MARBLEHEAD —   David Aronson has always worn multiple hats. An expert multi-tasker, he holds a full-time day job with the Internal Revenue Service, serves as cantor of Temple Sinai of Marblehead, and teaches most nights.

He says he could never do it all without the support of his wife Rayna (who as a Camp Tel Noar administrator, consummate community volunteer, and mother of two busy teens, is quite adept at multi-tasking herself.)

The Aronsons will be honored for their two decades of service to the Jewish community at a gala at Temple Sinai on March 20 at 7 p.m. The public is welcome at the event, which will feature a full course meal (hors d’oeuvres, a sit down dinner and dessert), a silent auction, and a tribute book.

David Aronson, 45, grew up in an observant family in Winthrop, recalling that in first grade he could read Hebrew better than English.

When he was 15 and a student at Maimonides, the cantor of Temple Tifereth Israel of Winthrop had to retire for health reasons. Lacking a chazzan, the rabbi asked Aronson if he could help out. The youth agreed, tutoring b’nai mitzvah students and singing at services.

One day at a bat mitzvah, a guest approached Aronson and told him that he could become a great cantor with some training. The guest referred him to the late Cantor Gregor Shelkan at Temple Mishkan Tefila in Chestnut Hill, who agreed to work with the young protége. Aronson wound up studying with the esteemed cantor for 15 years.

Aronson also studied at the Boston Conservatory of Music. Although he never went to cantorial school (because Hebrew College did not have one back then, and he didn’t want to relocate to New York), he was officiating at High Holiday services by age 18.

In addition to singing, Aronson was good at math. He decided to attend accounting school in order to have a back-up plan.

“Although I loved being a chazzan, I wanted another profession because I knew I wanted to stay in the Boston area, and wasn’t sure there would always be a full-time cantorial position in the area,” he said.

Aronson earned his bachelor’s degree in management and accounting from Clark University in Worcester. He wound up meeting his wife-to-be at the campus Hillel, and the couple married in 1989.

Aronson was working as an accountant and serving as a part-time cantor at Congregation Tifereth Israel in Everett in 1990 when the position for a cantor at Temple Sinai in Marblehead opened up.

Rayna (Sherman) Aronson had grown up in Marblehead and became a bat mitzvah at Temple Sinai. She encouraged her husband to apply for the job. They both liked the warm, family-oriented nature of the Conservative temple, and were thrilled when he got the job.

The couple moved to Marblehead and had two children: Leonard, now 17 and a student at Gann Academy, and Elana, now 14 and a student at Cohen Hillel Academy.

They immediately immersed themselves in the community. Rayna taught math at CHA and was active in the Temple Sisterhood; David guided b’nai mitzvah students from Temple Sinai as well as other synagogues, and taught adult education classes.

For the past 23 years, he has also maintained a day job with the IRS in Boston, where he is currently a tax manager.

Arising well before sunrise on weekdays, Aronson takes the first train into Boston to begin work at 6 a.m. He generally arrives at Temple Sinai by 4 p.m. and tutors b’nai mitzvah students until 7 p.m. He attends minyan and then usually has meetings or leads adult education classes, often not getting home until 9 p.m. His wife and family are supportive and understanding, for which he is grateful.

For many years, Aronson worked closely with Rabbi Jonas Goldberg. In the fall of 2006, Goldberg suffered a serious accident and was unable to lead the congregation.

“Everything fell apart, but David stepped in and fulfilled all the responsibilities. He picked up the pieces and carried on until we hired a new rabbi in the summer of 2007,” said the rabbi, who was unable to return to the pulpit. Goldberg also had kind words for Rayna, calling her an “ashet chayil” (Hebrew for woman of valor).

Myranne Janoff was president of Temple Sinai when Goldberg was injured. “For an entire year, David served as both cantor and rabbi. He prepared D’var Torahs and took on a real leadership role. He gathered the troops and got people to come and read Torah,” she said.

Current President Dr. Michael Silverman said, “David carried us through that time, and we emerged stronger.”

Aronson is modest about his deeds. “Temple Sinai is a loving family for good times, and not-so-good times. We all share in each other’s simchas, and we all mourn at each other’s tzuris. That’s what makes this shul unique,” Aronson said.

The 56-year-old temple currently has 200 member units. Services are egalitarian and very participatory. “We don’t want to give up tradition at the altar of modernism,” said Janoff, who calls the shul “comfortable and comforting.”

“We are rooted in tradition, but are also willing to changing with the times,” said Silverman, who has been a member for 15 years.

“Temple Sinai reminds many of us of the synagogues we grew up in. We have a strong, active lay leadership, and are not pretentious or judgmental,” he added.

The temple’s new young rabbi, Aaron Fine, has helped infuse energy into the congregation. He notes that a recent Tu B’Shevat seder drew more than 100 adults and 30 kids. The temple is resurrecting its social justice committee, and hopes to plant a garden in the spring — donating the fresh produce to a local food bank.

He is working with Cantor Aronson to offer adult education classes, a monthly musical Havdallah service, and a weekly contemplative minyan featuring meditation and chanting.

David Aronson points out an irony. “For many years I studied with Cantor Shelkan. His daughter (Deborah Shelkan-Remis) grew up, moved to the area, and is now an active member of our temple. I actually had the honor of teaching Torah to Cantor Shelkan’s grandchildren,” he said.

The gala takes place on March 20 at 7 p.m. at Temple Sinai, 1 Community Rd., Marblehead. Tickets are $72 each. For further information, call 781-631-2763, email (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address), or visit http://www.sinaimarblehead.org.