Rabbi shefa gold biography of christopher

Shefa Gold

American rabbi and musician

Shefa Gold (born April 8,)[1] is an American rabbi, scholar, and Director of the Center for Devotional, Energy and Ecstatic Practice (C-DEEP) in Jemez Springs, New Mexico. Gold is a teacher of chant, Jewish mysticism, Jewish prayer and spirituality who Rabbi Mike Comins described in as "a pioneer in the ecstatic practice of Jewish chant."[2] Her chants have been used in synagogues, minyanim, and street protests; perhaps her most well known being "Ozi V'zimrat Yah".[3][4][5] Combining traditional Jewish liturgical music with Hebrew chant, Gold has worked to cultivate a distinctly Jewish gratitude practice.[6] Her "Flavors of Gratefulness" mobile app has different chants for Modeh Ani, the brief prayer traditionally recited by religious Jews upon awakening.[7] In she released "Flavors of Praise" with 72 different chants.

Prior to her rabbinical training, Gold worked as a musician. She said in a interview, "What I was really trying to do with my music was create sacred space. I felt how powerful music is in opening hearts."[8][9] During her training at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, she took time off to study Zen meditation practices (including chant). During a retreat led by Thích Nhât Hanh at the Omega Institute, Gold co-led a Rosh Hashanah service as many of the participants were Jewish.[10] By the time Gold was ordained as a rabbi in , she had integrated Hebrew chant into her spiritual practice and, ultimately, her rabbinate (ministry).[9] She is a leader within ALEPH: the Alliance for Jewish Renewal, and received ordination from Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi in addition to her Reconstructionist one.[6][11] Through a program named Kol Zimra, Gold has trained rabbis, cantors, and lay leaders in Hebrew chant practices.[8][12] According to one Jewish Telegraphic Agency article, nearly all interest in Jewish chanting today can be traced back to Gold.[3] She was included in Letty Cottin Pogrebin's list, The Other Fifty Rabbis in America,[13] a list of "America's most inspiring rabbis" by The Forward,[14] and has been quoted in articles that discuss the intersection of New Age spirituality and Judaism.[3][15][16]

Gold has produced ten albums, and her liturgies have been published in several[which?]prayerbooks.[17]

She is the author of several books on deepening spiritual awareness through sacred chant and meditation.

Gold's work was featured in the book Stalking Elijah: Adventures with Today's Jewish Mystical Masters by Rodger Kamenetz.[18]

In , Gold was one of the rabbis who signed a statement by Jewish Veg encouraging Jews to take up a vegan lifestyle.[19][20]

Gold has described Hebrew chant as effective for healing and transforming people of different religions, not just adherents of Judaism.[8]

Selected publications

References

  1. ^Heskes, Irene; Pinnolis, Judith S. (June 23, ). "Cantors: American Jewish Women | Reconstructing Judaism and Renewal Movements". The Shalvi/Hyman Encyclopedia of Jewish Women.
  2. ^Comins, Mike (). Making Prayer Real: Leading Jewish Spiritual Voices on why Prayer is Difficult and what to Do about it. Jewish Lights Publishing. ISBN&#;.
  3. ^ abcHarris, Ben (). "With shruti boxes and drums, practitioners chanting their way into Judaism". Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
  4. ^Trujillo, Ana Maria (). "Benefit to be held for adoption: Rabbi hosting workshop to raise funds for family". The Santa Fe New Mexican &#; via
  5. ^Mathias, Christopher (). "Trump's Visit To Pittsburgh — A City That Didn't Want Him". Huffington Post.
  6. ^ abAbernethy, Bob (). "Jewish Renewal". PBS.
  7. ^Cohen, Susannah (). "Thank goodness: Gratitude may just be the secret to a happy life". So Tov. Archived from the original on
  8. ^ abcdByle, Ann (May 7, ). "Shefa Gold: The Joy of Hebrew Chant". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved
  9. ^ abPalmer, Joanne (). "A chant encounter with God: How a Paramus teen grew into a rabbi in search of heaven's gate". Jewish Standard.
  10. ^Steinfels, Peter (). "At a Retreat, a Zen Monk Plants the Seeds of Peace". The New York Times.
  11. ^"Authors". Evolve. Retrieved
  12. ^"Kol Zimra: Chant Leader's Professional Development". Retrieved
  13. ^Letty Cottin Pogrebin (April 16, ). "The Other Top Fifty Rabbis in America". Lilith. Retrieved January 7,
  14. ^Eisner, Jane (). "America's Most Inspiring Rabbis: 33 Men & Women Who Move Us". The Forward.
  15. ^"Rabbi Shefa Gold: Giving Voice to Sacred Texts". Spirituality & Health.
  16. ^Schultz, Matthew (). "Of Tao and Torah: New Age Beliefs Are Making Serious Inroads in U.S. Jewish Life". Haaretz.
  17. ^"Rabbi Shefa Gold". . Retrieved
  18. ^Kamenetz, Rodger (). Stalking Elijah: Adventures with Today's Jewish Mystical Masters. Harper Collins. ISBN&#;.
  19. ^"Plus Rabbis Urge Transition Toward Animal-Free, Plant-Based Diets". . Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle. p.&#;3. Retrieved
  20. ^"New Jewish Veg – Rabbinic Statement on Plant-based Diet". Animal Interfaith Alliance. Retrieved
  21. ^Leibel, Aaron (). "Another way to get to God?". Washington Jewish Week. ProQuest&#;
  22. ^"Nonfiction reviews". Publishers Weekly. (53). New York. ProQuest&#;