Music & Prayer

Music, as Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel taught, provides the catalyst for connecting the disparate elements of the finely woven tapestry of the fixed words of liturgy (keva) and kavanah, our deepest, truest intentions to reach and serve God. At North Shore Congregation Israel, we search for ways to fill both keva with kavanah. We explore the possibility that music can function in many ways, including:

1) Praising God

2) Providing a deeper understanding of our sacred texts

3) Resonating with our community 

4) Linking us to our history

5) Connecting us to our coreligionists around the world

6) Allowing us to explore the awesome nature of God

7) Creating moments of introspection 

8) Deepening our relationships within our families

Here at NSCI you will find music infused into every aspect of our community’s life. We invite you to join us on a sacred journey with music as our vehicle. Click HERE to listen to an archive audio of Cantor Benjamin Landsman, NSCI's first cantor.

There will be a light dinner for those attending Shabbat services before the concerts. All Post Kabbalat Shabbat concerts are generously sponsored by Madeleine and Harvey Plonsker, Jim Stone, and Bobby Takiff.*

Upcoming Music Events

• Post Kabbalat Shabbat Concert - Katelyn Vahala and Annie Jacobs-Perkins
  Friday, March 21st, 8:00 pm in Perlman Sanctuary
  
  2023–2024 Piano Spheres Emerging Artist, Katelyn Vahala and 2023 Pierre Fournier Award winner, Annie Jacobs-Perkins will be combining their incredible chamber talents for a magnificent evening of musical genius. These accomplished musicians have wowed audience members; Katelyn with her “wonderfully rhythmic and robust playing” and Annie with her “hypnotic lyricism.” We are thrilled to welcome this exciting combination of artists to NSCI. Register here.
• NSCI 2025 Spring Event: One People, Many Voices featuring Matisyahu in Concert
  Sunday, April 27th, 4:30 pm (doors open at 3:45 pm) in the Large Sanctuary
  
  Join us for a day of celebrating the many voices of our diverse Jewish commUNITY! Participate in an interactive experience of Jewish culture around the world through food, crafts, music, and more. Later on, rock out at a concert by Jewish reggae artist Matisyahu! The concert will begin with a brief conversation between Cantor Goldstein and Matisyahu on his journey as a Jewish musician spreading a message of love, unity, and resilience. Don’t miss this fabulous Spring Event! Click here to register and purchase tickets. 
• Post Kabbalat Shabbat Concert - Alan Goodis
  Friday, May 2nd, 8:00 pm in Perlman Sanctuary
  
  Alan Goodis is a national touring Jewish musician playing over 150 events a year. Noted for his dedication to building relationships and community through music, Alan travels throughout North America to serve as an artist-in-residence and performer at temples, youth conventions, and Jewish summer camps. Alan and his music have become a fixture at North Shore Congregation Israel and other congregations, URJ camps, and youth events from coast to coast. Register here.                  *This concert is generously funded by the Zollie and Elaine Frank Music Fund.

Music Groups with Cantor Goldstein

Holy Chanters

Tuesdays from 12:00–1:00 pm via Zoom

December 6 & 13; January 3, 17 & 31; March 14

Learn to chant with Cantor Goldstein on your lunch break! This session of Holy Chanters will focus on the cantillation of the sacred texts for the three festivals: Ecclesiastes (Sukkot), Song of Songs (Passover), and Ruth (Shavuot). Click here to register.
 
Shir Chadash
Rehearsal: Mondays at 7:00–8:30 pm

Shabbat Worship: Friday, December 9 (5 pm rehearsal; 6:15pm service)
Join Cantor Goldstein at NSCI and meet friends who love to sing or play a musical instrument. Shir Chadash adult choir provides a rich harmony to enhance our worship experience and help create sacred moments during Shabbat, celebrations and commemorations! Our repertoire includes a variety of traditional and new genres. Please contact Sarah to register.
 
Healing Service – Wednesdays at 8:00 pm on Facebook
Wednesdays at 8:00 pm – November 9, December 7

Join Cantor Goldstein for a quiet and contemplative Healing Service. Whether seeking support in navigating the circumstances in which we or our loved ones find themselves, together we can create a quiet, gentle time for prayer, meditation, and song that focuses on healing and wholeness.

You can now submit a name to be included in the upcoming service. Submissions will be used as long as they have been received by 11:59 PM on the Tuesday (day) before the service. Click here to submit a name. Click here for the service packet.

Jewish Jammers 
No dates at this time
Gather together with Cantor Goldstein for an in-person, socially distanced jam session at NSCI! Bring your guitar, bass, harmonica, ukulele, or other instrument and a piece of music to play with the group (we'll provide the drums). *Masks must be worn at all times while inside the synagogue. This program is open to congregants and is only for musicians; there will be no audience. Please contact Sarah to register.

past Music Events

To view recordings of previous music events, visit our YouTube channel.

Meet our Staff

Alan Goodis is a national touring Jewish musician playing over 150 events a year. Born and raised in Toronto, Alan is a proud product of URJ Goldman Union Camp Institute. Noted for his dedication to building relationships and community through music, Alan travels throughout North America to serve as an artist-in-residence and performer at temples, youth conventions, and Jewish summer camps. Alan and his music have become a fixture at North Shore Congregation Israel and other congregations, URJ camps, and youth events from coast to coast. Alan lives in Chicago with his wife, Codi, and their dog Wally.

Christopher Powell is a Juilliard School–trained organist and serves as the Director of Sacred Music and the organist at the National Shrine of St. Maximilian Kolbe at Marytown in Libertyville, IL. He is also North Shore Congregation Israel's new organist. Christopher studied organ performance with Grammy Award–winning organist Paul Jacobs. He has also performed in master classes and lessons with Alan Morrison, Ken Cowan, Wilma Jensen, Cameron Carpenter, and Stephen Roberts. Christopher is the recipient of silver and bronze medals in composition from the Global Music Awards competition. His work ranges from opera and chamber music to functional liturgical music. When not at the organ, Christopher enjoys painting, bike rides, and gigging with his wife, Demi, as house entertainers for Cellar 26 restaurant in Green Oaks, IL.

Gregory Shifrin is a world-renowned pianist and a graduate of the Jerusalem Academy of Music in Israel. He moved to Chicago in 2005. He is a collaborative pianist for Glenbrook South High School, New Trier High School, Music Institute of Chicago Chorale, the Unitarian Church of Evanston, and the Chicago Youth Choral Theater. Performing in a piano duo with Irina Kotlyar, they won the 7th Murray Dranoff International Two Piano Competition in Miami, Florida (1999) and the 1st International Two Piano Competition in Poland (1999), and they were among the three finalists of the 49th International competition of the ARD in Munich, Germany (2000). Gregory lives in Vernon Hills with his wife, Kira, and two sons, Itamar and Ariel.