Band founders Ori Murray and Brad Rubinstein met at the Aish HaTorah yeshiva in Jerusalem, after having led largely non-religious lives.
Currently, Newman teaches classes and occasionally leads services at Aish HaTorah's southern Toronto location, the Village Shul synagogue and Jewish education centre.
He attended the yeshiva Aish HaTorah and received his rabbinical ordination from its founder Rabbi Noah Weinberg.
In accordance with a halakhic ruling by Rabbi Avigdor Nebenzahl, Rav of the Old City, his casket was not allowed to be brought into the Old City for eulogies at his yeshiva, Aish HaTorah.