Mitch Dorson Scholar-In-Residence
We are thrilled to welcome Dan Nichols for a joyful and inspiring Dorson Scholar-in-Residence Weekend filled with meaningful worship, music, and learning for all ages. Dan is a nationally recognized Jewish musician whose music blends soulful prayer, contemporary sound, and deep Jewish values—creating experiences that resonate long after the final note.
This weekend would not be possible without the support of the Mitch Dorson Scholar-in-Residence Fund.
Dan Nichols
Dan is a product of the URJ Jewish camping movement. He has toured Jewish summer camps across North America for the last 25 years. A classically trained singer, Dan received his Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance at the University of North Carolina. In 1995, realizing the potential of music to make powerful connections with Jewish youth, Dan established the Jewish rock band Eighteen. Since that time, Dan and Eighteen have released 13 albums. Songs like, L’takein, B’tzelem Elohim, Kehillah Kedoshah, Chazak, Sweet As Honey, and Asher Yatzar have become Jewish communal anthems throughout North America.
Dan has toured over 190 days for the last 20+ years, where he often serves as artist-in-residence and teacher for congregations and camp communities. He has served on the faculty of Hava Nashira since 2001. In 2009 he cofounded Shulhouse Rock, a songleading workshop for Jewish high-school students. He has performed live in Israel at the historic fortress of Masada and in the studio for the groundbreaking XM Radio presentation of Radio Hanukkah.
Dan created the Road to Eden Deep South Sukkot Tour to bring the message of Sukkot to communities in the southern United States, where he and his band played 11 shows in 10 days. Their experiences are captured in the documentary film, Road to Eden. In addition to these highlights, Dan has been featured at conferences and conventions of nearly every major Jewish movement, including the URJ Biennial, NFTY Convention, BBYO International, Limmud and the Wexner Heritage Program
Shabbat Evening Service with Dan Nichols
Begin the weekend with a spirited Shabbat evening service as Dan joins us to elevate our prayers through song, energy, and intention.
Friday, February 20, 2026 | 6:30 PM
Shabbat Morning Service with Dan Nichols
Continue the musical journey at Shabbat morning services, where Dan’s melodies and teachings will help us connect more deeply to prayer and community.
Saturday, February 21, 2026 | 10:00 AM
All-Ages Community Concert
Join us for a lively, all ages family-friendly concert with Dan Nichols. This is a wonderful opportunity to experience his music in a relaxed, joyful setting.
Saturday, February 21, 2026 | 4:30 PM Registration Required
Meet-and-Learn Experiences
Religious School students get the exclusive opportunity to work with meet and learn from Dan. If you are interested in this opportunity for your child, contact Rina Liebeskind, Director of Education, for more information on joining the religious school.
Sunday, February 22, 2026 | During Religious School
Childcare Available
We are pleased to offer childcare for children ages 5 and under during the Friday and Saturday Shabbat services and the Saturday evening concert with Dan Nichols.
This option is intended to support families for whom participation may be more challenging with young children. While children are always welcome to attend programs with their families, we hope this childcare option makes it easier for caregivers to fully engage.
Please note that childcare is subject to cancellation if there is not sufficient participation, and space is limited. We encourage you to complete this form as soon as possible if you plan to participate.
Kol Ami In the News:
A Weekend of Song, Spirit, and Connection: Dan Nichols Comes to Tucson
For more than a decade, the Mitch Dorson Scholar-in-Residence Fund has stood as a living expression of the belief that Jewish learning should be engaging, accessible, and meaningful. Established in 2012, the fund brings a visiting scholar or artist to Tucson to offer a popular exploration of Jewish life — one that sparks curiosity, fosters connection, and leaves a lasting impression…….
Mitch Dorson Scholar-In-Residence
The Mitch Dorson Scholar-in-Residence Fund honors the life and legacy of Mitch Dorson z”l, a beloved Tucson educator whose passion for Jewish learning, social justice, and meaningful connection shaped generations of students and congregants.
Established in 2012 following Mitch’s sudden passing, the fund brings a visiting Jewish scholar, artist, or educator to Kol Ami Synagogue to engage our community in Jewish learning that is accessible, inspiring, and deeply human. Each scholar-in-residence reflects Mitch’s belief that Judaism should be lived fully—through curiosity, conversation, creativity, and connection.
Mitch devoted more than three decades to education. He served as Director of Education at Temple Emanu-El, taught B’nai Mitzvah students at Congregation Or Chadash, and was a cherished social studies teacher at Catalina Foothills High School and Green Fields Country Day School. Known affectionately by colleagues and students alike as “Mitch the Mensch,” he was admired for his integrity, warmth, and unwavering commitment to justice and Jewish values.
Through this fund, Kol Ami continues what Mitch modeled so naturally: creating Jewish experiences that engage both the mind and the heart, strengthen community, and leave a lasting impact. Scholar-in-residence weekends typically include Shabbat services, learning programs, and cultural or artistic offerings that are open to the broader Jewish community whenever possible.
The Mitch Dorson Scholar-in-Residence Fund is not only a memorial—it is a living expression of Mitch’s enduring influence. For those who knew him, it is a reminder of the teacher who changed lives. For those who did not, it is an invitation to experience the kind of Jewish life he dedicated himself to nurturing.