Graduate Certificates in Tefillah Leadership

Instructor: Rabbi Nehemia Polen
Meetings: Wednesdays @ 2:30pm: 9/2, 9/9, 10/7, 10/14, 10/21, 10/28

This is a course in transformative prayer leadership, aiming to encounter divinity and our innermost selves. We will survey biblical, rabbinic, kabbalistic-mystical, and Hasidic modes of tefillah, emphasizing transformative experience and full-being engagement.

Among the topics:
Spirituality of the physical; intercessory prayer; saying You to God; blessing God; quieting the mind and opening the heart; niggun and sonic theology; the power of silence; the unfolding stages of Shabbat—creating sacred space and entering sacred time; tasting and feeling the palette of spiritual bounty in community.

Our work will be grounded in textual study, personal experience, and collective sharing. This course will ask participants to be open to the power of the spirit and to listen respectfully to the whisperings of the heart—one’s own and each other’s.

for Rabbinical students and those enrolled in a certificate in tefillah leadership.

Instructor: Cantor Louise Treitman
Meetings: Wednesdays @ 2:30pm: 11/4, 11/11, 11/18, 12/2, 12/9, 12/16

This course covers a traditional Ashkenazi chant for the ta’amei hamikra (trope signs) of the Haftarah, along with the underlying syntactical structure of the cantillation system and the history, performance practice, and texts of the Haftarot. As a final assignment, each student will prepare and chant one Haftarah reading with an accompanying introduction to their selected text. Emphasis will be placed on fluent cantillation, accurate pronunciation, and demonstrated textual understanding.

Appropriate for students with strong Biblical Hebrew and for those who have taken Basic Cantillation (Torah trope).

Instructor: Rabbi-Cantor Michael McCloskey
Meetings: Wednesdays @ 2:30pm
Module 3: 2/3, 2/10, 2/17, 2/24, 3/3, 3/10
Module 4: 3/17, 3/24, 4/7, 4/14, 4/21, 5/5

Students will dive deeply into the modes and motives of Ashkenazi Shabbat services, learning by ear, and developing competence (and confidence) in Kabbalat Shabbat, ma’ariv, shaharit, musaf, and minha.

Open to rabbinical students, clergy, and lay leaders of all musical backgrounds, especially well-suited for those who are early in their study of nusah.

Instructor: Rabbi Jessica-Kate Meyer
Meeting: May 24-27, 2027

Students will workshop Shabbat services in a supportive atmosphere, with the opportunity to reflect on their own practice and to receive constructive feedback from the instructor and fellow practitioners.

Designed for students enrolled in Certificate in Tefillah Leadership: Foundations.

Instructor: TBD
Meeting: May 24-27, 2027

As rabbis, leaders, and shlihei tzibbur(prayer leaders), we use our voices publicly more than most people. To be heard, and to sustain our voices over many years in service, it is important to connect to our breath support, to learn how to pace ourselves, and to care for this important instrument.

During this workshop, we will focus on practical exercises in support of vocal health and endurance.

Instructor: Rabbi Nehemia Polen
Meetings: Wednesdays @ 2:30pm: 9/2, 9/9, 10/7, 10/14, 10/21, 10/28

This is a course in transformative prayer leadership, aiming to encounter divinity and our innermost selves. We will survey biblical, rabbinic, kabbalistic-mystical, and Hasidic modes of tefillah, emphasizing transformative experience and full-being engagement.

Among the topics:
Spirituality of the physical; intercessory prayer; saying You to God; blessing God; quieting the mind and opening the heart; niggun and sonic theology; the power of silence; the unfolding stages of Shabbat—creating sacred space and entering sacred time; tasting and feeling the palette of spiritual bounty in community.

Our work will be grounded in textual study, personal experience, and collective sharing. This course will ask participants to be open to the power of the spirit and to listen respectfully to the whisperings of the heart—one’s own and each other’s.

Can you add under Nehemia’s Experiential theology course a note:  for Rabbinical students and those enrolled in a certificate in tefillah leadership.

Instructor: Rabbi Jessica Kate-Meyer
Meetings: Wednesdays @ 2:30pm: 11/4, 11/11, 11/18, 12/2, 12/9, 12/16

Students will workshop Shabbat services in a supportive atmosphere with the opportunity to reflect on their own practice and to receive constructive feedback from the instructor and fellow practitioners.

Designed for students enrolled in Certificate in Tefillah Leadership: Advanced Practice.

Instructor: Hankus Netsky
Meetings: Wednesdays @ 2:30pm
Module 3: 2/3, 2/10, 2/17, 2/24, 3/3, 3/10
Module 4: 3/17, 3/24, 3/31, 4/7, 4/14, 4/21, 5/5

The combination of nusah (Jewish prayer modes) and shabbes liturgy has long provided inspiration for creative Jewish musicians. In this class we will consider how Askenazic prayer leaders have used original and unique approaches to nusah in their davening and learn how to apply these approaches to our own practices in leading shabbes prayer.

Appropriate for experienced daveners with a musical background and working knowledge of Ashkenazi Shabbat nusah and liturgy.

Instructor: Rabbi Jessica-Kate Meyer
Meeting: May 24-27, 2027

The angels in Jewish liturgy are clear in their speech and mission. They know what to say, when to say it, and to Whom they are saying it. When American Jewish communities stand together, calling and responding in the poetry of the Kedusha, there is a lot more confusion. In this 4-session intensive, we will study the kedushot of Shabbat shaharit and musaf from textual, mystical, musical, and choreographic perspectives. We will explore the relationship between kahal (community) and shlihat tsibur (prayer leader) in the Kedusha’s dialogue and glean more about the nature of prayer.

Suitable for students with strong liturgical Hebrew.

Instructor: TBD
Meeting: May 24-27, 2027

As rabbis, leaders, and shlihei tzibbur(prayer leaders), we use our voices publicly more than most people. To be heard, and to sustain our voices over many years in service, it is important to connect to our breath support, to learn how to pace ourselves, and to care for this important instrument.

During this workshop, we will focus on practical exercises in support of vocal health and endurance.