‘From Our Lips …’ celebrating synagogue music

EUROPEAN CANTORS ASSOCIATION  the future of synagogue music

In association with the
JEWISH MUSIC INSTITUTE
EDGWARE UNITED SYNAGOGUE Adult Education

Press Release                                                              (11 August  2023)

‘From Our Lips …’ celebrating synagogue music

What stirs congregants to prayer these days? To what modes and tunes does a community emotionally respond? What ‘boots people up’ for the Sabbath or the Festivals these days and draws them to shul? ECA and associates are providing the opportunity for synagogues to ‘show and tell’ what works for them.

All synagogues are invited to participate in 

From Our Lips …’ A Festival of Synagogue Music 

from 14 January to 14 April 2024, by putting their name down for a particular Shabbat, weekday or any other service (or a concert of synagogue music) between Sunday 14 January and Sunday 14 April 2024.

This nationwide festival is for all kinds and sizes of synagogues, whether tiny, small, medium or large, across the spectrum of Jewish worship. Jewish prayer is always sung – and this is the chance for communities to share their congregation’s particular tastes and preferences and their musical tradition. It does not matter whether this is driven by a professional or a lay member, or if there is a choir, or simply by the members of the congregation singing together. We want to hear whatever moves your congregation for your chosen festival service.

The festival opens with a prestigious concert at the New West End Synagogue with Mosaic Voices conducted by Michael Etherton on Sunday 14 January and closes with a concert at Belsize Square Synagogue with The Zemel Choir, and Belsize Square Community Choir conducted by Benjamin Wolf, on Sunday 14 April. All the synagogue services will fill the space in between.       

Each shul is also invited to submit a few favourite pieces, whatever their origin, that most inspire their congregation – for consideration to be in a new Handbook.  A pop-up choir led by Jose Stern and Keith Rowe will record the music for the handbook and also be available by invitation, to participate in services or concerts around the country,.

Each synagogue will be encouraged to appoint a spokesperson for music and share this information with their wardens, rabbis, prayer leaders and congregants and any other people they think would be interested. The project will also be researching what music is used in synagogues these days and how it relates to the centuries-old tradition of Jewish prayer music. Together we will set the tone and template for inspirational synagogue music for the 21^st century. 

·         To participate in the festival email festival@cantors.eu

·         To submit music for the handbook handbook@cantors.eu

·         To participate in the choir email choir@cantors.eu

·         To participate in the research research@cantors.eu                         Ends

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Notes to Editors 

‘From Our Lips …’ the project Celebrating Synagogue Music has been created for European Cantors Association by Geraldine Auerbach MBE. She was the Founder and former Director of the Jewish Music Institute, now based at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. The projects involves many volunteers and reaches out to the whole Jewish Community. It hopes to help people pay attention to the music of Jewish prayer.  geraldine@cantors.eu

The European Cantors Association (ECA) is an independent organisation established in the United Kingdom, by Geraldine Auerbach MBE and Alex Klein in 2012. It is a framework for prayer leaders, synagogue clergy and interested lay people across the spectrum of Jewish worship, to engage in dialogue and profile-raising to ensure that the ancient music of Jewish prayer continues to develop and enhance synagogue services for generations to come. Its activities include European prayer leader conventions, International academic conferences, and Zoom lecture series. ECA’s work is endorsed by several distinguished rabbis and cantors and recognises best practice wherever it exists. www.cantors.eu

The Jewish Music Institute is dedicated to the celebration, preservation and development of the living heritage of Jewish music for the benefit of people of all ages and backgrounds. www.jmi.org.uk

Edgware United Synagogue offers a fascinating adult education programme, containing talks and events on a variety of topics one Synagogue music. Zoom programmes are recorded and can be seen on the YouTube channel  Visit