Chant Circles

If you’re looking for a way to experience Hebrew chanting, you can attend a chant circle led by Kol Zimra alumni.

Online Chant Circles and Other Online Chant-related Offerings

Saturdays

  • Chant Services: Zoom meetings at 1:30PM (Mountain time) for all Saturdays EXCEPT the second Saturday of the month. Second Saturday meetings are at 12:45PM and are both online and in person. If attending online, please connect by Zoom 5-10 minutes ahead of time. These chant sessions explore the weekly parsha through chant. Affiliated with Temple B’nai Tikvah, Calgary, Alberta (http://templebnaitikvah.org/). Led by Betsy Jameson. To get on the mailing list and to get chant sheets, contact Betsy at jameson@ucalgary.ca. (People joining for the first time should contact Betsy ahead of time. The service information and Zoom link are also on weekly emails from Temple B’nai Tikvah and the Calgary Jewish Federation.)
  • Chant Service: Occasionally on the 3rd Shabbat morning of the month (Eastern time) a hybrid Shabbat service based in Hebrew chant. For information, see Meditation and Chanting. For the date, time, and Zoom access information for the chanting service see the calendar at Oseh Shalom. Led by Rabbi Daria Jacobs-Velde (RabbiDaria@gmail.com).
  • An Interfaith Chanting Circle meets every Saturday of the month at 11:30AM (Eastern time) at Temple Hesed. The first Saturday of the month is an hour long, both in-person and online, and introduces a monthly theme. The other Saturdays are online only, expand on the theme, and last 30-45 minutes. Rabbi Daniel Swartz, Spiritual Leader at Temple Hesed, leads the circle. For information, see the website or contact Rabbi Daniel at rabbidaniel@comcast.net or 570/877-3454.

Sundays

  • Tikkun Chant Circle meets as a Zoom meeting at 11AM (Eastern time) once a month. Led by David Goldstein. To get on the mailing list, contact David at dpgold7@gmail.com. For more information about the Tikkun Chant Circle and David Goldstein’s work see www.hebrewchant.com.
  • The Chantlings meet the last Sunday of the month from 11AM-noon (Pacific time) with an hour of almost continuous meditative chanting including somatic (or mindful) guidance and kavanot. The focus is on personal practice and resourcing. It is on Zoom with hybrid, in-person attendance (Portland, Oregon area) as safety and weather permits. Contact Linda Zahavi (zahavi3@comcast.net) for the link.

Mondays

  • Heart and Spirit Chant Circle: Zoom (and in-person) meeting monthly on 4th Monday at 7:15-8:15PM (Pacific time) at Congregation Bet Haverim. To get the Zoom access information or possible date change, contact Contact Hallie Morrow at tapdocmorrow@yahoo.com or Carrie Shepard at cshepardsky@gmail.com. (NOTE: They also offer occasional Shabbat morning chant services.)

Tuesdays

  • Jewish Meditation Group: Zoom meeting weekly from 9-9:40AM (Eastern time). Affiliated with the Germantown Jewish Centre in Philadelphia, PA. Includes Hebrew chant, dvar torah, and 20 minutes of silence. To get the Zoom link, contact Rabbi Malkah Binah Klein (malkahbinah@gmail.com).
  • Chant Circle: for all open-hearted people in Manhattan at 7:30PM (Eastern time) associated with the JCC of the Upper West Side. $18 energetic exchange per chant circle requested. (Financial consideration always offered when needed.) For information, visit Chant Circles. Led by Rabbi Shoshana Mitrani-Knapp (ravshoshi@gmail.com).

Wednesdays

  • Chant Circle: Zoom meeting monthly from 6-7PM (Mountain time). Affiliated with Nevei Kodesh, a Jewish Renewal Congregation, in Boulder CO. The generic theme is “Maintaining our Connection with the Divine in Turbulent Times”. To get the Zoom link and chant list, contact Ziva Moyal (zivasmile@gmail.com). Donations to Nevei Kodesh are welcome.

Thursdays

  • Weekly Morning Minyan with Chanting & Meditation 8AM PT (9AM MT, 10AM CT, 11AM ET). Start the morning with a practice that includes chanting, silent meditation, Mourner’s Kaddish, and a contemplative dip into the weekly parshat. All are invited. For information or the Zoom link, contact Jen Roitman (JenRoitman@gmail.com).
  • Chant Circle: Zoom meeting weekly at 3PM in Hawaii, 5PM Pacific time, 6PM Mountain time, 7PM Central time, and 8PM Eastern time for approximately an hour. See the KZoom page for the week’s chant focus. Led by Rabbi Shefa Gold. To receive information about KZoom sessions, sign up for the KZoom Chanting mailing list.

