For 125 years, the Forward has delivered accurate, timely and nuanced news to American Jews. From breaking news to in-depth investigations, our reporting team covers the people, institutions and issues that define the many ways to be Jewish in the…
News
-
Sountrack of Our Spirit
Galit Dadoun-Cohen
Cantor Temple B’nai Or Morristown, New Jersey Age: 42 Nominated by: Herself Song: “Prayer for Peace,” Cantor Jonathan Comisar “If only our mouths were as full of song as the sea, and our tongues joyful as its waves.” Like much of our ancient Scriptures, this verse may be as ancient as the eighth century, most…
-
Sountrack of Our Spirit Noah Aronson
Composer, New York City Age: 31 Nominated by: Cantor Joshua Breitzer Song: “Adonai S’fatai,” Noah Aronson I used to think I knew what Jewish music was. It held a very specific place in my heart — mostly in the form of nostalgia and collective memory. But since it has become my life’s work, I now…
-
Sountrack of Our Spirit Randall Schloss
Cantor Temple Ohabai Shalom Brookline, Massachusetts Age: 46 Nominated by: Himself Song: “Elohai N’tsor,” Randall Schloss As a cantor, my life is dedicated to Jewish music. I have always been enthralled by music (and always been Jewish!), but over the past 14 years, the two have come together. Judaism is much more than a religion,…
The Latest
-
Sountrack of Our Spirit Joshua Finkel
Cantor Temple Emanu-El Livingston, New Jersey Age: 32 Nominated by: Himself Song: “Jerusalem,” Joshua Finkel Music is the breath of creation. It is the deepest and clearest wellspring in our souls that connects us to each other and to the Divine. Music is the best possible way to communicate a state of mind, or an…
-
Sountrack of Our Spirit Rebecca Schwartz
Cantorial soloist and music director Congregation Kol Ami Elkins Park, Pennsylvania Age: 58 Nominated by: Herself Song: “Yotzeir,” Rebecca Schwartz/Liturgy Jewish music has been my life since 2001. My synagogue was in need of a song leader, and I stepped up. As I started to lead those around me in Jewish prayer and song, I…
-
Sountrack of Our Spirit Ken Richmond
Cantor Temple Israel Natick, Massachusetts Age: 42 Nominated by: Himself Song: “Ana B’choach,” Ken Richmond As a cantor, I’ve been surprised at what a small percentage of my time is taken up with Jewish music. But my experiences and teachers of Jewish music are what drew me to be a cantor — moments like my…
-
Sountrack of Our Spirit Susan Gaeta
Teacher The Nysmith School Herndon, Virginia Age: 61 Nominated by: Herself Song: “La Orasion de la Mujer” (“The Woman’s Prayer”), Flory Jagoda I sing Sephardic music and inspire listeners to remember — through a musical journey — the deep roots of our collective past. The music is traditional, so I carefully follow the nuances: Sephardim…
-
Sountrack of Our Spirit Sarah Myerson
Cantor Congregation Mishkan Tefila Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts Age: 28 Nominated by: Rabbi Jonah Rank Song: “Ruah HaOlam Malkati,” Sarah Myerson Cantor Sarah Myerson is a world traveler and a multi-instrumentalist capable of playing accordion, piano, flute, drums and more. She composes pensive music for the lesser-known parts of tefillah, to help her community become more…
-
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…
-
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…
-
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,…
Explore
Most Popular
- 1
News How Jewish can you be in a Boca country club? Wrapping tefillin got a family suspended, lawsuit says
- 2
News An Alabama millionaire offered Jews $50,000 to move to his town. 16 years later, what’s left?
- 3
Opinion Trump is forcing liberal Zionists to confront an extraordinarily inconvenient truth
- 4
Culture Why is Israel’s attack on Iran called ‘Rising Lion’ — and what does the Bible have to do with it?
In Case You Missed It
-
Antisemitism Decoded The far-right is saying Jews don’t serve in the military — they’re wrong
-
Opinion Might Iran become Trump’s Iraq? Americans are wary — but shouldn’t be
-
News Why isn’t a pro-Israel lobbying group considered a foreign agent?
-
Yiddish ווידעאָ: אַ חסיד פֿאָרט קיין איראַן צו געפֿינען אסתּר המלכּהס קבֿרVIDEO: Hasidic Jew goes to Iran to find Queen Esther’s tomb
אַבֿרהם שוואַרץ איז געפאָרן אַהין מיט דרײַ חדשים צוריק, נישט וויסנדיק אַז אין גיכן וועט צווישן איראַן און ישׂראל אויסברעכן אַ מלחמה.
-
Shop the Forward Store
100% of profits support our journalism
