Shefa Gold (born April 8,1954)[1] is an American rabbi, scholar, and Director of the Center for Devotional, Energy and Ecstatic Practice (C-DEEP) in Jemez Springs, New Mexico. Gold is a teacher of chant, Jewish mysticism, Jewish prayer and spirituality who Rabbi Mike Comins described in 2010 as "a pioneer in the ecstatic practice of Jewish chant."[2] Her chants have been used in synagogues, minyanim, and street protests; perhaps her most well known being "Ozi V'zimrat Yah".[3][4][5] Combining traditional Jewish liturgical music with Hebrew chant, Gold has worked to cultivate a distinctly Jewish gratitude practice.[6] Her "Flavors of Gratefulness" mobile app has 130 different chants for Modeh Ani, the brief prayer traditionally recited by religious Jews upon awakening.[7] In 2024 she released "Flavors of Praise" with 72 different chants.
Prior to her rabbinical training, Gold worked as a musician. She said in a 2013 interview, "What I was really trying to do with my music was create sacred space. I felt how powerful music is in opening hearts."[8][9] During her training at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, she took time off to study Zen meditation practices (including chant). During a 1993 retreat led by Thích Nhât Hanh at the Omega Institute, Gold co-led a Rosh Hashanah service as many of the participants were Jewish.[10] By the time Gold was ordained as a rabbi in 1996, she had integrated Hebrew chant into her spiritual practice and, ultimately, her rabbinate (ministry).[9] She is a leader within ALEPH: the Alliance for Jewish Renewal, and received ordination from Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi in addition to her Reconstructionist one.[6][11] Through a program named Kol Zimra, Gold has trained rabbis, cantors, and lay leaders in Hebrew chant practices.[8][12] According to one Jewish Telegraphic Agency article, nearly all interest in Jewish chanting today can be traced back to Gold.[3] She was included in Letty Cottin Pogrebin's 2007 list, The Other Fifty Rabbis in America,[13] a 2015 list of "America's most inspiring rabbis" by The Forward,[14] and has been quoted in articles that discuss the intersection of New Age spirituality and Judaism.[3][15][16]
Gold has produced ten albums, and her liturgies have been published in several[which?]prayerbooks.[17]
She is the author of several books on deepening spiritual awareness through sacred chant and meditation.
Gold's work was featured in the book Stalking Elijah: Adventures with Today's Jewish Mystical Masters by Rodger Kamenetz.[18]
In 2017, Gold was one of the rabbis who signed a statement by Jewish Veg encouraging Jews to take up a vegan lifestyle.[19][20]
Gold has described Hebrew chant as effective for healing and transforming people of different religions, not just adherents of Judaism.[8]
