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Leon Rodriguez’s Jewish Journey From Cuba to Top Immigration Post
Leon Rodriguez spread out a collage of black-and-white family photos he keeps in his Washington office. There was his father, surrounded by Jewish activists under a picture of Theodor Herzl in Havana; his grandparents smiling to the camera back in Turkey; his grandfather behind the sewing machine, making shoes. Next to the collage rests a…
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Sountrack of Our Spirit Beth Hamon
Volunteer music leader Havurah Shalom Portland, Oregon Age:52 Nominated by: Herself Song: “Sparks,” Beth Hamon Jewish music is, put simply, any music that reflects some aspect of a Jew’s life — sometimes soulful, sometimes just plain fun. Music expresses ideas and feelings in ways that words alone cannot. It reaches into your insides and draws…
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Sountrack of Our Spirit Jonathan Angress
Cantor Temple Beth Torah Sha’aray Tzedek Tamarac, Florida Age: 27 Nominated by: Himself Song: “Chad Gadya,” Moishe Oysher When I was 6 years old I began playing the violin because I saw the musical “Fiddler on the Roof.” My experience with the violin eventually led to me singing in my synagogue’s choir, which eventually led…
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Sountrack of Our Spirit Richard Kaplan
Cantor Temple Beth Abraham Oakland, California Age: 66 Nominated by: Rabbi Marc Bloom Song: “Birkat Kohanim,” Liturgy As a seeker of wisdom and a musician whose main spiritual practice has been Judaism for the past 30 years, Jewish sacred music has been utterly central to my life. This music’s power to create an expanded soulfulness,…
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Sountrack of Our Spirit Ilene Safyan
Music coordinator Congregation Havurah Shalom Portland, Oregon Age: 62 Nominated by: Herself Song: “P’tach Lanu Sha’ar,” from Yom Kippur Liturgy, music by Ilene Safyan Jewish music — whether the origins are Eastern European, Israeli, Sephardic or American — has always resonated deeply within me. These melodies express yearning, hope, laugher and life. When I moved…
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Sountrack of Our Spirit Jackson Mercer
Song leader URJ Camp Newman, UCLA student San Rafael, California Age: 21 Nominated by: Rachel Mercer Song: “Lech Lecha,” Jackson Mercer Perhaps it is the ultimate act of a Jewish mother to nominate her own son, but he was song-leading up at Camp Newman with limited Internet access [during this nomination process,] so here goes….
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Sountrack of Our Spirit Josh Breitzer
Cantor Congregation Beth Elohim Brooklyn Age: 33 Nominated by: Rachel Timoner Song: “Da Mei’ayin Bata,” Joshua Breitzer As a classically trained musician, I have experienced art’s power to inspire. As a Jew, nowhere have I felt this more potently than during worship. In my cantorate I hold myself to the highest artistic standards, to use…
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Sountrack of Our Spirit Marcus Feldman
Cantor Sinai Temple Los Angeles Age: 31 Nominated by: Rabbi David Wolpe Song: “V’al Yedel Avadecha” Zavel Kwartin I didn’t choose to be a cantor, rather I responded to a sacred calling: to touch people’s lives at their most vulnerable moments. to enhance their joy and ease their sorrow. Jewish music is the perfect vehicle…
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Sountrack of Our Spirit Angela Buchdahl
It is great to hear the variety and range of Jewish music—its many sounds, texts, and languages. Music is a reflection of the soul of a community, and this project reminded me that our Jewish community is diverse and thriving. — Angela Buchdahl Rabbi/Cantor Angela Warnick Buchdahl began her Jewish professional life as a songleader at…
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Sountrack of Our Spirit Shiree Kidron
Lead cantor Bet Shira Congregation Miami Age: 37 Nominated by: Herself Song: “Lu Yehi,” Naomi Shemer I grew up in Israel, where most music was Jewish music, so it naturally resonates deep within me. My love for Jewish music is at my core, and the desire to share my passion fueled my decision to train…
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Sountrack of Our Spirit Galeet Dardashti
For many of us, Jewish sacred music evokes deeply personal and powerful memories of family, community, and often of those no longer with us. For this reason, many greet deviations from our own experience with Jewish sonic ritual with ire. Yet while some may be nostalgic for a specific music soundscape, Jewish musical practice—never static—constantly…
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