Wikipedia

Shefa Gold

Shefa Gold (born 1954 or 1955)[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 2010 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] Combining traditional Jewish liturgical music with Hebrew chant, Gold has worked to cultivate a distinctly Jewish gratitude practice.[5] Her "Flavors of Gratefulness" mobile app has 109 different chants for Modeh Ani, the brief prayer traditionally recited by religious Jews upon awakening.[6] In 2024 she released "Flavors of Praise" with 61 different chants.

Shefa Gold
Born
Sherri Katz

Shanks Village (now Orangeburg), New York, U.S.
Education
OccupationRabbi
SpouseRachmiel O'Regan
Websitewww.rabbishefagold.com

Prior to her rabbinical training, Gold worked as a musician. She said in a 2013 interview, "What I was really trying to do with my music was create sacred space. I felt how powerful music is in opening hearts."[7][8] During her training at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, she took time off to study Zen meditation practices (including chant). During a 1993 retreat led by Thích Nhât Hanh at the Omega Institute, Gold co-led a Rosh Hashanah service as many of the participants were Jewish.[9] By the time Gold was ordained as a rabbi in 1996, she had integrated Hebrew chant into her spiritual practice and, ultimately, her rabbinate (ministry).[8] 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.[5][10] Through a program named Kol Zimra, Gold has trained rabbis, cantors, and lay leaders in Hebrew chant practices.[7][11] 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 2007 list, The Other Fifty Rabbis in America,[12] a 2015 list of "America's most inspiring rabbis" by The Forward,[1] and has been quoted in articles that discuss the intersection of New Age spirituality and Judaism.[3][13][14]

Gold has produced ten albums, and her liturgies have been published in several[which?] prayerbooks.[15]

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.[16]

In 2017, Gold was one of the rabbis who signed a statement by Jewish Veg encouraging Jews to take up a vegan lifestyle.[17][18]

Gold has described Hebrew chant as effective for healing and transforming people of different religions, not just adherents of Judaism.[7]

Selected publications

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  • Gold, Shefa (2006). Torah Journeys: An Inner Path to the Promised Land. Ben Yehuda Press. ISBN 978-0-9769862-6-3.
  • Gold, Shefa (2008). In the Fever of Love: An Illumination of the Song of Songs. Ben Yehuda Press. ISBN 978-1-934730-26-3.
  • Gold, Shefa (2013). The Magic of Hebrew Chant: Healing the Spirit, Transforming the Mind, Deepening Love. Jewish Lights Publishing. ISBN 978-1-58023-671-3.
  • Gold, Shefa (2019). Are We There Yet?: Travel as a Spiritual Practice. Jewish Lights Publishing. ISBN 978-1-934730-72-0.

References

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  1. ^ a b Eisner, Jane (2015). "America's Most Inspiring Rabbis: 33 Men & Women Who Move Us". The Forward.
  2. ^ Comins, Mike (2010). Making Prayer Real: Leading Jewish Spiritual Voices on why Prayer is Difficult and what to Do about it. Jewish Lights Publishing. ISBN 978-1-58023-417-7.
  3. ^ a b c Harris, Ben (2010-11-23). "With shruti boxes and drums, practitioners chanting their way into Judaism". Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
  4. ^ Mathias, Christopher (2018-10-31). "Trump's Visit To Pittsburgh — A City That Didn't Want Him". Huffington Post.
  5. ^ a b Abernethy, Bob (2005-09-30). "Jewish Renewal". PBS.
  6. ^ Cohen, Susannah (2018-11-02). "Thank goodness: Gratitude may just be the secret to a happy life". So Tov.
  7. ^ a b c Byle, Ann (May 7, 2013). "Shefa Gold: The Joy of Hebrew Chant". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 2019-11-12.
  8. ^ a b Palmer, Joanne (2013-04-12). "A chant encounter with God: How a Paramus teen grew into a rabbi in search of heaven's gate". Jewish Standard.
  9. ^ Steinfels, Peter (1993-09-19). "At a Retreat, a Zen Monk Plants the Seeds of Peace". The New York Times.
  10. ^ "Authors". Evolve. 2017-11-20. Retrieved 2019-04-11.
  11. ^ "Kol Zimra: Chant Leader's Professional Development". Retrieved 2019-12-29.
  12. ^ Letty Cottin Pogrebin (April 16, 2007). "The Other Top Fifty Rabbis in America". Lilith. Retrieved January 7, 2020.
  13. ^ "Rabbi Shefa Gold: Giving Voice to Sacred Texts". Spirituality & Health. 2013-07-24.
  14. ^ Schultz, Matthew (2019-10-09). "Of Tao and Torah: New Age Beliefs Are Making Serious Inroads in U.S. Jewish Life". Haaretz.
  15. ^ "Rabbi Shefa Gold". rabbishefagold.com. Retrieved 2019-04-11.
  16. ^ Kamenetz, Rodger (1997). Stalking Elijah: Adventures with Today's Jewish Mystical Masters. Harper Collins. ISBN 978-0-06-064232-7.
  17. ^ "70-Plus Rabbis Urge Transition Toward Animal-Free, Plant-Based Diets". issuu.com. Pittsburgh Jewish Chronicle. 2017-09-29. p. 3. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
  18. ^ "New Jewish Veg – Rabbinic Statement on Plant-based Diet". Animal Interfaith Alliance. 2017-09-29. Retrieved 2023-06-01.
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