Certificate in Tefillah Leadership: Shabbat
Certificate in Tefillah (Prayer) Leadership
The Rabbinical School of Hebrew College has a culture of soulful davening and a reputation for drawing musically gifted students. Our ordinees lead communities in tefillah around the country and the Jewish world, often on the cutting edge of Jewish prayer music.
Tefillah leadership, real and vulnerable, is a multi-layered, nuanced art form, one that calls for training in liturgy and song as well as in listening — to the community, to the Divine, to our ancestral musical lineage.
We created the Certificate in Tefillah Leadership: Shabbat to cultivate dynamic prayer in the Jewish world, and to transmit our rich musical and liturgical traditions to a new generation of Jewish leaders. Hebrew College’s renowned faculty members will teach courses for this certificate in partnership with masters of these traditions in the Boston area and beyond.
We invite rabbinical students, Boston-area alumni, lay leaders, professional clergy, and musicians of Jewish traditions, to join us for individual course modules, or to work towards the Certificate with four modules.
How do we shape the next generation of tefillah leaders? We want to be on the forefront, building a new musical language by re-rooting ourselves in tradition, asserting continuity with our ancestors.
Rabbi Jessica Kate Meyer, Rosh Tefilah & Artist-in-Residence
Program Modules & Workshops
Module 1: The Kedusha: Fumbling towards Holiness
Instructor: Jessica Kate Meyer
Meetings: Wednesdays @ 3:00pm: October 30, November 6, 13, 20, December 4, 11, 18
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 six-week class, we will study the kedushot of Shabbat shaharit and musaf from textual, mystical, musical, and choreographic perspectives. We will explore the relationship between kahal and shlihat tsibur in the Kedusha’s dialogue and glean more about the nature of prayer.
This class is appropriate for students with strong liturgical Hebrew.
Module 2-3: Nusah Improvisation for Tefillah Leaders
Nusah 2.0 (Two 6-Session Modules)
The essence of nusah is improvisation l’Shem Shamayim. The texts of our prayers are codified in the siddur, but the kavanah, the meaning we breathe into these words is through song. In this class, students with a foundational knowledge of Ashkenazi Shabbat nusah will learn modal improvisation, primarily by ear, so we may truly sing to God a new (modally-informed) song.
This class is suited to experienced daveners and students with a musical background and a working knowledge of Ashkenazi Shabbat nusah and liturgy.
Module 4: Piyut and Practice
The final module of the certificate is a week-long intensive in late May/early June made up of the following components, taught by Rabbi Jessica Kate Meyer:
Shabbat Piyutim (3 sessions)
Enter the world of Medieval piyyutim from Edot haMizrah, Middle Eastern Jewish communities. We will study the poetry and the music of Shabbat piyyutim, taking our time to understand some thematic and structural principles of the music.
This class is suited to students with a musical background and strong Hebrew skills.
Masterclass in Tefillah (3 sessions)
Each student will have the opportunity to workshop a prayer service and receive feedback and guidance in the moment. Students will support each other as ‘Jews in the pew’, and with constructive feedback.
This section of the course is particularly geared to students completing the certificate. It is the culmination of the program, giving students the opportunity to synthesize what they’ve learned throughout the year, and to practice and receive feedback on different skills.
Cost
Certificate: $660 per credit.
Audit: $390 per module with instructor approval). Learn more.
Apply or Register Now
Certificate Program
To apply for the certificate program, please fill out the application here.
Professional Development (non-credit)
If you are interested in taking one or more modules for professional development (non-credit), please email Rabbi Jessica Kate Meyer, at jmeyer@hebrewcollege.edu.