Shira Ginsburg is an ordained Cantor celebrating her 14th year of service at East End Temple in Manhattan. As a Messinger Scholar, Shira earned her Masters, Cantorial degrees and ordination from Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion. Shira is the recipient of the 2019 Lev Aryeh, Heart of a Lion Award from the Jewish Partisans Educational Foundation, Women of Reform Judaism Award, Cantorial Alumni Association Prize, and Sylvia Davidson Memorial Award for extraordinary diligence in mastering Chazzanut.
Prior to her Cantorial studies, Shira received her BFA from Syracuse University's Drama and Musical Theatre program and spent a number of years in New York working as a professional actress, singer, and songwriter. In Spring of 2016 Shira premiered her one-woman musical, Bubby's Kitchen off-Broadway to rave reviews and has toured the country extensively over the last six years bringing Bubby's Kitchen to over 25 communities. In addition to performing concerts and numerous other works on stages in Israel, England and all over the United States, Shira has been the chosen soloist for The Jewish Partisans Educational Foundation at numerous benefits and featured in their documentary ‘Reunion.’ She has released two liturgical albums, 'A New Light' and 'The Best of Simchat Shabbat' with East End produced by two time grammy award winning producer Ben Wisch, and 'Maybe,' a solo album of her own folk music. She is featured on the albums of Gerard Edery and Noah Aaronson and was recently a featured performer alongside Alan Richman and Joan Nathan in ‘Beyond Bubbie: 6 Word Memoirs.’
A member of the American Conference of Cantors, Shira specializes in creating rich, inspiring, meaningful life cycle events both for Temple members, and for those who are unaffiliated. At East End Temple, Shira spearheads the B'nei Mitzva program preparing students to chant Torah, Haftarah, and become prayer leaders. She teaches adult education courses in the areas of liturgy, home and synagogue ritual, weekly Torah portions, story-telling, Israel, Holocaust education and many others. Shira works one-on-one with conversion students, guiding them through the conversion process and mikve ritual, and works with community members as a pastoral counselor. Shira leads a community choir, runs an Israeli Culture Shuk promoting a love of Israel through the experience of Israeli music and culture, and leads all worship services.
Shira serves on the Jewish Partisans Education Foundations Young Leadership Board, is an annual panelist on the Gerecht Institute for Conversion, and teaches Holocaust studies in middle and high school classrooms across the five boroughs as a founding member of 3rd Generation Holocaust Survivors program ‘We Educate’ in partnership with Facing History Facing Ourselves. Shira has been a guest lecturer at Hebrew Union College, and Moishe House, and has served on the Israel Task Force at the UJA. She also mentors and coaches Cantorial students at Hebrew Union College.
Prior to her Cantorial studies, Shira received her BFA from Syracuse University's Drama and Musical Theatre program and spent a number of years in New York working as a professional actress, singer, and songwriter. In Spring of 2016 Shira premiered her one-woman musical, Bubby's Kitchen off-Broadway to rave reviews and has toured the country extensively over the last six years bringing Bubby's Kitchen to over 25 communities. In addition to performing concerts and numerous other works on stages in Israel, England and all over the United States, Shira has been the chosen soloist for The Jewish Partisans Educational Foundation at numerous benefits and featured in their documentary ‘Reunion.’ She has released two liturgical albums, 'A New Light' and 'The Best of Simchat Shabbat' with East End produced by two time grammy award winning producer Ben Wisch, and 'Maybe,' a solo album of her own folk music. She is featured on the albums of Gerard Edery and Noah Aaronson and was recently a featured performer alongside Alan Richman and Joan Nathan in ‘Beyond Bubbie: 6 Word Memoirs.’
A member of the American Conference of Cantors, Shira specializes in creating rich, inspiring, meaningful life cycle events both for Temple members, and for those who are unaffiliated. At East End Temple, Shira spearheads the B'nei Mitzva program preparing students to chant Torah, Haftarah, and become prayer leaders. She teaches adult education courses in the areas of liturgy, home and synagogue ritual, weekly Torah portions, story-telling, Israel, Holocaust education and many others. Shira works one-on-one with conversion students, guiding them through the conversion process and mikve ritual, and works with community members as a pastoral counselor. Shira leads a community choir, runs an Israeli Culture Shuk promoting a love of Israel through the experience of Israeli music and culture, and leads all worship services.
Shira serves on the Jewish Partisans Education Foundations Young Leadership Board, is an annual panelist on the Gerecht Institute for Conversion, and teaches Holocaust studies in middle and high school classrooms across the five boroughs as a founding member of 3rd Generation Holocaust Survivors program ‘We Educate’ in partnership with Facing History Facing Ourselves. Shira has been a guest lecturer at Hebrew Union College, and Moishe House, and has served on the Israel Task Force at the UJA. She also mentors and coaches Cantorial students at Hebrew Union College.
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Song Samples:
R'tzei |
Olam |
Shalom Rav |
Mi Shebeirach |
Check out Shira's Latest Album 'A New Light' here!