New Paltz, New York

Age: 38

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Song: “Broken Hearted”

Shir Yaakov engages Jewish, multi-faith, and non-affiliated people around the world, building spiritual communities, facilitating and inspiring communal music, and helping people connect with their inner wisdom and truth. He works in formal and informal educational settings as a spiritual leader, teacher, and musician. Shir Yaakov, his wife Emily and their two daughters recently made their home in the Hudson Valley, where they are helping to weave the Kol Hai community. Kol Hai’s Shabbat and Holiday gatherings draw upon Shir Yaakov’s extensive experience as a musician, and reflect his unique ability to blend ancient and emerging wisdom to create a spiritual cultural Judaism that is contemporary, alive, and innovative. The music-filled, joyful experiences are held in and around New Paltz, NY and are open to all.

Shir Yaakov has recorded and released four albums of original music and co-founded and performs with The Darshan Project. He has served as Creative and Music Director for Romemu, New York City’s largest Renewal synagogue; Director of Engagement at ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal; ritual consultant for Eden Village Camp; and, visiting faculty at Academy for Jewish Religion.

He is currently a student in the Rabbinic Track of the ALEPH Ordination Program and training with Roshi Bernie Glassman’s Zen Peacemakers to bear witness and more fully enter the stream of socially engaged spirituality.

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