 1992 and was invested as a Cantor in 1996. Before coming to Larchmont Temple in 1999 she served as cantor at Temple Bethel in Spring valley, NY. Cantor Fredda and Cantor Jack Mendelson have a sixteen-year-old son, Daniel. Larchmont Temple is blessed to have a Chazanit with the voice, devotion and spiritual inspiration of Cantor Fredda.

Cantor Mendelson may be reached at the temple office or through her e-mail at cantorm@larchmonttemple.org.