New Legends

is a musical troupe formed in 1995 in Philadelphia by six rabbis and Jewish educators. For over seven years, their original music has shaped and influenced musical Shabbat services throughout the United States.

Rabbi Rayzel Raphael

is an independent rabbi providing Jewish lifestyle events in the Greater Philadelphia area, including weddings, baby welcoming, youth and adult Bar ad Bat Mitzvahs and many other events. She teaches day and weekend programs focusing on Jewish and Feminist spirituality, kabbalah and personal growth. She also consults with The Jewish Creativity Project of New Legends, focusing on outreach through spirituality and the arts. A Wexner Graduate Fellow and participant in the Melton Senior Educator Program at Hebrew University, Rayzel composes original Jewish music, performs weddings and teaches on a variety of topics including: Angels, new Jewish ritual, Kabbalah. Rayzel sings with Shabbat unplugged and MIRAJ has released several solo albums, Bible Babes A-Beltin' and Friday Night Revived.

Rabbi Shawn Israel Zevit

serves in numerous venues as a spiritual leader and congregational, organizational and social justice consultant. He worked for the Jewish Reconstructionist Movement for fourteen years as Director of Congregational Service, Outreach and Tikkun Olam, consulting to and supporting dozens of congregations, organizations, social justice initiatives in the Jewish and larger world. Rabbi Shawn is co-director of the award-winning Davennen Leader's Training Institute and is a spiritual director and trainer of Jewish clergy in spiritual direction for the ALEPH Hashpa'ah program, working at the nexus of spiritual formation, development and tikkun on a personal, interpersonal and communal level. He is also a recording and performing artist and has been an organizer for over twenty years of Jewish men's programming and retreats; and co-editor with Harry Brod of "Brother Keepers: New Perspectives in Jewish Masculinity" (Men's Studies Press, 2010,), as well as Offerings of the Heart: Money and Values in Faith Community and numerous publications in the larger Jewish world.

Rabbi Myriam Klotz

is on the faculty of the Institute for Jewish Spirituality and a mentor with the Morei Derekh program in Jewish Spiritual Direction.

She co-directs the Yoga and Jewish Spirituality Training Institute at Elat Chayyim Jewish Spiritual Retreat Center.

She is a spiritual director at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, and a founding member of Shabbat Unplugged.

Juliet I. Spitzer, M.Ed.

is the Director of Inter-Cultural Exchange at the International Center for Contemporary Education, promoting the peaceful management of conflict through cultural understanding and tolerance for religious, ethnic, and racial differences. She is the Cantorial Soloist at Congregation Beth Israel in Media, PA, composes for, and performs with Theatre Ariel, and is a member of the a cappella trio MIRAJ, the vocal ensemble SheWho, and the musical troupes Shabbat Unplugged/ Havdallah Live and Tof b’Yadah. Juliet also teaches on a variety of topics in Judaism in the Philadelphia area. She has a website at www.julietspitzer.com

Rabbi Margot L. Stein

is an award-winning singer/songwriter who has produced or co-produced seven albums of original Jewish music. A creativity consultant to the Jewish community, she trains special needs students for Bar/Bat Mitzvah, revises and edits curricula, and serves on the boards of several Jewish educational organizations. This spring, she is teaching Contemporary Jewish Worship at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College as well as Purposes of Jewish Living in the Philadelphia Melton Mini-School. Her previous Shalshelet winners include "Lulay (Psalm 27)" from the CD, Healing Chants for the Soul. Find out more about Rabbi Stein at Book to Bimah.

Rabbi Micah Becker-Klein

Rabbi Micah Becker-Klein grew up in Blue Bell, PA, where he was active in his local Conservative synagogue and in the youth group where he served as regional president for United Synagogue Youth.

Following a one-year study in Israel, he enrolled in the joint program at the Jewish Theological Seminary and Columbia University. After graduating with honors in 1993, Rabbi Becker-Klein’s love of music and love of Israel brought him to Jerusalem, where he began graduate studies in ethnomusicology with a focus on Jewish liturgical music in the United States.

When he returned to the U.S., he taught and led singing and services in a number of synagogues, summer camps, day schools, and community centers throughout the North East. In 1995 he became one of the original members of "Shabbat Unplugged," a musical troupe formed in Philadelphia.

Rabbi Becker-Klein’s grounding in Judaism combined with his belief in the Reconstructionist movement, led to his decision in 1995 to attend the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College in Philadelphia.

As assistant editor for the High Holy Day Prayerbook published by the Reconstructionist Press, Micah's musical and liturgical leadership have inspired hundreds of Jews to enter the world of Jewish prayer and song throughout North America, Europe, Israel, and Africa. Micah's music and songwriting embraces the Jewish Reconstructionist spirit by bringing new melodies and contemporary meaning to ancient sentiments and Jewish life. Micah is a on the board of Harmoniyah (Jewish Reconstructionist Musicians Network).

Rabbi Micah has taught at Keene State College, and served as an advisor to the Keene State Holocaust Education Center. Following his stint at Keene, he was the director of Jewish Life and Education at the Springfield Jewish Community Center in Springfield, MA. In addition, Rabbi Micah helped launch Camp JRF and currently serves on the Camp JRF board as the RRA representative.

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