Cantor Shira Nafshi grew up in Miami, FL and was highly involved in both her temple’s youth group and religious school as a song leader. She was mentored by her Cantor, Cantor Stuart Pittle (z”l). Cantor Shira attended Brandeis University (B.A. in Music), Sarah Lawrence University (M.A. in Poetry), and was ordained a Cantor from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion’s Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music in 2005. She served as the full-time Cantor for Temple B’nai Or in Morristown, NJ from 2005 to 2010. She began serving as the part-time Cantor of Temple Beth Jacob in 2011. She leads Shabbat services approximately once a month, leads High Holy Day services, leads the TBJ choir, and teaches music in the religious school. Cantor Shira also serves part-time as the Cantor of Temple Adath Yeshurun in Manchester, and helps on an as-needed basis in leading worship with other synagogues in New Hampshire.
When not on the TBJ bimah, Cantor Shira can usually be found at her retail shop in Tilton, The Trainers’ Loft: Holistic Horse Supplies and Consignment, or with a horse – trimming hooves, teaching riding, or playing with her own horses. Cantor Shira is thrilled to be working with her life partner, Rabbi Robin. Together, they are the parents of Liba, born in early 2014.