Erica Lippitz is, along with Marla Rosenfeld Barugel, one of the first two female hazzans (also called cantors) ordained in Conservative Judaism, which occured in 1987.[1] She and Barugel were ordained at the same time by the Cantors Institute of the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City.[1] Since 1987 she has been the cantor at Oheb Shalom in New Jersey.[2] She is also the director and cofounder of the Kol Dodi choir, director of Oheb Shalom's adult and children's choirs, and a member of the folk-singing group "Beged Kefet"; the group performs nationally and has made three recordings.[2][3] She is a cofounder, with Cantor Perry Fine, of the JTS Cantorial Alumni Association’s Shir Joy Choral Festival.[2] In 2005 she sang at Carnegie Hall.[2]
Prior to becoming a cantor, Lippitz earned a B.A. from the University of Michigan, as well as a Masters in Jewish Communal Service from Brandeis University.[3]