Sam Blustin

Background

From Minneapolis to Baltimore

Sam grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he became involved in Jewish education from the age of 10 at Beth El Synagogue, eventually serving as Master Teacher — overseeing more than 30 B'nai Mitzvah students and 15 high school instructors.

He spent twelve summers at Herzl Camp, returning as a counselor and staff member. In 2008, he participated in the Alexander Muss High School in Israel program, spending seven weeks studying Jewish history chronologically at historical sites across Israel.

Sam graduated from the University of Minnesota with a BS in Computer Science in 2014, before heeding a deeper call. He studied at the Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem and privately with Rabbi Ruth Gan Kagan, then began rabbinical studies at the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) in Fall 2015, focusing on creating meaningful prayer and ritual. He received his rabbinical ordination in 2020.

Along the way, Sam served as Rosh Shira (songleader) at Chizuk Amuno in Baltimore and Beth El in New Rochelle, NY, and held roles as rabbinic intern and Youth Director at various institutions. Following ordination, Sam served for four years as the Associate Rabbi at Ahavath Achim Synagogue in Atlanta, GA, before moving to Baltimore.

Music & Community

Sam is a singer-songwriter and composer of singable liturgical music — original settings of Hebrew prayer that are meant to be sung by communities, not just performed for them. His debut album, Come, My Beloved, takes listeners on a journey from longing, into the expanse, and eventually to love and community.

His composition Ya Ana Emtza'acha was recorded by JTS for their Seeds of Song album and appears in Siddur Lev Shalem (p. 359).