Music

Singing is a Mitzvah

I have been hiding from the audience my entire life. I am not sure if this is because I have ...

Rabbi Composes A New Torah

Imagine the uproar that would happen if a rabbi said that he or she composed a new Torah. The rabbi ...

The Jewish Banjo

In this season of Thanksgivukkah, I’ve started to think a lot about cultural syncretism.  I’ve come to the conclusion that, ...

Entering the ‘Ritual Lab’: the purpose of creative services

During my first year with a new congregation, I’ve been offering a creative service slot once a month.  Borrowing the ...

On “Hava Nagila”

I am a music snob. People know this about me, and I deserve the title.  I have said hurtful things ...

Shofar? So Good, Y’all!

Sometimes, in a small Southern town, you might not hear the call of the shofar outside of High Holy Day ...

Passing the Mantle of the Sixties

Last year I was chatting with a member of my congregation over bagels with our Tot Shabbat families. She mentioned ...

Rock and Roll

This is a guest post by Rabbi Darby Leigh.It was 1984 when Dee Snider first asked me what I wanted ...

Orthodox Black Rapper Celebrates life out of the Closet

“Last Shabbos, because of me more people were talking about gay rights around the the Shabbes table, and it’s a ...

The Secret Code of “Hava Negilah”

“Hava Nagila“ (Hebrew: הבה נגילה ) (lit. “Let us rejoice”) is a Hebrew folk song that has become a staple ...