Shema Koleinu: Hear Our Voices

Taught by: Elizabeth Kessler Sacks

What makes an effective prayer leader? How does a shaliach tzibbur create a meaningful prayer environment for the kehila? In this course, we will examine techniques to increase communication between the prayer leader and congregation.  Focusing on music choice, sound production, and body language, participants will explore practical skills and methods that facilitate and encourage congregational singing and fluid davening.

Goals of the course
Through this course, participants can expect to:

• Have a profound understanding of one particular service of their choice in terms of text, nusach, and pacing
• Have a better understanding of themselves as a prayer leader through a gender lens
• Gain skills to ensure a more spiritual prayer experience for both leader and congregant when leading any service in the future

Structure of the course
Classes will be conducted weekly and each session meets for an hour and a half. Each member of the group will choose one service to focus on throughout the length of the course (e.g. Kabbalat Shabbat, Ma’ariv, Pesukei D’Zimra/Shacharit, Musaf). Beginning in the third week, the group will hold “workshop weeks” during which members will be asked to prepare a particular portion from their liturgical section and present to the group as if they were the shaliach tzibbur. For the duration of the presentations, the remaining members of the group will act as a congregation, simulating a shul environment.& The group will then discuss the presentations in order to provide feedback and connect the themes of the class to practical application.


Dates: 5 Sundays: Mar 2, 9, 16, 23 and Apr 6
Time: 6-7:30 (but flex depending on the group)
Cost: $25
Note: Limited space; for women only