About this episode

Rabbi Jeffrey Summit discusses the significance of chanting Torah in contemporary Jewish identity.

Singing God’s Words: The Meaning and Experience of Chanting Torah Drawing from his book, Singing God’s Words: The Performance of Biblical Chant in Contemporary Judaism, the first in-depth study of the meaning and experience of chanting Torah among contemporary American Jews, Rabbi Summit discusses how and why a growing number of American Jews see the chanting of Torah as one of the most authentic expressions of their religious identity. About Rabbi Jeffrey Summit Rabbi Jeffrey A. Summit, Ph.D. holds an appointment as Research Professor in the Department of Music and Judaic Studies at Tufts University. He is the author of Singing God’s Words: The Performance of Biblical Chant in Contemporary Judaism (Oxford University Press) and The Lord’s Song in a Strange Land: Music and Identity in Contemporary Jewish Worship (Oxford University Press). His CD Abayudaya: Music from the Jewish People of Uganda (Smithsonian Folkways Recordings) was nominated for a GRAMMY award. His CD with video Delicious Peace: Coffee, Music and Interfaith Harmony in Uganda (Smithsonian Folkways Recordings) was awarded Best World Music CD by the Independent Music Awards. His research and writing focus on music…

People in this episode

Host: Temple Emanuel of Newton

Guest: Rabbi Jeffrey Summit

Topics covered

• chanting Torah
• Jewish identity
• music and spirituality
• Rabbi Jeffrey Summit
• contemporary Judaism

Keywords

• chanting
• Torah
• Jewish identity
• Rabbi Jeffrey Summit
• music
• spiritual experience
• contemporary Judaism

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Temple Emanuel of Newton

Products: Abayudaya: Music from the Jewish People of Uganda, Delicious Peace: Coffee, Music and Interfaith Harmony in Uganda

Books & works: Singing God’s Words: The Performance of Biblical Chant in Contemporary Judaism, The Lord’s Song in a Strange Land: Music and Identity in Contemporary Jewish Worship

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