- About
- Community
-
Learn
- Our Schools
- Youth Department
- B'nai Mitzvah Program
-
Adult Learning
- Hazak
- Sayva: A New Approach to Positive Aging
- EFSHAR presents The Mystical Journey: A Month of Learning
- Talking Torah with Rabbi Lebovitz
- Weekly Torah Study with Rabbi Feinstein
- Thinking Aloud with Rabbi Nolan Lebovitz
- Discovery Circle
- VBS College of Jewish Studies
- Miller Introduction to Judaism (AJU) at VBS
- VBS Book Club
- Lunch and Learn
- The Inner Life of Men
- Adult B'nai Mitzvah Program
- OurSpace: The Artistic Spectrum of Jewish Learning for Adults
- Melton School
- Harold M. Schulweis Institute
- Music and Dramatic Arts
- VBS YouTube Video Archives
- VBS Digital Media Projects
- Pray
- Act
- Join
- Donate
Music of VBS
The Music of VBS
Music plays a great role within VBS culture.
The sounds of VBS are unique to our synagogue; our melodies carry with them our history and soul.
Experience the music of VBS at a variety of prayer experiences including Shiru Shabbat, Tot Shabbat, Annual Concert Series and so much more! Our active VBS Youth Choir and VBS Community Choir perform on selected occasions.
Previously, our unique Shabbat Jam, Shabbat Farbrengen, Rimonim Shabbat, T'marim Sephardic Shabbat and Shabbat Shira services have boasted unique cultural musical offerings to VBS.
Cantor Jacqueline Rafii
VBS Senior Cantor Rafii (see bio) is a published composer of Jewish music and a classically trained pianist. She performs Jewish music in Hebrew, Farsi, Ladino, and English. Cantor Rafii earned her JD from UCLA School of Law and practiced entertainment law for three years, representing major and upcoming artists. For her cantorial Master's Thesis, she conducted original fieldwork in the area of preserving, notating, and disseminating Persian Jewish prayer melodies.
Cantor Phil Baron
VBS Cantor Phil Baron (see bio) has written and recorded a number of soundtracks, which can be sampled in the playlists below. He has also composed a number of productions receiving national publicity including David's Quilt, an original libretto about biblical King David that premiered at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. Learn more about Cantor Baron's role in David's Quilt >
Chris Hardin
Former VBS Music Director Chris Hardin is a composer, orchestrator, music director, conductor and performer. Learn more >
The VBS Community Choir
Become a member of our vibrant Community Choir! Contact our Main Office at 818-788-6000 to inquire.
Listen Now
"Or Hadash" 5783 High Holiday album
Sanctuary
Listen to the audio tracks below by clicking on each linked title:
- Bar'chu
- L'dor Vador
- Ahavat Olam
- L'cha Dodi
- Yism'chu
- Hashkiveinu
- L'cha Adonai
- Yotzeir Atah
- Yiram Hayam
- R'faeinu
- Rom'mu
Ayekah
In preparation for the High Holidays in 2016, VBS unveiled a multi-platform, immersive campaign to draw our community together and gain collective perspective, inspiration and self-discovery. This carefully thoughtful soundtrack of spiritual “nigunim” were used for meditation, contemplation, and reflection. Click here to learn more about Ayekah >
Listen to the audio tracks below by clicking on each linked title:
- OLAM CHESED (Menachem Creditor)
- THE LADDER (Mordechai Twersky)
- MEDITATION (Phil Baron)
- M’LO CHOL HA’ARETZ (Phil Baron)
- NIGUN (Shlomo Carlebach)
- HALLELUYA (Phil Baron)
- YA SH’MA (traditional)
- AYEKAH (Phil Baron/Asher Levy)
CREDITS
Cantor Phil Baron (vocals)
Asher Levy (guitars, oud, mandolin, harmonium, piano)
Jamie Papish (percussion)
Miguel Atwood Ferguson (viola, violin)
Norik Manukyan (duduk, shvi, clarinet, zurna)
Kiernan Weggler (cello)
Additional vocals – Liza Baron, Marc Ginsburg, Shana Leon, Asher Levy
Recorded and Mastered by Tom Weir at Studio City Sound, Los Angeles
Produced by Phil Baron and Asher Levy
Manufactured by Private Label Music
Shabbat Shira Tunes
VBS Tfilot
Listen to the audio tracks below by clicking on each linked title:
- Adonai Z'charnu
- Aleinu
- Amidah Weekday
- B'tseit Israeil
- Bar'chu Friday Night
- Bar'chu Weekday
- Baruch Sh'amar - B'rachot Only
- Baruch Sh'amar - cut version
- Baruch Sh'amar
- Blessings after the Haftarah
- Birchot Hashachar
- Birkat Hamazon
- Blessings before the Haftarah
- Chatzi Kaddish
- Hal'lu - from Hallel
- Hal'lu
- Havdalah
- Hodu
- K'dushah Weekday
- Kaddish Shaleim
- Ki L'cha Tov
- L'ma'an Tizk'ru
- Ma Ashiv LaAdonai
- Mi Chamocha Weekday
- Modeh Ani
- Odcha Ki Anitani
- Pitch Li - Aloni
- Pitchu Li - Carlebach
- Sh'ma - V'ahavta
- Shabbat Candle Blessing
- Tallit Blessing
- Torah Blessings
- Torah Service
- V'shamru - Kiddush
High Holidays
Listen to some of the traditional Selichot melodies recorded by former Artist-in-Residence, Asher Levy
Former VBS Music Director Chris Hardin
Sat, July 27 2024
21 Tammuz 5784
Support The Arts at VBS
Music is central to our Jewish identity, connecting us to our rich history while building our future through creativity, culture and community.
Connect With VBS
- Upcoming Events
- Our Story
- Meet our Clergy
- Our Staff
- Lay Leadership 2024-25
- VBS Newsletter Signup
- Contact VBS
- LA|Kosher Catering and Events
- Bubby's Coffee
- VBS Digital Media
- The Music of VBS
- VBS in the Press
- Live Stream @ Home
- VBS Annual Report 22-23
- Accessibility
- Our Schools
- Youth Department
- B'nai Mitzvah Program
-
Adult Learning
- Hazak
- Sayva: A New Approach to Positive Aging
- EFSHAR presents The Mystical Journey: A Month of Learning
- Talking Torah with Rabbi Lebovitz
- Weekly Torah Study with Rabbi Feinstein
- Thinking Aloud with Rabbi Nolan Lebovitz
- Discovery Circle
- VBS College of Jewish Studies
- Miller Introduction to Judaism (AJU) at VBS
- VBS Book Club
- Lunch and Learn
- The Inner Life of Men
- Adult B'nai Mitzvah Program
- OurSpace: The Artistic Spectrum of Jewish Learning for Adults
- Melton School
- Harold M. Schulweis Institute
- Music and Dramatic Arts
- VBS YouTube Video Archives
- VBS Digital Media Projects