TBI was pleased to welcome Cantor Sheila Nesis to the Bimah to enrich Shabbat Services with her beautiful voice. On the following morning, she provided a unique and interactive learning session about her own spiritual journey in the world of Jewish composition, cantorial traditions and spiritual expression from Europe and Argentina to Israel and the United States. 

Cantor Sheila Nesis is a singer, cantor and educator born and raised in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Inspired and trained by Rabbi Sergio Bergman and Fundacion Judaica, she served numerous Congregations including Temple NCI-Emanu-El and C.I.R.A (also known as “Temple Libertad”) the first and main Synagogue in Buenos Aires. During the years that followed the economic crisis in Argentina in 2001, Cantor Nesis worked with the World Union for Progressive Judaism (WUPJ) to help the Argentinian Jewish and non-Jewish communities in need by performing services and concerts in synagogues throughout the USA, and was featured in regional and national URJ Biennials. In 2007, she was invited to join the clergy of Temple Israel of NYC, under the leadership of Rabbi David Gelfand. She has served congregations in NYC, Arizona, Denver, Colorado and now serves the wider Maine Jewish community at Etz Chaim Synagogue in Portland and at the Center for Small Town Jewish Life at Colby College.

As a recording artist, Sheila brings a fresh sound to the world of contemporary Jewish music, with roots in Latin American, Israeli, Ladino and Middle Eastern music. Sheila is a contributor to various Jewish publications including Kveller, The Forward, and Ritualwell, on topics covering prayer and liturgy, music, motherhood, loss and grief.