Born and raised in Toronto and as a member of Beth Tzedec Congregation, Cantor Sidney Ezer is privileged to now serve as H̱azzan.

Cantor Sidney  received an Honours BA in Religious Studies from York University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Education from the University of Toronto. He lived  in Quebec City for more than two years studying French as a second language and received a diploma from Laval University.

Prior to his investiture as a H̱azzan from the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS), Cantor Sidney taught English as a Second Language to adult immigrants in Toronto. As a result, he always enjoys learning about different cultures.

Having an Ashkenazi as well as an Iraqi Jewish background, Cantor Sidney has striven to study and share  the beauty of various Jewish musical traditions with others. He is able to chant Torah in the East European Ashkenazic, West European Ashkenazic, Baghdadi, Moroccan, Yerushalmi, Spanish Portuguese, and Italian Sephardic traditions. Cantor Sidney often incorporates diverse melodies in his davening. He collects coins and music from all over the world.

Cantor Sidney also enjoys the theatre. Besides his involvement in the Purim musical productions at Beth Tzedec, he has performed in numerous shows for Vanier College at York University, for Scarborough Music Theatre and Etobicoke Musical Productions. He currently is part of the close harmony quartet “The Wizards of Ashkenaz”, formed with three of his fellow graduates from JTS. They periodically perform concerts which feature various Jewish musical styles, from cantorial to Israeli pop, Yiddish, Sephardic, comedy, and even Jewish Blues.

Although he has no Irish background, since his childhood Cantor Sidney has had a special affinity for the colour green and will often be seen in shul wearing his green tallitot and kippot.