Glastonbury, Connecticut 06033, United States
Authentic Jewish Worship for the 21st Century
Authentic Jewish Worship for the 21st Century
Rabbi Aaron Sherman and Cantor Tami Cherdack Sherman
Rabbi Aaron Sherman and Cantor Tami Cherdack Sherman
Inclusive Home for Jewish and Interfaith Community
Welcome
Shir Chaverim is founded upon the belief that there is no single authentic Judaism and to support individuals seeking spiritual connection and to find their unique relationship with G-d. Prayer, music, community, dance, culture, study, and performing arts combine to provide a loving community of friends.
Who We Are
Our mission
Shir Chaverim believes in the dignity, worth, and value of every human being as created in G-d's image. We believe that each person has an ever evolving personal relationship with G-d and welcome everyone to our community to explore it. We are not a synagogue. We are building an inclusive, participatory community to support Jewish and interfaith families and individuals experience traditional Judaism in ways that are personally meaningful to them. Guided as our ancestors were through Torah, we bring modern teaching and connection to our studies. We combine traditional liturgy and modern music to elevate the holiness of our prayer. We join together to advance social justice and perform acts of loving kindness as G-d's agents on Earth. We are one with the Jewish People and all People of the World.
Rabbi aaron sherman
Rabbi Sherman received his rabbinic ordination in June 2020 at Jewish Spiritual Leaders Institute (JSLI). He has followed a lifelong commitment to Judaism and Jewish study and his passion to serve his community in a greater capacity inspired him to follow his dream to become a rabbi, Although he grew up in a Jewish home, his family did not regularly attend synagogue worship outside of the Holy Days. His father Alfred was, however, always available when called upon for daily minyan so Aaron would accompany his father to synagogue frequently. Because his parents both worked, he often needed to wait at Temple Beth Shalom in Framingham, Massachusetts after Hebrew School for his ride home. That is when he often spent time with Rabbi Hillel Rudavsky, of blessed memory, in his study and where he first fell in love with discussions and interpretation of Torah. He began to attend services and lead Junior Congregation frequently. He also became active in youth groups taking on leadership roles including serving as a regional officer in United Synagogue Youth. He continued Jewish Studies through college and his adult years believing that a day that he did not learn something new about Judaism is a day wasted. He has lay led services in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, New York, and Connecticut and participated in many roles in Jewish lifecycle events. He has led a number of Jewish study groups for adults and children. He has traveled around the country teaching Torah, Jewish ethics, Jewish history, and Jewish culture through the art of Magic.
When Aaron was a child he told his mother of blessed memory that he wanted to be a rabbi. She told him that she was not raising her son to be a rabbi. A few years later he told her he wanted to be a magician. She said she was not raising her son to be a magician. Some years later Aaron told her he wanted to be a doctor. She told him he could be anything he wanted as long as he did his best at it but being a doctor was good choice. And so, he became a doctor, a magician, and a rabbi, just in a different order than he imagined. And having acquired the skills of healing and caring for people through the practice of medicine, the art of engaging and entertaining people while teaching them through performing magic, and the ability to tie that together with decades of study of the sacred teachings of Torah and Judaism, he recognizes that he is now and always has been exactly where G-d has intended for him to be.
Rabbi Aaron Sherman and his wife, Tami Cherdack Sherman, live in Glastonbury, Connecticut. They are collectively parents of five remarkable children, Phillip, Joshua, Matthew, Daniel, and Samuel.
Cantor Tami cherdack sherman
A native of Miami, Florida,Tami has been a performing and recording artist since the age of 16. Tami has led musical worship and taught Jewish music for over 25 years, She most recently served as cantorial soloist, choir and music director for Glastonbury, Connecticut’s Congregation Kol Haverim from 1995-2020. Prior to that, she served Boston area temple Tifereth Israel of Malden, Massachusetts. She attended Hebrew College of Brookline, MA where she received cantorial and Hebrew language training.
Tami was awarded a scholarship to attend the internationally renowned New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA, where she was granted a Master of Music degree. She was subsequently awarded a full Doctoral Fellowship by the University of Connecticut to direct a “Women in the Arts" program and as a vocal instructor.
Tami made her orchestral debut as guest soloist with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra for two concerts at the Bushnell in 2011. Tami has performed for a popular local Klezmer band seen often at the Manchester band shell and around Connecticut. She has performed throughout New England, across the United States, and abroad. She continues to work as a contemporary recording artist for private studios and composers and appears performing period music with her husband. She has been recognized for her exceptional talent in numerous vocal competitions, and received a number of awards and honors. Some of the more notable awards include the Chapters of the National Association of Teachers of Singing Vocal Award in Florida and the Concerto/Aria Competition of South Florida. She is often engaged as a judge for local singing competitions, including the Greater Hartford Idol competition.
Tami has performed and recorded in a variety of musical genres ranging from popular contemporary music, broadway, big band and operatic music, to religious and klezmer music. As an acclaimed coloratura soprano, her signature role is the heroine Olympia in Offenbach's French opera “The Tales of Hoffmann”. Her most popular operatic work was with the Opera New England company and orchestra at Hyde Cultural Park Auditorium. She has also performed musical theater engagements at summer music festivals in the Adirondack mountains of New York.
Upon her 20th anniversary serving at Congregation Kol Haverim, Tami was presented an official citation award by former Glastonbury Representative to the Connecticut House of Representatives Dr. Prasad Srinivasin for her many contributions to our local community as well as the rest of the country.
Tami resides in Glastonbury, CT, with her husband Rabbi Dr Aaron Sherman, They have five sons, a mascot Boston terrier Jeannie, rabbit Shazaam, and various foster animals from the protectors of animals, which she lovingly calls “my zoo”.
What we do
Shir Chaverim is here to help those seeking connections to Judaism in both traditional and nontraditional ways. Combining traditional prayer, musical Kabbalat Shabbat, Tot Shabbat, study groups, cultural Shabbatons, magic, theater and music, Rabbi Aaron and Cantor Tami welcome all who are interested in Judaism to learn, sing, pray, and celebrate with us. We are available to prepare for and co-officiate at lifecycle events including Brit Milah, B'nai Mitzvah, and Wedding ceremonies. We also may be called upon when needed for bereavement including funerals, during shiva, and unveiling. We are always available for visits to the sick or bereaved in our community so reach out at any time.
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