Original Jewish Music
My story
As early as I can remember I sat with my dad while he played Kol Nidre on the cello during Yom Kippur services. I got my earliest cantorial training from watching our choir on Rosh Hashanah. I went to Jewish day school and then went on to study Hebrew in college, where I did a study abroad program in Jerusalem.
In 2012, I started playing guitar and writing songs, and right away began songleading in synagogues. The first Jewish songs I wrote were for the kids I worked with.
In 2016, I became a Cantorial Soloist for a synagogue in Chicago, Tzedek Chicago. The experience became a bridge for me to work with a community in my city on a more regular basis.
Tzedek Chicago is a community centralized around justice. Many of our members are social workers, activists and teachers. Being part of this community has shaped the Jewish music that I write.
Shalom Rav - an original song that attributes bringing "abundant peace" to dissolving the identities that separate us
New Single, “Kaddish” out now!
music by Leah Shoshanah, Hebrew lyrics based on the original prayer with English lyrics adapted from interpretations by Aurora Levins Morales, Sarah McCulloch and Marge Piercy
voice/guitar: Leah S.
violin: Steve Gibons
bass: Daniel Thatcher
cover art: Wendy J. Segal
My story
As early as I can remember I sat with my dad while he played Kol Nidre on the cello during Yom Kippur services. I got my earliest cantorial training from watching our choir on Rosh Hashanah. I went to Jewish day school and then went on to study Hebrew in college, where I did a study abroad program in Jerusalem.
In 2012, I started playing guitar and writing songs, and right away began songleading in synagogues. The first Jewish songs I wrote were for the kids I worked with.
In 2016, I became a Cantorial Soloist for a synagogue in Chicago, Tzedek Chicago. The experience became a bridge for me to work with a community in my city on a more regular basis.
Tzedek Chicago is a community centralized around justice. Many of our members are social workers, activists and teachers. Being part of this community has shaped the Jewish music that I write.
Singing my adapted version of Yair Rosenblum's "Untane Tokef" at Tzedek Chicago High Holy Day Rehearsals
This is a song uplifting the teachings from Miriam Ha'Neviah, a water diviner and bringer of song.
Uplifting the feminine in song
Through music, I seek to tell the stories of the matriarchs of the Torah. I also write music from language that has been transformed from the Masculine conjugation to the Feminine.
This song is a prayer for peace written with the Hebrew conjugated to the feminine. Translation is by the Kohenet community.
Rewriting Hebrew and adding English lyrics
I bring out the feminine voice through adapting prayers so that they are written in the feminine conjugation.
In other songs, I have changed Hebrew language to bring in a wider audience through prayer. I want to pray with my community, many of whom are not Jewish. Yet, these are my neighbors and the people with whom I am on the journey of life.
I try to make prayer accessible for all. I share prayer in Jewish communities AND I bring it to my concerts, for people of all faith backgrounds and ethnicities.
More Videos (all original music)
A song for healing. Taken from the Jewish liturgy. English lyrics and music by Leah Shoshanah. March, 2020.
music by Leah Shoshanah, Hebrew lyrics based on the original prayer with English lyrics adapted from interpretations by Aurora Levins Morales, Sarah McCulloch and Marge Piercy.
Hebrew lyrics from the morning liturgy. Melody and English lyrics by Leah Shoshanah. Featuring Adam Gottlieb on cajon.
Lecha Dodi/Come My Beloved
This is a musical adaptation of the Jewish prayer for protection and safety. This prayer is traditionally said before bed time and during evening services.
Symbols - A Passover Ska Song for Kids