Beth Schafer

Beth Schafer - Spiritual Leader, Musician, Producer

Beth Schafer continues to define Jewish music by combining masterful composition with a sensitivity to liturgy and unique insight toward text and its relationship to life today. What makes her music special is her attention to the universal themes that not only define Judaism, but many other faiths as well. Beth Schafer won the 2006 American Idol Underground Faith Based competition and used that win to create music that appeals to those whose values are shared across many faith traditions. Schafer has degrees in Music Theory and Composition from the University of Miami School of Music and is an accomplished and much sought after guitarist in styles ranging from classical to blues, folk to jazz.

The worship experiences that Schafer creates both at home and on the road have been dubbed everything from “deeply touching” to “incomparable.” She has an innate sense of the rhythm of worship and quickly connects to a congregation’s need to spiritually connect to one another and to God. When Beth leads a group in prayer, no one is a stranger.

Beth's infectious energy, well-crafted songs and intelligent lyrics coupled with a great band has made her a leading presence in the Jewish music world. It is her universality that placed her at center-court for the half-time show at an Orlando Magic game and her messages of hope during tumultuous times brought her into the politcal arena when she was asked to play for President Barack Obama during his historic campaign.

Beth grew her national presence over many decades through the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ). She headlined many late-night sessions and was the guitarist for Shabbat services for 7 biennial conventions. At the 2013 URJ Biennial, Beth became the first woman to produce an event for the URJ. Beth wrote and directed the show, "Extraordinary Women Shaping Reform Judaism," celebrating the 100th anniversary of Women of Reform Judaism. She also penned the anthem, Limdu Heiteiv, for their centennial celebration.

Beth lives to make music, loves bringing people together through its unique power, and feels God's presence when it all comes together. She has no intention of forcing any beliefs on anyone, but yet to those who are searching for something greater than themselves, Beth seems to make a magical connection. She has been told on numerous occasions that she has scored the soundtrack to her fans' lives.

Her 10 albums of original Jewish music and numerous singles include many social justice anthems as well. The title song to her CD, “Build That Bridge,” was written and recorded with the late “Still the One” singer, Larry Hoppen of the band Orleans, and was released in 2007. In 2018, as the nation became more and more divided over racial issues, women’s issues and immigration issues, Beth released an EP called “No Time for Silence,” a secular offering speaking to the strife of our country. The song, “History Will Ask,” begs the question that when we look back at this time, what can we say we did to make our world a better place?

 

In 2022, Beth was featured as a musician in WABE's (Atlanta Public Television) show “Amplify Atlanta,” a showcase of the talent shaping the musical landscape of Atlanta. 

 

Her most recent music, produced in her studio, Inner Sanctum, re-examines once-enshrined Hebrew texts and updates them to reflect a more expansive and inclusive audience. Her classical composition “M'kor HaChayim” provides a much-needed update to the patriarchal Avinu Malkeinu, and her “Am Yisrael Chai,” written after October 7th, updates the text to lift up the strength of the Jewish people today.

 

In 2022, Beth returned to her roots as a composer of contemporary music and released the Electronica album, Liminal. She continues to write and produce Electronica through her endeavor The Beth Schafer Project, and loves exploring this experimental genre.

In 2015, Beth became the Bunzl Family Cantorial Chair of Temple Sinai in Atlanta. There, she fuses her love of liturgy and music production into creating dynamic worship experiences, classes, concerts, and programs for Atlanta's largest Reform congregation. 

 

Beth's greatest love is her family: her wife, Rebecca, their kids Hannah (Matthew), Sarah and Ben, and her trusty dog Chester.