Fridays

  • Spirit of Shabbat: At 8AM ET connect, learn, and prepare for Shabbat with chant, silence, spontaneous writing, and meditations on the Song of Songs based on the Song of Songs parsha for the week. (Participants are only admitted from 8:00 to 8:05AM.) Led by Susan Windle and Wendy Galson. For Zoom meeting information, questions, or difficulties with signing on, contact Wendy by email at wendy.galson@gmail.com or by text at 215/920-9941.
  • Chanting Kabbalat Shabbat service: meets monthly in Albuquerque, NM; usually on the fourth Friday starting from 7:30PM (Mountain time) on Zoom as part of Nahalat Shalom. (See the monthly calendar for access information.) Led by Judy Brown and Sofie Shefia Stephanie Cohen.

Various Days of the Week

  • Rosh Hodesh Celebrations: Zoom meeting monthly at 7 or 7:30PM ET (depending upon the month) for about 1.5 hours. Affiliated with Mishkan Shalom Synagogue (https://mishkan.org/). A chant-filled ritual for all who welcome the Divine Feminine into their lives. Co-led by Susan Windle, Wendy Galson, and Shoshana Bricklin. For specific information, visit its Facebook page or contact Wendy (wendy.galson@gmail.com).
  • Rosh Hodesh, Full Moon, or Holidays Chanting group: Meets one evening/month (Eastern time), currently in person with possible access on Zoom. Led by Juliet Spitzer. Check her website (www.julietspitzer.com) for updates or contact her at julietspitzer@gmail.com for information.

In-Person Chant Circles in the US

New England

  • Albany, NY: Love at the Center at Congregation Ohav Shalom on Shabbat mornings from 8:30am – 9:05 am. Rav Shir HaShirim Lynna Schaefer (dakinishir@gmail.com) guides the circle through the Love at the Center practice with chant, meditation, and deep listening.
  • New York, NY: Chant Circles in Manhattan on Tuesdays at 7:30PM associated with the JCC of the Upper West Side. For all open-hearted people; $18 energetic exchange per chant circle requested. (Financial consideration always offered when needed.) For information, visit Chant Circles. Led by Rabbi Shoshana Mitrani-Knapp (ravshoshi@gmail.com).
  • Branford, CT: PNAI shORe Chant Circle meets monthly on the second Shabbat of the month. Led by Rayzl Feuer (rayzlrich@gmail.com).
  • Providence, RI: Soulful Shabbat, dedicated to reinvigorating Jewish prayer with silence, chanting, traditional davvening, and movement, meets at Temple Emanu-El on the third Saturday of every month from Sept to June. Chanting and drumming start at 9:30AM; the services start at 10AM. Led by Rabbi Alan Flam and Kol Zimra alumni Judy Kaye and Bruce Phillips. Contact Bruce Phillips (DrBPhillips18@gmail.com) for more information.
  • Jamaica Plain, MA (Boston area): Chant and meditation group meets once a month. Led by Tracy Rich (tracyrich57@comcast.net).
  • Peabody, MA: Chanting For Life usually meets on the last Thursday of each month from 7-8PM at the Aviv Centers For Living. (Visit http://www.chelseajewish.org/.) Led by Cheryl Miller (cantorcheryl@gmail.com).
  • Woodstock, NY: Wisdom Circle exploring the Way of Love by journeying together through Love at the Center (The Song of Songs: Shir HaShirim) at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church on Wednesdays at 6:00PM. Open to all. Co-led by Rav Shir HaShirim Lynna Schaefer (dakinishir@gmail.com) and the Rev. Matthew Wright (matthew.stgregorys@gmail.com).

