Hazzan Richard Kaplan, like many of us, straddles the different worlds of tradition and innovation in his soulful leadership as a cantor, musician and teacher. He serves as a cantor in a Conservative synagogue in Oakland, California and is also very connected to Jewish Renewal. We are blessed to have him as a guest this shabbat at Congregation Bonai Shalom, where he will be leading us and teaching us on Friday night as well as Shabbat morning. I first met Hazzan Richard in the summer of 1999 when I was an intern at Eilat Chayyim, the Jewish Renewal Retreat Center then in Accord, NY. There is great depth and beauty in his music and in his teaching and we are thrilled to be hosting him.

Friday night services are at 6:00 pm, with Shabbat Morning services at 9:30 am.

Cantor Richard Kaplan is a singer, songwriter, pianist, cantor, teacher, and ethnomusicologist and has performed internationally for 40 years, specializing in Jewish World Sacred Music. Find out more at www.kaplanmusic.com.

Hazzan Richard will lead our services on Friday night and Shabbat morning with some new and inspiring melodies and teach us along the way.

There is also a chance to hear him in concert in Fort Collins on Saturday, January 8, 2010, at 7:00 pm: Warm Your Soul on a Winter’s Night. Music from world spiritual traditions with Cantor Richard Kaplan. Held at Congregation Har Shalom in Fort Collins. Tickets at the door: $12 General Public / $5 Students. For complete details, visit Har Shalom’s website.