Hal Aqua, Cantorial Ritual Director
After serving as B'nai Havurah's Music Director since 2006, Hal Aqua has expanded his role to encompass a wider view of spiritual practice in our community.
In the interim period between Rabbis, Hal is responsible for coordinating, organizing and overseeing most of B'nai Havurah's Shabbat and holiday services, including High Holy Days. He works closely with committees, staff, and lay leadership to ensure that our participatory services continue to incorporate a range of viewpoints, modes, and experiences while staying true to our Reconstructionist roots.
A creative approach to using music is central to what Hal brings to our community. He develops themed Shabbatot and experimental ideas and works closely with talented musicians from across the wider community. Hal enjoys fostering collaborative events and services with like-minded creative leaders in other congregations and organizations, as well as nurturing what we do best at B'nai Havurah: creative, thoughtful, and non-judgmental approaches to a warm and inclusive Judaism.
A longtime musical presence in the wider Denver Jewish community, Hal performs with his klezmer fusion band Hal Aqua and The Lost Tribe, teaches workshops and classes in world Jewish music, organizes popular cultural events like the "Jews Do Jews" concert series at Swallow Hill Music, and has collaborated on hundreds of life cycle events with many rabbis in Colorado and New Mexico. He is currently studying with Rabbi Ya'acov Gabriel in pursuit of a private rabbinic s'micha.