Mid-Atlantic

  • Bethesda, MD: Opening the Heart Chant Circle/Spirit Spa generally held on the second Shabbat of the month from 4:30-6PM at Bethesda Jewish Congregation. Led by Yaffah Schnitzer (yaffah18@aol.com).
  • Bethesda, MD: Makom@AS through the Adat Shalom congregation sponsors Makom Sacred Hebrew Chanting led by Paul (Pesach) Zeitz on a quarterly basis in tandem with festivals or key events. Please contact Pesach at pesachzeitz@gmail.com for a schedule of chant opportunities.
  • Laurel, MD: Join Rabbi Daria occasionally on the 3rd Shabbat morning of the month for a Shabbat service based in Hebrew chant. For information, see Meditation and Chanting at Oseh Shalom. Led by Rabbi Daria Jacobs-Velde (RabbiDaria@gmail.com).
  • Pittsburgh, PA: Tikkun Chant Circle meets monthly. For details see the Hebrew Chant site. Led by David Goldstein.
  • Philadelphia, PA: Rosh Hodesh Celebrations (chant-filled rituals for all who welcome the Divine Feminine into our lives) meet monthly from 7-8:30PM at Mishkan Shalom Synagogue. Led by Shoshana Bricklin, Wendy Galson, and Susan Windle (susan@susanwindle.com).
  • Philadelphia, PA: Tuesday Morning Jewish Meditation Group at the Germantown Jewish Centre. Meets weekly from 9-9:40AM in the Quitman Library. Includes Hebrew chant, dvar torah, and 20 minutes of silence. To learn more, contact Rabbi Malkah Binah Klein (malkahbinah@gmail.com).
  • Philadelphia, PA: Rosh Hodesh, Full Moon, or Holidays Chanting group meets 1 evening/month. Led by Juliet Spitzer, live with Zoom access. Check her website (www.julietspitzer.com) for updates or contact her at julietspitzer@gmail.com for information.
  • Scranton, PA: An interfaith chanting circle focusing on Hebrew chanting meets every Saturday of each month at 11:30AM at Temple Hesed. The first Saturday of the month is an hour long, both in-person and online, and introduces a monthly theme. The other Saturdays are online only, expand on the theme, and last 30-45 minutes. Rabbi Daniel Swartz, Spiritual Leader at Temple Hesed, leads the circle. For information, see the website or contact Rabbi Daniel at rabbidaniel@comcast.net or 570/877-3454.
  • Montclair, NJ: Hebrew chanting occurs on the first Shabbat from 9-10AM at Bnai Keshet Synagogue. Check the Bnai Keshet calendar to verify. Led by Melissa Schaffer.

Southeast

  • Fairfax, VA: ONE LIGHT chant circle, generally held on the 1st Saturday of the month from 3-4:45PM at Northern Virginia JCC. Led by Me’ira Gale, organized by Elke Martin. Please contact debi.keren@gmail.com for details.

Midwest

Southwest

  • Albuquerque, NM: Chanting Kabbalat Shabbat service meets monthly usually on the fourth Friday starting from 7:30PM at Nahalat Shalom. Led by Judy Brown with Sofieshefia Stephanie Cohen.

Pacific Northwest

  • SW Portland, OR: Chantlings davvening-meditation group is the last Sunday of the month, 11AM-noon. It is an hour of almost continuous meditative chanting with somatic/mindful guidance and kavanot. The focus is on personal practice and resourcing. It is on Zoom with hybrid in-person attendance (Portland, Oregon area) as safety and weather permits. Led by Linda Zahavi (zahavi3@comcast.net).
  • Ashland, OR: Hebrew chant group usually meets monthly on the fourth Sunday from 2-3:30PM at Havurah Shir Hadash. Led by Elizabeth Markell (emarkell@jeffnet.org or 541/778-6155). Contact Elizabeth to confirm.

California

  • Davis, CA: Heart and Spirit Chant Circle held in person and online on the fourth Monday of every month from 7-8:45PM at Congregation Bet Haverim. The date may change, so for information, contact Hallie Morrow (530/400-7071 or tapdocmorrow@yahoo.com) and Carrie Shepard (530/400-3747 or cshepardsky@gmail.com). (NOTE: They also offer occasional Shabbat morning chant services.)
  • Lafayette, CA (east of Berkeley): Sacred Chant and Healing Circle meets monthly usually on the second Monday from 7-8PM at Temple Isaiah. For the current schedule, visit the Sacred Hebrew Chant site. Led by Jeanette Gross (jeanetteg2@mac.com). (Jeanette often co-leads a monthly Mussar and Meditation Shabbat Morning Service at Temple Isaiah with Rabbi Judy Shanks on the first Saturday at 10:30AM.)
  • Los Angeles, CA: Chant & Meditation Circle meets quarterly (and for workshops and holidays) in a private home on Monday evenings. Led by Evelyn Baron (neshama369@gmail.com).
  • Pasadena, CA: Shirat HaLev Chant Circle meets usually monthly on a weekday evening from 7-8PM. Led by Bhavani Mann (bellemann77@gmail.com or 503/750-0120).
  • Santa Barbara, CA: Ongoing chant circle on varying dates. Contact Dani Antman (dantman170@aol.com) for information.

In-Person Chant Circles in Canada and Elsewhere

  • Calgary, Alberta, Canada: Monthly Chant Service in person (and online) on the second Saturday of the month at 12:45PM at Temple B’nai Tikvah. See the Saturday online listing for information. Led by Betsy Jameson (jameson@ucalgary.ca).
  • Vancouver, BC, Canada: Chanting & Chocolate. For details, visit the website. Led by Lorne Mallin.