Songs

It’s the season of gratitude, and the first thing that comes to mind when I think of what I’m grateful for each year is — people! My sweet family, friends (chosen family!) and all the other “angels” in my life. Sue Horowitz is a terrific folk singer/songwriter in the Jewish and secular music worlds, and […]

We’re in the Hebrew month of Cheshvan, which means no Jewish holidays! Well, with one BIG exception… Shabbat! I thought Cheshvan would be the perfect time to give a little love to the holiday of all holidays! This week’s song comes from my buddy Ben Gundersheimer, aka Latin-GRAMMY winner Mister G, whose song “Challah-lalala” is […]

With all the busyness of fall holidays and big fall transitions like school behind us, we could all use a little peace (and quiet)! I thought I’d share a BRAND NEW song of peace with y’all this week from Noah Diamondstein, a super-talented rabbi and singer-songwriter out in the Washington D.C. area. Noah just finished […]

We’ve just started reading Torah over again from the very beginning, and so it’s THE time to share an awesome song about the creation of the world! This one comes from my friend Josh Shriber of Josh & The Jamtones, who makes top-notch punk, rock, and ska music for kids. In addition to secular music, […]

When I think of Sukkot, I think of cozy fall evenings gathered in the Sukkah with great food and even better company! While the words of “Hashkiveinu” are part of our everyday evening prayers, the mention of “sukkat sh’lomecha” — a “shelter of your peace” especially resonate this time of year, when we appreciate the […]

As parents of kids of any age, talking about the themes of Yom Kippur can be difficult — like explaining what a “cheit” or “sin” means. Having a song that makes the explaining easier is what’s SO magical about Jewish music — songs are more than just songs, they’re learning tools! My friend (and GRAMMY […]

Yom Kippur is a holiday filled with SO much meaning. For many people, the closing “Ne’ilah” service of Yom Kippur is one of the highlights — the energy is intense and passionate as we pray up until the final moments before sundown, with imagery showing us trying to get our prayers into heaven before the […]

The word “t’shuvah” is one we hear a LOT during the High Holidays! Typically, it’s translated as “repentance,” but the Hebrew literally means “returning.” Alison Faith Levy is a fantastic (and fantastically colorful) singer-songwriter out in San Francisco whose music is great for all ages, and her song “Turn Around” is an awesome way to […]

With the Jewish New Year approaching, it’s a time for serious reflection, but it’s also a time for joyful optimism! The Israeli folk song “Bashanah Haba’ah” is a beautiful melody bursting with that fresh hope, and this version from Ellie Flier is EXTRA beautiful because she translated the lyrics to Italian to sing it with […]

September’s here, and while summer is out, it’s special to get to come back into our year-round communities — our schools, synagogues, and other special Jewish communities. So this felt like the perfect week for a “Hinei Ma Tov” melody! “Hinei Ma Tov” comes from psalms and has been a staple of Jewish communal singing. […]