Stephanie Weishaar joined Kol Nefesh as our Spiritual Leader in 2014. Before immersing herself at Kol Nefesh, she led music at Reform congregations in Damascus and Cumberland, served as a youth group advisor, taught music in Reform and Reconstructionist synagogues, and served in a variety of holiday and life-cycle services. As an interfaith parent, she comes to our community with deep understanding and empathy. 

Stephanie is on the board of the Women Cantors Network, is a member of the Guild of Temple Musicians and OHALAH, and is actively involved in the Jewish music community. She participates in regional choral festivals and helped coordinate a concert at Strathmore Hall commemorating the 75th anniversary of Kristallnacht. She has attended Hava Nashira in Wisconsin, the annual songleading camp created by Debbie Friedman, and Mifgash Musicale at HUC Cincinnati, the URJ summer intensive for synagogue musicians. She is a talented soloist with private and choral vocal training, versed in a variety of music from Classical Reform to Conservative melodies and NFTY songs to Chassidic niggunim.

Prior to her work in Jewish music and education, Stephanie devoted twenty years to working in small, charitable organizations improving communities in Russia, Ukraine, and the United States. Her positions ranged from in-country Program Director to grantwriter. While serving Kol Nefesh, Stephanie received cantorial ordination from the ALEPH Renewal Seminary in January of 2021.