SpeakChorus Torah: Creative Group Midrash
Hebrew and English nigun, chant, song, kirtan: Participatory, Joyous or Meditative
Spiritual Practice in Daily Life
Text Study and Singing by specific topics
Cantor Abbe Lyons is dedicated to enhancing the spiritual and emotional power of music and Jewish learning in everyday life as well as in sacred spaces.
She is on the faculty at ALEPH Ordination Programs, where she studied with Hazzan Jack Kessler and received smicha as Hazzan (Cantor) in 2010. She is a Hillel professional at Ithaca College, where received a B.Mus. in voice performance in 1987, and at Binghamton University. Cantor Lyons is an innovative liturgist whose published work includes poetry, alternative social justice haftarot and the album Listen! with her multifaith band, Resonate. Her recording credits include Listen! (RESONATE, 2017), Behold! (Vocolot, 1997), Roots and Wings (Vocolot, 1992) and Household Chores (Abbe Lyons, 1990). She serves Hillel at Binghamton, Gilat Rina Havurah, and is the High Holiday Cantor at Pleasantville Community Synagogue, and annual memorial service facilitator for the Ithaca Childbearing Loss Network. In 2005, she was honored as a Bat Kol, an emerging voice, by the N'shei Hazon (Women of Vision). As a SpeakChorus Torah Project educator, she has facilitated SpeakChorus Torah at Ruach HaAretz retreat, the ALEPH Kallah, and in congregational settings with adults and teens.
In addition to music & hazzanut, she has studied and practiced somatic education and healing arts and worked in the nonprofit sector. Her education also includes the Marin County Feldenkrais Professional Training Program (1990-1994), The Acupressure Institute (1990-1992), and The Spiral Center of Reiki Training (1996-1997).
“Members of our congregation are still talking about how beautiful their Shabbat with Cantor Lyons was, how uplifted they felt spiritually; how they experienced something very real, personal, and also felt intensely connected as a group in the davening and singing together with Cantor Abbe. It was a remarkably spiritual Shabbat experience – one we will not forget!”
Cantor Shoshana Brown, Temple Beth El, Fall River MA