"Music touches me and supports me in connecting with others." - Sheldon Low, Jewish rock musician, Music composer, Jewish Services performer

Sheldon Low is one of the brightest young stars in Jewish rock music today performing rock concerts, ‘Light Up Shabbat’ services, seminars, and leading Artist-in-Residency weekends in Jewish communities, camps, youth groups, and festivals throughout North America. Sheldon has released four albums to date and his recordings have been featured in numerous compilations including NFTY Ruach 5767.  His two children's albums have been widely distributed by PJ Library.

Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Sheldon is a third generation song leader who from an early age developed a strong Jewish identity attending Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy, Solomon Schechter Day School, Camp Ben Frankel, and USY. In high school, Sheldon was fortunate to meet and be mentored by national touring Jewish musician, Rick Recht. In 2005, Sheldon graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Tufts University and spent nine months working as an engineer before embarking on his music career. In 2013, Sheldon started Hallelu Records, an independent Jewish record label based in New York City.

Sheldon resides in New York City with his beautiful partner, Hadar Orshalimy. 

Learn more about Sheldon and listen to his music . Join Sheldon Low on Facebook.

 
"Intention means putting thought, purpose, and meaning into action and existence." - Sheldon Low, Jewish rock musician, Music composer, Jewish Services performer

"I am excited to be a part of this project, to share my joy and passion for music, and to learn more through the process and from other contributors about the power and Kavannah of Jewish music."  - Sheldon Low, Jewish rock musician, Music composer, Jewish Services performer

In Music, The Carrier of Intention in 49 Jewish Prayers, Sheldon Low focuses on Mi Chamocha and on the communal aspect of the context of this prayer as well as how it ties us to our ancestors.

California native Jeff Gold is a composer/musician who creates imagery through music; images that are emotional and melodic, restorative and uplifting. He composes soulful relaxing instrumentals which have received the attention of Wellness Centers, Spas and Music Therapists for their tranquil and healing qualities.

A bit more "Easy Listening" than "new age," Jeff combines beautifully arranged acoustic guitars, piano, strings and flutes. He has released three CD's; "Soul of a Mountain" in 2006, and "Escapes" in 2009 and his latest, "Simple Treasures" in 2012. All three are a soothing and relaxing collection of melodies ideal for music therapy, yoga, massage, scenic drives or just winding down.

Jeff’s 14-year old special needs nephew, Russell, became a big fan of these soothing instrumentals because they help to calm his overstimulation. Russell then passed his uncle’s music on to his other friends on the autistic spectrum and they found that it is helpful to them as well.

A contributing writer and music advisor to EXPERIENCE | PREMCHIT resorts, located throughout Europe and Asia, Jeff is researching and writing articles on the physical, mental and therapeutic effects that are possible with music.

Jeff composes and arranges all of his own music, playing the guitars and pianos, and creating other instrumental sounds by computer. He also does his own mixing, mastering and editing; a skill he perfected as a television editor for shows like MTV’s “Making the Video,” “Baywatch,” “MadTV” and “The Office.”

Jeff has also teamed up with hypnotherapist, Janet Montgomery to produce seven guided imagery CD's for “The Live Well Series.” Topics include sleeping soundly, stress management, and coping with cancer treatment.

Beth Hamon plays her original interpretation of "Ozi v'Zimrat Yah" with accompaniment by Sam Rotenberg and Sam Rosenbaum of Rock Shabbat. Filmed during the Rock Shabbat Tour: October 11, 2012 at Congregation Beth Israel in Portland, Oregon. Filmed by Asher Krell and used with permission. Beth Hamon, singer, songwriter of City of Love and Ten Miles, Author in the upcoming anthology from Creating Calm Publishing Group, Music, The Carrier of Intention in 49 Jewish Prayers. Listen to Beth Hamon share her voice and spirit http://www.creatingcalmnetworkpublishinggroup.com/1/category/beth-hamon/1.html  

Check out fellow author, Beth Hamon's page on Reverbnation and while you are there you can set up your own page to promote your music.

