Howard Cohen has served Temple Beth Hillel in the role of Cantor for 18 years. He trained in cantorial and vocal soloist studies under Cantor Saul Meizels of Heights Temple and Cantor Martin Lubitz of the Community Temple, both Conservative congregations in Cleveland, Ohio. Cantor Howard has been a member of the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra Chorus, the Oakland Symphony Chorus, and has performed at Davies Hall as a member of the San Francisco Symphony Chorus. He also has the distinction of being the only non-music major to perform with the Ohio University Singers.

Cantor Howard has Bachelor of Arts degrees in French and Political Science from Ohio University, a Masters in Counseling from Kent State University, and an Doctorate in Education (Ed.D) from UC Berkeley. Cantor Howard is the Superintendent of the South San Francisco Unified School District.  He has also taught coursework in early childhood development at Diablo Valley College. Cantor Howard was recently honored by being selected as a Fulbright Scholar and spent three weeks in Japan studying the Japanese educational system.

Married to Mary, Cantor Howard has one son, Joshua, who became Bar Mitzvah in 1998.

Cantor Howard brings a strong Jewish background, coupled with extensive cantorial studies and the humanity of his life-long experience as an educator, to his role as Cantor of Temple Beth Hillel.