By Dave DeFusco

When Cantor Azi Schwartz walks onto the bimah at Park Avenue Synagogue in New York, he is drawing on centuries of Jewish tradition. But he is also thinking about Broadway melodies, social media, leadership strategy and how to help worshippers connect with Judaism in a modern world.

The senior cantor of one of the country’s most influential congregations recently added another credential to his resume: a Master of Business Administration from Yeshiva University’s Sy Syms School of Business. For Schwartz, whose music has reached millions around the world, the degree represents another step in a lifelong commitment to learning.

“I felt like the MBA at Yeshiva gave me a new language,” said Schwartz. “Being able to speak the same language as many of my lay leaders goes a long way.”

That new language complements an extraordinary career that has taken him from Israel to some of the world’s most prestigious stages. Schwartz has performed at Carnegie Hall, the United Nations, Madison Square Garden, the U.S. Capitol Rotunda and the Israeli Knesset. His recordings of Jewish liturgical music span more than 18 albums, while his online ministry has attracted more than 50 million views. Along the way, he represented the Jewish people during Pope Francis’ visit to New York, appeared in the Richard Gere film Norman and helped create Hanukkah on Broadway and Shabbat on Broadway, the first Jewish worship service presented on Broadway. 

His journey began in Israel, inspired by his grandfather, who was also a cantor.

“I only knew my grandparents until I was about 6 years old,” said Schwartz. “I remember something very warm about him and very loving. Everything else is the legacy and the stories that I grew up with.”

Those stories emphasized integrity, compassion and service. “The family stories are about hard work,” he said. “They included trying to help others and be present with others in their life events.”

Today, Schwartz strives to create worship experiences that honor those values while reaching people wherever they are. “My hope is that people are able to be inspired, are able to feel the warmth, the beauty, the richness of our tradition,” he said. “To connect to each other and to their Creator.”

At Park Avenue Synagogue, that mission often means balancing tradition with innovation. Schwartz credits his MBA studies with sharpening his thinking about leadership and decision-making.

“The name of the game is balance and trade-off,” he said. “On the one hand, my job is to respect and maintain the tradition. At the same time, I’m paid to inspire. I’m paid to innovate and to bring worship to the aesthetic sensibility of our own time.”

Sometimes that means setting traditional prayers such as Adon Olam to melodies inspired by contemporary Broadway shows. Other times it means composing new music that encourages congregants to sing together while preserving the traditional structure of Jewish prayer. 

His embrace of innovation extends well beyond the synagogue sanctuary. Schwartz sees social media as another place where Jewish life can flourish. Rather than replacing synagogue life, he believes digital engagement encourages people to weave Judaism into their daily routines and strengthens their connection to their communities.

“We have to meet people where they are,” he said. “If they’re spending most of their time online and they find content that is Jewish and optimized for social media, that’s a huge win.”

Among his many performances, one remains especially meaningful. During Israel’s Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony at Yad Vashem, Schwartz sang as his grandmother, a Holocaust survivor, sat in the audience.

“Hearing from her about the experience of sitting in Yad Vashem, thinking about the horrors that she experienced as a teenager and seeing her grandson now representing the Jewish people and memorializing all her loved ones—that was very meaningful,” he said.

Schwartz is equally passionate about mentoring future cantors. Having taught at every major cantorial school and served as an officer of the Cantors’ Assembly, he encourages students to embrace constant growth.

“There is nothing more Jewish than being a lifelong learner,” he said. “The world is going to change. AI is going to help change it. Judaism is going to face new challenges. But if there is one thing you learn at school, it’s how to learn.”