Synagogue Music Homepage

Music is the pulse of Jewish spirituality – song charts the biorhythms of the Jewish soul.'
Chief Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks

Each word or phrase in the bible has a sign to show how it should be sung. There are traditional weekday, Sabbath and Festival modes that are followed. This may be the oldest form of musical notation – and yet it is completely contemporary as it is used in every orthodox synagogue across the world today in a very similar manner. It is constantly being refreshed with new compositions for cantors, service leaders, choirs and congregational singing. The power of Synagogue Music is the potent role that it plays in the act of prayer. Its role is show how to punctuate and interpret the words in a way that is aligned with the mood, character and meaning of the text. It enables participation, vocal, emotional and intellectual. It's about entertainment, about beauty and engaging the worshipper and creating an environment that allows a conduit to be opened in order to reach a place beyond ourselves.  

See links on the right to articles, activities, reviews and pictures of the JMI Synagogue Music Section.

JMI Synagogue Music Section

Set up in 2003 the Mission of the JMI Synagogue music section is to encourage to the highest standards, the appreciation and practice of Jewish cantorial and choral and other vocal music, respectfully spanning the full spectrum of Judaism, welcoming students and participants of all ages, from the Jewish and wider communities.
Director, Stephen Glass Director of Music, Congregation Shaar Hashomayim, Montreal
Coordinator Hirsh Cashdan
Consultant Victor Tunkel   
Choral coordinator Vivienne Bellos (mixed and Children’s Voices)
International Advisory Board:
Cantor Naftali Herstik (Jerusalem)
Cantor Alberto Mizrahi (Chicago)
Cantor Josee Wolff (New York)
Cantor Joseph Levine (Philadelphia)
Cantor Jaclyn Chernett (London)

Aims:
to preserve, maintain and ensure the heritage of synagogue music traditions of Anglo Jewry in all its facets
to promote the use of choral and cantorial music in practice and in concert
to encourage children’s choirs in schools, synagogues and communities
to engage with religious music and choral communities outside of the Jewish community
to promote appreciation and understanding of the music of the Synagogue to the wider public
to provide the opportunity for the enrichment of Jewish spiritual life through the training of individuals and choirs to the highest standards

Activities to achieve these aims:
bring outstanding teachers to train cantors, lay readers, choir masters, teachers and choristers in the best traditions and values of the music of the Jewish people.
to conduct cantorial and choral training for cantors, lay readers, choirmasters and choirs in schools and synagogues.
Hold annual ten-day intensive study periods for choirs of mixed voices, male voices and children’s voices, such as the Barry Weinberg Jewish Choral Festival
hold annual five-day intensive study periods for cantors with the best teachers from abroad at SOAS University of London
hold regular classes and masterclasses in cantorial training at SOAS University of London
set up focus groups for cantors, choirmasters, school music teachers
publish recommended music for the Synagogue
hold annual concerts of traditional music for adults and children
hold a triennial National European Cantorial and Jewish Choral Music Convention
raise funds to achieve these aims.

How you can help:
If you believe in these activities feel could possible help to see that they happen then please make a bequest to the Barry Weinberg Fund for Jewish Music, through which all these activities have come about.

last modified: March 22, 2010