Refael Bokow

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Refael Bokow is a singer-songwriter whose musical journey began at an early age in South Africa, where he grew up and performed as a soloist with the Johannesburg Jewish Boys Choir. He studied classical voice and music with renowned opera singers Dawie Couzyn in Johannesburg and many years later with Edward Caswell in Glasgow, Scotland. Refael’s deep connection to Jewish liturgical music and "nusach" was nurtured by his father, Rabbi Avigdor Bokow—a respected community Rabbi and ba’al tefillah—as well as by his uncle Chazzan Benzion Volpo. He continued to develop his Torah foundations while attending Gateshead Yeshiva, Be’er Yaakov, Mir, and BMG during his yeshiva years. Whilst learning in Glasgow Kollel in Scotland, Refael became the Chazan of the Clarkston Queenspark Synagogue in Glasgow, Scotland, a position he held for seven years before serving as the senior Chazan at Agudas Sholom of Stamford, Connecticut for the following six years. He is currently the Chazan at The White Shul in Far Rockaway, Queens for Shabbos Mevarchim. Refael has sung internationally at Shuls and concerts including London, Paris, Israel and Miami. A multi-instrumentalist who plays piano, guitar, and clarinet, Refael has been composing music since age 15. He has recently begun producing and sharing his original works—songs that demonstrate his creative compositions and tenor vocals, that span soulful, soaring ballads, energetic dance tracks, and liturgical choral pieces. Refael works professionally as an executive in the healthcare industry and manages his philanthropic initiative, The Eternity Fund. He resides with his family in Inwood, NY.