Cantor Irving Shulkes has always been close to the Jewish musical idiom. His home and yeshiva environment fostered a warm feeling for Jewish music. Singing in a professional choir for several years as a youth, instilled in him an appreciation and love for the chants and choral works of the synagogue.
Following his graduation from Brooklyn College, he taught speech for one year at Boys High School in Brooklyn. This was followed by two years in the army where he served as an English instructor to Puerto Rican soldiers. His specialty was “Survival English” during the Korean War. Since the only synagogue in San Juan was without a rabbi or a cantor, he assisted when he could at Friday evening services at the Jewish Community Center, 35 miles away. It was during this period that the idea of serving Jewish congregational life was strengthened.
He completed a four-year course study in 1958 at the School of Sacred Music in New York and was ordained as a cantor by Hebrew Union College. While working as a cantor, he continued his studies at Teachers College, Columbia University where he earned his M.A. in music with a specialty in choral conducting. Cantor Shulkes studied voice with the renowned Sidney Dietch who had a very positive influence on the young student. Before coming to Temple Sinai in 1970, the cantor served congregations in Floral Park, New York and in Teaneck, New Jersey.
An active member in his profession, the cantor was elected to the executive board of the American Conference of Cantors. He served as board member, treasurer, convention chairman, and later as vice president, until his move to Florida. After a short time in Florida, he was elected president of the Cantors Association of Florida. In June of 1998, after twenty-eight years at Temple Sinai and 23 impressive annual music festivals, he became Cantor Emeritus.
On March 14, 2000, Cantor Shulkes was awarded an honorary doctorate at Hebrew Union College New York City in recognition of his dynamic contribution to Jewish life. In 2018, at the national convention of the American Conference of Cantors in Dallas, Texas, he was presented with the Or L’Chazanim, the Light Unto the Cantors award in honor of his 60th anniversary in the cantorate.
In 1977, Irving married Joanne at Temple Sinai. They have two children, Ron (Sara) and Heather (Chris). They are also the proud grandparents of Nate, Bennett, Ethan, and Sophia. Since his retirement, Cantor Shulkes has been officiating as guest clergy aboard cruise ships. Together, Joanne and Irving have traveled widely to many different parts of the world.