This lecture draws from the research for Professor Summit’s
new book Singing God’s Words: The Performance of Biblical Chant in
Contemporary Judaism (Oxford University Press, 2016), the first
study of the meaning and experience of chanting Torah among
contemporary American Jews. He explores why and how a
growing number of American Jews see the public chanting
of Biblical texts as one of the most authentic expressions of
their religious identity and how this ritual is shaped by digital
technology, feminism, and contemporary views of spiritual
experience.

Jeffrey A. Summit, Ph.D. holds the appointment of Research
Professor in the Department of Music and in the Judaic Studies
program at Tufts University, where he also serves as rabbi
and Neubauer Executive Director of Tufts Hillel. He is the
author of Singing God’s Words: The Performance of Biblical Chant in
Contemporary Judaism (Oxford University Press) and The Lord’s
Song in a Strange Land: Music and Identity in Contemporary Jewish
Worship (Oxford University Press). His CD Abayudaya: Music from
the Jewish People of Uganda (Smithsonian Folkways Recordings)
was nominated for a GRAMMY award. His CD with video
Delicious Peace: Coffee, Music and Interfaith Harmony in Uganda
(Smithsonian Folkways Recordings) was awarded Best World
Music CD by the Independent Music Awards. His research
focuses on music and identity, music and spiritual experience,
music and advocacy, and the impact of technology on the
transmission of tradition.