Mikey Pauker (pronounced pow-ker) is a Devotional Jewish Rock & Reggae artist based in Orange County, California. Described by TIME Magazine as one of “The 10 Stars of the New Jewish Music,” Mikey creates spiritually-infused music that blends rock, reggae, folk, and hip-hop with deep Jewish wisdom and prayer, sung in both English and Hebrew.
A trailblazer in the Jewish Rock crossover movement, Mikey has built a global following by performing at both secular music festivals and Jewish spiritual gatherings. His vibrant performances have brought him to stages at Red Rocks, Bhakti Fest, Hullaween, ARISE, Envision, and Chant for Change on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. He has shared the stage with icons such as Matisyahu, Stephen Marley, Trevor Hall, Rebelution, Krishna Das, Toots & The Maytals, and Idan Raichel.
Mikey has also collaborated with artist and producer Cas Haley on tracks Heartbreak In Paradise and Optymistic, which gained widespread acclaim and charted #1 on the SubmitHub reggae charts, further cementing his presence in the global reggae scene.
His devotional artistry was recently featured by the Ram Dass Be Here Now Network, placing him in their Soul Land Music Series alongside artists like Mike Posner and Gone Gone Beyond. The Jewish Journal called Mikey “a rising voice in contemporary Jewish music, blending ancient mysticism with modern soundscapes.” The Times of Israel wrote: “But while Pauker may blend in with the new age scene, he calls upon ancient Jewish wisdom and attempts to reconcile in his music his own contemporary experience of life in the context of Jewish spirituality and ritual.”
Mikey’s teachings have reached beyond music. After performing and being interviewed on the Aubrey Marcus Podcast in Austin, Texas, Aubrey shared, “Mikey Pauker is not only an amazing musician, but he taught me more about the mystical roots of Judaism than I’ve ever learned in my entire life.”
Despite the light he brings, Mikey’s journey hasn’t been without hardship. In the wake of rising antisemitism and anti-Israel sentiments in the music world, he has spoken openly about the backlash he’s endured: “I’ve been canceled from multiple festivals in the past couple years. I’ve had a lot of artists sending death threats, hate messages,” he shared with The Jewish News of Northern California. “All I’ve been doing is putting my head down and just trying to move forward, but I can’t anymore. I need to tell people.”
In 2025, Mikey filed a historic federal lawsuit against a Northern California retreat center that canceled his Hanukkah concert under pressure from anti-Zionist activists. The case, brought by the National Jewish Advocacy Center, argues that the cancellation violated his religious and civil rights. As one of the first federal cases addressing Zionist identity as a protected expression of Jewish faith, it is being watched as a potential landmark precedent in the fight against antisemitic discrimination.
Mikey also took his activism to a new level when he joined OC Hillel as the Assistant Director, a leadership role that allows him to support and uplift the next generation of Jewish leaders. Hillel is the largest Jewish campus organization in the world, serving students of all backgrounds through meaningful Jewish experiences, social justice initiatives, and leadership development.
At OC Hillel, Mikey oversees day-to-day operations and works hands-on with students at UC Irvine, Chapman University, Cal State Fullerton, and local community colleges. He plays a central role in curating spiritual and cultural programming, organizing campus Shabbat and holiday experiences, mentoring student leaders, and responding to challenges Jewish students face: including antisemitism, identity suppression, and political tensions around Israel. His background as both a spiritual leader and performing artist makes him a unique bridge-builder, empowering students to express their full Jewish selves proudly and creatively on campus.
Currently studying in the Kol-Bo Rabbinic and Cantorial Ordination program at the Academy of Jewish Religion in New York, Mikey continues to expand his offerings as a spiritual leader, educator, and prayer facilitator. He has visited countless Jewish communities across denominations throughout the U.S. and abroad, leading uplifting worship, spiritual renewal workshops, and immersive chant experiences.
As a voting member of The Recording Academy, Mikey has stepped into the role of advocate: teaming up with Grammy-nominated artist Joanie Leeds to propose the first-ever Jewish Music Category at the Grammy Awards. He is the founder of Beautiful Way Records, a label dedicated to releasing devotional and interfaith music, and Thriving Artist Consultancy, where he mentors emerging artists in music business strategy and development.
In May 2025, Mikey returned to Israel to perform in Jerusalem, reconnecting with sacred landscapes that continue to inspire his spiritual and artistic journey. He is currently releasing a new project of Jewish chant music, an EP that fuses Jewish prayer liturgy with harmonium, beatbox, and layered vocals, weaving together eastern and western devotional traditions into a transformative soundscape.
