This year’s Scholar in Residence Shabbat will be May 2-3 featuring Ritual Leader Naomi Less.
Naomi Less is Co-Founder, Associate Director, Ritual Leader and Raising the Bar Director of Ritual at the Lab/Shul in Brooklyn, NY.
Friday evening will start with a community dinner. Afterwards, she will lead the Friday night service with her melodies and explanations to deepen the experience. At the following Oneg Shabbat, Naomi will lead another 30 minute session of songs and melodies to add to the spirituality of Shabbat.
On Shabbat morning, she will work with and accompany Rabbi Fine. She will take a few minutes at the time normally allotted for a sermon to sing something special and to explain the history and meaning of some of the prayers that we experience on Shabbat morning.
We will then have a Kiddush lunch. Afterwards, she will lead the congregation in some joyful and uplifting songs. There will be a few minutes for Q&A at the end.
This event is sponsored by the Rabbi Selig Salkowitz Distinguished Lecture Fund.
Naomi Less (she/her) is a Brooklyn-based, internationally celebrated singer, composer, musician, ritual leader and educator. Her diverse original music is sung in worship communities worldwide, including Lab/Shul. In 2000, Naomi met Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie and became a founding company member of Storahtelling, serving as Director of Education and Training, Director of Storahtelling and ultimately as a founding Lab/Shul ritual leader and Associate Director. Her signature music initiatives include: Jewish Chicks Rock band programs, creator/host of Jewish Women Rock show on Jewish Rock Radio, and co-creator/music director/performer for TRYmester, a touring performance piece that brings to light the oft hidden stories of fertility challenges through narrative, song and dance. Naomi is an activist and consultant for causes such as Bring Back Our Girls New York, a multi-faith volunteer group, and Uprooted: A Jewish Response to Fertility Journeys (vice president). Naomi received training in spiritual leadership, music, facilitation and education from: Northwestern University, Jewish Theological Seminary Davidson School, Institute for Informal Jewish Education at Brandeis University, Institute for Jewish Spirituality, ChangeCraft (formerly Center for Leadership Initiatives). Listen to Naomi’s music on Spotify, YouTube, and Soundcloud.