Peri Smilow will be giving a Sermon in Song at Shabbat Shira (Sabbath of Song) – Friday, January 22 at 6:00pm – at Congregation Har HaShem. All are welcome to attend.

Peri Smilow uses music to change the world. As an international Performing Artist, Composer, Educator and Activist she has the unique ability to move people of all ages using her talent, passion, music and commitment to community to create social change.

Peri’s music and message of tikkun olam have been heard throughout the US, Canada, England, Singapore and Israel. Her beautiful and uplifting spirit infuses her work making her one of the most sought-after contemporary Jewish music performers today.

Peri performed as Artist-in-Residence at the World Union for Progressive Judaism’s International Connections Conference in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, Israel and was a guest artist at the International Limmud Conference in Nottingham, England. She is a regular performer and presenter at URJ national conventions and CAJE conferences. Peri was commissioned by The Women of Reform Judaism to compose a new piece of music in celebration of the release of The Torah: A Women’s Commentary. She has enjoyed serving as visiting artist at the Reform movement’s summer camps and as visiting faculty at the Hava Nashira National Songleader Institute. Prior to her professional life in music Peri spent 15 years as a non-profit entrepreneur working with inner-city youth. She holds an M.Ed. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Peri has released four albums including Songs of Peace, Ashrey and The Freedom Music Project: the music of Passover and the Civil Rights Movement, which features an electrifying 18-voice choir of young Black and Jewish singers. FMP was nominated Best Gospel Album of the Year by the Just Plain Folks Music Awards and was featured on NBC and ABC TV and on NPR and Voice of America radio. Peri is now replicating The Freedom Music Project experience throughout the country as church and synagogue choirs utilize the magic of music to breakdown social barriers.

Peri’s most recent release, BLESSINGS, is intimate and uplifting. It draws on Peri’s experiences as cancer survivor, wife and mother and celebrates the importance of her relationships with loved ones, friends, community and faith. BLESSINGS was coproduced by Grammy-award winner Ben Wisch.

In 2012 Peri began touring her new one-woman cabaret act: Peri Smilow sings The Great [Jewish] American Songbook. In this show she puts down her guitar and returns to her roots singing the best-known and beloved songs of the 20th century. Gershwin, Kern, Rodgers and Sondheim tunes along with those of many other Jewish composers are brought to life as Peri brings her audience on a journey through the Great American Songbook.

Peri’s favorite role is being mom to daughter Allie. She lives in South Orange, NJ. Visit her website www.perismilow.com.