She is featured on Rock Shabbat 

Rosalie Boxt is Cantor of Temple Emanuel in Kensington, Maryland, a Reform Congregation just north of Washington DC.  She was invested from the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music of the Hebrew Union College in 2001.  Before that she worked for the URJ in NFTY Programs in Israel and as a NFTY and URJ Songleader.  Originally from St. Louis, she attended the University of Pennsylvania as a Jewish Studies Major.

 Rosalie is the Director of Worship for the URJ Biennial and on the URJ Faculty of Expert Practitioners, and is on Faculty of Hava Nashira, a songleading institute of the URJ.  She consults with clergy and congregations on issues of worship and music.  She is a Synagogue 3000 Fellow and is also a past Vice-President of the American Conference of Cantors (ACC). Through PresenTense, an incubator for young Jewish social entrepreneurs, she has launched a non-profit business called Kesher Shir: bringing together Jewish musicians from diverse backgrounds to study and to create meaningful music which will enrich worship and strengthen communities.  

Her husband, Jason, is a Senior Vice President in Research Division of The Glover Park Group. The two met at the URJ Kutz Camp and have two daughters Tahlia and Arielle.

"Intention is centering.  To have intention; in work, in play, in love, in prayer - is to tune up the noise, to create a harmony of calm thoughts and ideas in order to move forward.  To me it's not about pushing aside all distraction, it's using the reality of the world to wrap in a clear thought and focus in order to move forward." - Cantor Rosalie Boxt

"Prayer and song provide hope.  The blending of voices, or the tug of a melody that cracks you open, or the abandonment to joy and gratitude that music provides is what calls me to my work and to my prayer." - Cantor Rosalie Boxt
 
"Keeping focused and clear is always a struggle - as a shaliach (leader) as well as a pray-er.  To learn how others in our sacred work find meaning, to observe the fearlessness with which some of my colleagues approach the mystery and unknown will give me strength to continue on my path of clarity and intentionality in all that I do." - Cantor Rosalie Boxt

Shelly Aronson is the co-worship leader and spiritual voice of Shir Hamakom, a Jewish music worship community based in Glastonbury, Connecticut, USA. Along with songwriter, Arnie Davidson, she helped conceive the unique and contagious contemporary Jewish music that defines this community. Using a melodic blend of original Hebrew text and interpretive English lyrics, Shelly delivers a warm, heartfelt, and welcoming invitation to participate in worship using her rich, breathtakingly resonant voice. Although Shelly is trained in nonprofit community organization and development, and business, her Jewish music journey is experiential rather than academic. What began as casual participation in worship music has evolved into a personal Jewish musical journey that engages us, empowering our native impulse to celebrate life with song.

Later in life, Shelly discovered the power of melody and voice to carry words of prayer and inspiration to community through, what she calls, soul·soothing music. Music soothes, comforts and stirs people. She says, "I feel so privileged to help make that happen. Song and melodies rejuvenate and validate our connection to one another, yet awaken the spark of holiness within."

Shelly's rich gift is her warm, resonant voice coupled with an intuitive interpretive talent that uses sound to disarm the logical mind, rushing directly to the heart, nourishing the spirit. Listen to her unique nurturing vocal presence at Sound Cloud ShirHamakom . Further information about Shelly can be found at ShirHamakom.org

Judy Caplan Ginsburgh is a professional singer, multi award-winning recording artist and educator who has shared her musical gifts on pulpits across North America since 1981.  She has a degree in Vocal Performance from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.  Perhaps best known for her best-selling recordings for Jewish families, her Shalom Yeladim recording has become a classic and she is the creator of the popular My Jewish World music curriculum produced by the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ).  She has also developed a way to teach prayer book Hebrew through sign language and music enabling learners to really understand what they are praying.

