Rabbi Larry Milder is a flatpicking, singing rabbi with a knack for off-beat Jewish tunes. His combination of wry wit and exceptional guitar playing have earned him a national following among fans of new Jewish music. His popular songs “Wherever You Go (There’s Always Someone Jewish)” and “Stars in the Sky” are sung in youth groups and summer camps throughout the country.

Larry’s songs have been featured in numerous publications, including The Complete Shireinu and The Complete Jewish Children’s Songbook, Volumes 1 and 3. In addition to his own albums, his recordings have appeared on albums from Craig Taubman (The Best of Celebrate), NFTY (NFTY at 50), URJ Biennial anthologies, PJ Library, CAJE, and the American Jewish Song Festival. His music has been described as having “the idealism of Peter, Paul and Mary…the humor of Weird Al Yankovic” (Bangor Daily News).

Larry’s CD’s, Acoustic Blessings, American Psalm, and Bible & Beyond, include his mash-up of Bim Bam & Led Zepellin, “Stairway to Shabbos”; his driving acoustic rendition of “Samson & Delilah”; his patter-song tour of the Bible, “Genesis and Exodus”; a campfire retelling of the Exodus story, “Cowboy Pesach”; and the poignant lesson in tolerance, “Courage”.

Larry values the power of pure acoustic music. He learned his craft from national flatpicking champion Orrin Star. After serving as guitarist of Boston’s premier Israeli folk dance troupe Hamakor, Larry went on to found the innovative Jewish band Elijah Rock. 

Larry has influenced a generation of songleaders through his guitar master classes at the CAJE & NewCAJE Conferences, as director of NFTY’s Zimria, and as faculty at URJ summer camps.

When he’s not performing, Larry serves as the Rabbi of Congregation Beth Emek in Pleasanton, CA.