Collections of Thoughts and Poetry

#music #micahshapiro #ldorvador #micahshapiromusic #music #spring When I think of spring I think of music. The songs of the seder and the sounds of spring. For that reason I think it is fitting to post this post on making music now, when spring and music are in the air. This short essay and accompanying video are written by Micah Shapiro. Micah is a talented musician, a rabbi and a leader. His music is imbued with spirit so I asked him to write on the process of music making.

#whyiplaythepiano #piano #practicepractice #practicethepiano #audience #audienceornot #music #whymusic This thoughtful essay on playing the piano was written by Julie Kozhukhin, an excellent piano player and a dear friend. Why do I play piano? I ask myself this question sometimes. Why do I spend a considerable amount of time to learn a piece, to work on a tough passage, to improve my staccatos and legatos, to find the best fingering, to finesse my arpeggios? I will never p

#music #shemot #Beshalach #wordshavewings #song #dance #movement #movementandsong #thebeatofthedrums Parshat Be'Shalach is the Exodus. It is the crossing of the Sea and safely landing on the other side. It is about a moment of faith, a moment of an unforgettable crossing. It is etched into all of our psyches and we are reminded of it each day when we pray. This Parsha is also a moment of unparalleled celebration and with celebration comes music. On a personal note, music and

#bcholdorvador #passover #redemption #freedom #ineverygeneration #haggadah #music #wordshavewings #leavingegypt #seder #passoverseder I have been working lately to incorporate music into Torah study. It's something that I have wanted to do now for a while and it presents its own unique challenges but also adds a layer of meaning to the importance of the concepts emphasized at Passover. B'chol Dor VaDor, "In every generation one is obligated to see oneself as one who personall

#wrestlingwithangels #dancingwithangels #music #musicinmyears #parsha #vayishlach #danceatmidnight #danceatdawn #danceofthemoon #jacob #angels #danceofangels #feetpounding #heartbeats #rhythms In Parshat VaYishlach, Ya'akov's identity changes as his name is changed from Ya'akov to Yisrael, which means "a struggle with God." In a vivid scene, an angel appears to Ya'akov and they spend the night wresting. Only toward dawn does Ya'akov triumph over the angel, but not before the

#roshchodesh #av #roshchodeshav #hallel #morningminyan #sayingkaddish #mothersanddaughters #kaddish #music #listening #listeningtomusic #musiciseverywhere #orchestra #violin #drums #blessings #blessthemusic #ablessingformusic #giftofmusic #musicmakesmyheartsing Yesterday was Rosh Chodesh (the new month) Av. The beginning of Av marks the beginning of nine days of mourning leading toward the commemoration of the ninth of Av, a day of solemn remembrances of tragic events in Jew