| Beri Weber | |
| Birth Name: | Shmiel Ber Weber |
| Birth Place: | Williamsburg, Brooklyn, New York, US |
| Genre: | Contemporary Jewish religious music |
| Occupation: | Singer |
| Years Active: | 2007–present |
| Website: | http://www.beriweber.com |
Shmiel Ber Weber, stage name Beri Weber (Hebrew: בערי וובר), is a contemporary Jewish religious singer, songwriter, and educator. He has been described as "the heir to Mordechai Ben David".[1]
Shmiel Ber Weber was born in 1984[2] and grew up in a Pupa Hasidic family in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. He began singing at the age of 9 although his career did not start until the release of his first album in 2007.
As a singer and songwriter, Weber is self-taught.[2] His stage name, "Beri Weber", was coined by fellow singer Lipa Schmeltzer.[2] He began singing professionally under the guidance of producer Naftali Schnitzler, and then became a member of the Shira Choir before going solo.[2]
In 2016 Weber released the album Agudah Achas which was generally well acclaimed by critics.[3] [4] In 2017 he produced a music video of the song "Rabi Shimon"[5] from the album Agudah Achas in honor of Rabi Shimon bar Yochai and the festival of Lag BaOmer.[6] [7] Later in the same year he released a single "Vtaher Libeiunu" in advance of the festivals of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.[8] Weber's 2018 single "Kerestir" also went with the Kerestir Challenge, this calling for people to film themselves performing a section of the tune. The challenge was described by Matzav as "going viral" among the Jewish community.[9] [10]
Weber is the rosh yeshiva of Yeshivas Kochvei Ohr, a yeshiva for boys aged 15 to 19 in Monsey, New York geared towards Hasidic students who don't fit into the regular yeshiva system.
Although raised in a Pupa Hasidic family, in later life Weber moved away from Pupa and now identifies with the Breslov Hasidic movement. As a Breslover he travels to Uman, Ukraine, on Rosh Hashanah and leads the prayer service for several thousand worshippers.[2] [11] [12] He is also a student of Rabbi Yitzchok "Itche" Meyer Morgenstern.[2] He and his wife and children reside in Spring Valley, New York.[2]