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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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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