Rabbi Sara Shendelman
Professional Title and Name:
Rabbi and Cantor Sara Shendelman
c/o Chochmat HaLev
2215 Prince Street
Berkeley, CA. USA 94705
Area of Residence :
Berkeley, CA
Locations served:
Northern California
Northwest USA
willing to travel to officiate
Ordained by:
Rabbi Cantor Sara Shendelman received Rabbi S'gan Smicha (rabbinic ordination) from Rabbi Gershon Winkler. She received Cantorial Ordination from Rabbis Zalman Schachter-Shalomi and Shlomo Carlebach, the only woman to do so.
Date Ordained:
1985
Professional Affiliations:
Rabbi Cantor Sara Shendelman was a leader in the early days of the Jewish Renewal Movement , from which she was awarded the title of Eshet Hazon (Woman of Vision. Sara Shendelman is the Founder and Director of the Jewish Arts and Culture School (JACTS), established in 1995. Rabbi Sara serves as Cantor, Rabbi and Core Faculty for Chochmat HaLev , Wisdom of the Heart Center for Jewish Spirituality in Berkeley.
Education:
She holds an M.A. in Education and Developmental Arts from NYU.
I Believe...
I am honored to provide ongoing nonjudgmental and inclusive spiritual guidance, officiating at milestone events, for couples as they plan their lives together, welcome their babies into the world, and celebrate seasonal and lifecycle events with their families.
"There's something eternal" about Jewish music. "It's at a level much deeper than thinking about it." "When people come up to me and say, `I love your singing,' what they're saying is the music was healing." "The Jewish path is trying to find divinity in each person and if we're too wound up, we can't connect."
Services provided:
officiation at interfaith, Jewish and diversely unique weddings. She provides marriage, spiritual, cultural and religious counseling, inspired lifecycle event cantorial services, rabbinic leadership for High Holiday, Shabbat and Festival services, ritual creation for all occasions, Bar and Bat Mitzvah tutoring, conversion assistance, mentoring, advocating and teaching
Specializing in:
Creating a compassionate, joyous, literally harmonious and personal atmosphere of respect, validation and integration of beliefs and passion in all interactions, events and communications.
Fees:
Appropriate to client's planned event and requests
To contact:
Telephone:
(510) 644-2956
E-mail:
Website:
Additional Information:
Sara's beautiful singing can be heard on 3 music CDs which she has produced, including "I Did Lift You Up" and "Chasing the Gazelle." Sara's musical talents are shared generously in all her endeavors as rabbi, ordained cantor, professional singer, musician, wedding officiant, teacher and ritual leadership.
Sara's writings have been cited in numerous books about Jewish culture and spirituality. Her published work includes the book: Traditions: The Complete Book of Prayers, Rituals; Blessings for Every Jewish Home (Hyperion).
Brief excerpts from testimonials:
"You have an amazing way of captivating an audience since the majority of the guests were not your tribe and probably were never at a Jewish wedding before. Everyone was totally comfortable, listened, learned and enjoyed. It was absolutely perfect, we loved your voice, and we cannot thank you enough for making it more than a memorable occasion for us."
"Our wedding ceremony was wonderful, thanks to you. We are so grateful that you stepped into our life at just the right time. Thank you for guiding us though each pre-marital step, with kindness and explanation. Your blessings put us on our own sacred journey as husband and wife."
"I must tell you that you and the entire event far exceeded our expectations, and it was truly a moving and entirely memorable ceremony that we will not soon forget. I loved how you brought everyone into the fold, and your voice and radiant energy truly brought life to this gesture that we wanted to share with family and friends."
My Pledge:
I pledge to respect and honor all people regardless of race, religion, national origin, faith practices, personal beliefs, and sexual orientations.
I am willing to provide personal and/or professional references upon request.
I promise that the information provided is true and correct to the best of my knowledge.
I agree to enter into this covenant of professionals, and will uphold the highest standards of integrity, honor and professionalism. I am joining as a member of this esteemed organization in the spirit of brotherhood/sisterhood, peace and tolerance for all, and with a commitment to interfaith respect. My personal profile information is forthright and honest.
I am not joining in order to proselytize my own personal beliefs, but to honor the individual beliefs and spirituality of others. If any of the beliefs and requests of my clients interferes with my own personal standards, I will politely decline their business and refer them back to InterfaithOfficiants.com so they may choose another Officiant who can help them.
