Music to Our Ears

Rabbi Josh Warshawsky With his guitar in hand and the words of Torah in his heart, recently ordained Rabbi Josh Warshawsky has been able to impact and inspire Jews around the country through the power of music. A singer, song leader, and composer, Rabbi Warshawsky travels the United States and Canada sharing original melodies with Jewish camps, schools, and synagogues. He has released three albums—all of which can...

Inspired by his work with Marak HaYom, a teen-run Jewish a Capella group, Hazzan Matthew Austerklein recently came out with the book, Ilu Finu: A Capella for Jewish Prayer. Fresh out of cantorial school and working at Congregation Beth El of Montgomery County in Bethesda, Maryland, one thing immediately hit a high note with Hazzan Matthew Austerklein (now a cantor at Beth El in Akron, Ohio)—the synagogue’s teen-run a ...

In a digital world filled with soundbites, sensationalized headlines, and clickbait articles, it’s becoming harder than ever to distinguish fact from fiction, especially when it comes to the media’s portrayal of Israel. Helping break down barriers through the power of music is HaZamir: The International Jewish Teen Choir, a program of the Zamir Chorale Foundation that is made up of the most talented Jewish singers across...

For Cantor Shira Lissek of Temple Israel in Charlotte, North Carolina, music has always been the most powerful force in her life. It is her way of making a difference in the world. “Cantors are connectors,” she says. “Through our voices and through music, we are able to connect people to themselves, community, history and tradition and create transformative worship experiences and meaningful lifecycle events.” Whil...