Soulmates Band Celebrates Five Years with The Neshamah Institute

DELRAY BEACH, Fla. - May 26, 2015 - PRLog -- While most synagogue choruses are struggling to fill their ranks, The Neshamah Institute, a soulful, independent, Jewish community without walls, has created an incredibly popular and talented ensemble band dubbed the “Soulmates.” Started in 2010, just as The Neshamah Institute launched, the Soulmates band is made up of 15 members today (growing from just four at its start), rehearses weekly, and performs about eight times a year. The music the band performs is a modern, fun twist on traditional Hebrew prayers, including Beatles tracks and current hit melodies.

According to Musical Director Sharon Shear, who is one of four founding members, “What we do is effortless. It’s very sincere and there’s a lot of love. Our goal is to create Jewish music for the community and to create an environment where people are inspired.”

The Soulmates perform at all of Neshamah’s Shabbat Havurah and High Holiday services and according to Rabbi Amy Rader are an integral part of the prayers. The band consists of singers, guitarists and even an 11-year-old on the bongos. “There is something to be said when ten-year-olds and teenagers all want to be a part of something. It is the highlight of their week. They bring everything they’ve got,” Sharon said.

Some of the Soulmates band members include:

·         Sharon Shear, Musical Director/Guitar/Founding Member: Sharon started the Soulmates in 2010 when The Neshamah Institute first launched. Sharon leads rehearsals in her own home every Sunday morning. Her two daughters (Sam and Jamie) have also been members.

·         Debbie Fischer, Vocals/Founding Member: Debbie is a former Miss University of Miami. She also sang and performed for the troops with United Service Organizations (USO) after college. She gets a sense of purpose from performing with the Soulmates band.

·         Michael Band, Lead Guitarist/Founding Member: Michael is a classically trained musician and brings over 40 years of international music experience to the group, including eight years as a member of the Canadian Band “No Questions.” He resides in Boca Raton and is a software engineer.

·         Sam Shear, Vocals/Founding Member: One of the originals, Sam was with the band for three seasons before graduating and leaving the area. She is considered the creator of most of the band’s harmonies and melodic arrangements. She is currently a sophomore at the University of Florida. She joins the Soulmates (and her mom and younger sister) for services when she is in town.

·         Monica Takiff, Vocals: Monica was trained at Julliard in New York City and had not performed in public for years until joining the Soulmates band. Monica deeply believes as though she has finally found her Jewish home with Neshamah.

·         Sydney Korsunsky, Vocals: Sydney recently graduated from Pine Crest High School in Ft. Lauderdale (class of 2015). She started as a back-up singer before becoming a regular band member. She has always loved singing and coming to services and says sharing her spirituality through song is very powerful.

·         Jamie Shear, Vocals: Jamie recently graduated from Spanish River High School (class of 2015) and joined band after her sister (Sam) graduated. She says when she is singing with the Soulmates she can feel music in her soul and is connected to Judaism as well as the community.

·         Sheina Koolik, Vocals: Sheina is a student at Spanish River High School. She studied for her Bat Mitzvah in 2012 with Neshamah and has continued with her love of learning and Jewish music with the Soulmates.

Despite the diverse and talented group that has come together to create soulful music with the Soulmates, Sharon is adamant that the band understand that it is not about any one individual. She says: “Our voices have the ability to inspire. It’s not about any one of us…but rather about inspiring the congregation to reconnect with and enjoy Jewish prayer. It’s warm and spiritual and personal. It makes us all feel proud and happy to be Jewish. This is how Shabbat should be!”

And the inspiration is working. Following the May 15, 2015 Shabbat Havurah service held at Spanish River Library in Boca Raton, where about 300 community members attended, Rabbi Rader informed her congregants that the next Shabbat service (August 28, 2015) would be held in a new location. “Thanks to your overwhelming support, we have outgrown our library home. New location to be announced,” she wrote.

History of the Soulmates

·         Rabbi Amy Rader and Sharon Shear meet at B’nai Torah Congregation in Boca Raton where they worked together from 2004 to 2008. “I knew from the minute I met Amy that we were going to do something special together,” Sharon says.

·         Rabbi Rader launches The Neshamah Institute, a soulful, independent, Jewish community without walls, in 2010 and immediately decides she wants a strong musical component. Sharon Shear named Musical Director.

·         That first year, Debbie Fischer joins; Michael Band, lead guitarist, joins; and Sharon’s oldest daughter Sam becomes band member. “We were spoiled to start off so strong so early,” Sharon says.

·         Sydney Korsunsky and Jamie Shear both join in 2012. Band begins to grow.

·         Today, Soulmates consist of 15 individuals, the youngest of which is nine.

·         Next up: “We want to maintain integrity and be pure and acoustic,” Sharon says. “But we also know we need to grow so we can continue to inspire more people. The greatest compliment we could receive is to have this problem.”

Learn more about the Soulmates band at http://niboca.org/shabbat-holidays/soulmates-band/.

About The Neshamah Institute
The Neshamah Institute is a soulful, independent, new Jewish community without walls in South Palm Beach County. Its mission is to bring the personal connection and spirituality of authentic Judaism to the unaffiliated Jewish world. Neshamah offers personalized Jewish education and B’nai Mitzvah training, inspiring Shabbat and holiday celebrations and hands-on community service. The Neshamah Institute congregants meet in living rooms, club houses, libraries, synagogues and community centers. Membership dues are not required as programs are sustained solely by donations and fees for services. The Neshamah Institute is devoted to helping all Jews grow their Jewish soul. Learn more at www.niboca.org.