Joseph Black is Rabbi Emeritus of Temple Emanuel in Denver, CO. He served as Senior Rabbi from July, 2010 to June 2025 - previously serving as Rabbi of Congregation Albert in Albuquerque, New Mexico from 1996-2010. He also served as Assistant and then Associate Rabbi at Temple Israel in Minneapolis, Minnesota from 1987-1996.
An award-winning songwriter and nationally recognized musician, he has recorded 7 albums of original music and published two songbooks. Joe has published several poems and articles in leading national literary and academic journals. He has been honored by American Songwriter Magazine for his music. He is a frequent contributor to anthologies and collections of Jewish writing. He has performed for congregations and communities around the world. His recordings and books have received accolades from sources as diverse as American Songwriter Magazine, The New York Times, Parent’s Choice, The American Library Journal and Kids First: The Coalition for Quality Children’s Video.
He is a two-time winner of American Songwriter Magazine’s Lyric contest. He has also published two Children’s book for the PJ Library, a songbook and recorded five critically acclaimed albums of Jewish music. His compositions have been recorded by numerous artists and he and his music are featured in a variety of Contemporary Jewish Music compilation CD’s. His poetry and prose have been published widely.
As a musician, Joe is known for his guitar virtuosity, soaring voice and lyrics that are at the same time, funny, inspirational, and thought provoking. His music is an extension of his Rabbinate. After an 18 year hiatus from recording, Joe went back to the studio in December of 2021 to record two new albums of original music: Praying With Our Feet – a collection of Jewish music, and Wire and Wood – new secular songs.
What People Are Saying About Rabbi Joe Black….
Dear Joe,
Thank you so much for your recent guest appearances at Congregation Emanu-El of Westchester, both at our Chanukah service and with my Women’s Study Group. It was truly a joy to have you with us
At a dark and challenging time for the Jews, you brought added light to our Chanukah service, coordinating seamlessly with our band. Your expressive singing and virtuoso guitar playing have always set you apart, and I continue to be a big fan of yours. Thanks for sharing both your new music and your Jewish insights into creativity at the women's program. I was particularly grateful that you framed the evening within the difficult moment Jews are facing and sent us home uplifted by song.
I hope you find great fulfillment in your continued musical and creative endeavors.
With warm appreciation,
Cantor Meredith Stone
Having Rabbi Black as our Artist and Scholar in Residence was a true gift. Our community connected with him immediately, and we were so glad to welcome him back home to the congregation he served early in his career.
Rabbi Black brought a thoughtful mix of music, storytelling, creativity, and Jewish learning. His sessions made Jewish texts and ideas feel fresh and accessible, and people of all ages were engaged throughout.
Feedback from our congregants was incredibly positive. Many shared how inspired they felt and how much they appreciated his warm and welcoming style.
Any congregation looking for a teacher who can connect deeply, spark curiosity, and make learning meaningful would be lucky to bring Rabbi Black in.
Rabbi Marcia Zimmerman - Sr. Rabbi - Temple Israel, Minneapolis, MN
Rabbi Black managed to take a sanctuary filled with students from toddlers to teenagers, as well as their parents and grandparents, and kept everyone singing, clapping (on beat!), and engaged. He worked with our lay leaders and congregants to make it feel like he was a member of the community. His music was accessible and upbeat, and it was amazing to watch even people who didn’t know his music singing along.
He made the entire experience comfortable, easy, and fun, and people commented that they felt as if they’d known him forever. He naturally made himself a part of the community, and we feel so blessed to have had him share a very special weekend with us.
Rabbi Amy Feder
Congregation Temple Israel - St. Louis, MO
Rabbi Black was with us as our guest artist and teacher last night. What a wonderful Shabbat evening it was! People loved it and I was asked multiple times at the end of the evening when we could bring him back.
If you are looking for a special Shabbat filled with music, inspiration and learnedness… look no further than Joe.
Rabbi Daniel Cohen - Temple Sharey Tefilo-Israel, South Orange, NJ.
Comments on Rabbi Joe Black's American Songwriter Lyric Contest Winning Entry, “Why Old Men Cry” from the judges:
Trannie Anderson: “This song has so much depth. I can tell this is a seasoned writer. The mix of striking imagery, diverse life moments resulting in tears for different reasons, and the overall heart of the song normalizing a tough man crying is very powerful. Really well done.”
Jake Gosling: “I love this one because it captures the quiet dignity and heartbreak of getting older. It’s tender and beautifully written, like a lifetime of emotion distilled into a few perfect verses. You really feel the humanity in every line.”
Keith Hetrick: “Reading the lyric, the phrase “slow pour” comes to mind. Despite being in the title, you don’t fully understand the “why” until the bridge…and by then, it means everything. Each section layers wisdom, loss, and grace in a way that never feels heavy. You can sense the weight of a full life, and the peace that follows it.”
Z Berg: “Most every entry in this final round had a pretty wild “I’ve been visited by three ghosts” energy. This song dealt with whatever contemplative, existential reckoning we’re all apparently experiencing with a classic, old-timey, epic-poetry slant that I vibed with!”
“Rabbi Joe Black is truly a light unto the nations. There are no words to accurately reflect the beauty and depth of his music. His guitar skills alone, deyenu,but the words, the melodies, his luscious voice, and the deeper spiritual underpinnings make hearing him a very profound experience.” Jody Seltzer
