Mr. Zachary Klein is currently a senior music composition with piano emphasis major at Ithaca College. Judaism has always played a role in his life, yet it wasn't until the recent years of college that he developed a deeply personal and observant spirituality. Lately, his interest has been fusing various forms of Jewish music, texts, concepts, and spirituality with his writing both in the musical and literary fields, using his creations as a medium of outreach. After graduation, he hopes to attend the Mayanot institute in Jerusalem to continue his learning.
Zach’s Paper "A Personal Discovery of Aesthetics and Tefillah" deals with the idea of Jewish prayer as a form of art and a personal attempt to clarify what that exactly means. By identifying the specific parameters of composition, content, and performance in the Shemoneh Esrei through an aesthetic lens, we can understand how to approach prayer as a performance piece, one that requires a fresh interpretation and a personal and unbiased level of expression.
This presentation was delivered at the Sinai Scholars Academic Symposium 2010.
The Sinai Scholars Symposium is a yearly conference for university students, hosted by the Sinai Scholars Society. Students from around the world gather with an esteemed panel of Ivy League professors, world-class Torah scholars and experts in their field to study, discuss and present their thoughts on various subjects that deal with Judaism and the modern world. Each student prepares an academic paper which they present to their colleagues and a panel of judges.
Paper: "Oh L-rd, Open My Lips, and My Mouth"