 Judy is a certified sound healer using tuning forks, crystal bowls, vocal toning and aromatherapy in her healing practice.  She is the founder and Executive Director of Central Louisiana Arts & Healthcare, a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to bring innovative arts experiences into healthcare settings to assist with the healing process.  In January, 2014, Judy received rabbinic ordination from the Jewish Spiritual Leaders Institute.  To find out more about Judy and her work, please visit Judy Music.com  and Arts and Health Care.org 

Rabbi Judy Caplan Ginsburgh considers Max Janowski's Y'hiyu L'ratzon in Music The Carrier of Intention, the upcoming anthology from The Creating Calm Publishing Group.  

 "Intention means fully understanding what you are doing and for what purpose.  When music is so much a part of our being that it becomes one with us and our soul, it is kavanah.  Kavanah is intention and intention is kavanah." -  Judy Caplan Ginsburgh is a professional singer, multi award-winning recording artist and educator

"Music touches me and supports me in everything I do.  I live and breathe music.  It is a part of each and every one of my days in a variety of forms.  Music makes me happy.  It keeps me going.  It pushes me and challenges me.  It allows me to share the words of Adonai and the teachings of those who came before me in a beautiful, meaningful and intentional way." -  Judy Caplan Ginsburgh is a professional singer, multi award-winning recording artist and educator

Diane J. Schmidt is a creative writer and photographer, journalist and photojournalist, and commentator. Her award-winning and internationally published work addresses both the seen and the unseen worlds. She particularly likes giving talks to show her photos documenting coincidence and spirituality in life-threatening situations.

Today she covers social and environmental issues in the Southwest and is a regular columnist and op-ed commentator.

Visit her website (Judaism in Albuquerque) and read her work (Our Prayers are Heard), and hear her radio commentaries on Israeli Palestinian Conflict Resolution.

Schmidt started out as a photojournalist in Chicago for Time Magazine and others. Her photo essays on the city at night published by the Chicago Tribune Sunday Magazine garnered her a National Endowment for the Arts Visual Arts Fellowship. Her art photography monograph, The Chicago Exhibition, Melrose/LA, achieved international notoriety, and her early experiences as a photojournalist covering the civil war in El Salvador continue to inform her work today.

In 2012 she was the recipient of 4 top journalism awards, notably for her coverage of a hate crime where a Navajo youth was branded with a swastika. She has designed and illustrated four books  working with Navajo author Frank Morgan, and was Volunteer of the Year for the ArtsGenesis youth program in the Pascua Yaqui community run by Jewish Renewal artist Carol Kestler. Schmidt is a member of the board of the New Mexico Jewish Historical Society and is a member of the American Jewish Press Association.

View bio on LinkedIn and follow on Twitter.

"Intention means believing and trusting you occupy a special place in the universe." - Diane Schmidt

"Music puts me in touch with my singing heart instead of my searing pain." - Diane Schmidt

"Being a part of this unique project gives me a new sense (and concept!) of community. " - Diane Schmidt

Featured in the upcoming: Music, The Carrier of Intention in 49 Jewish Prayers, Susan Colin is an award-winning songwriter, Cantorial Soloist, and the owner of oySongs.com, the largest online distributor of Jewish music.

A Dallas Morning News reviewer wrote, “She sings with a clarity that is breathtaking and rare.” She combines an engaging, personable style with a variety of enticing musical styles and Jewish themes.

"Music is not a luxury or an indulgence, I have come to learn. It is a unique way of connecting us to our emotions and to other people." --Susan Colin, an award-winning songwriter, Cantorial Soloist, and the owner of oySongs.com, the largest online distributor of Jewish music.

Susan Colin has been compared to a Jewish Enya. Her "Mi Shebeirach" uses the complete Hebrew text from the Mishkan T'filah (Reform siddur) and reveals her rich choral background.  

"Shiru L'Adonai" - sing to God - in many ways it feels to me that when we sing, God is singing through us, to us, reflecting our holy spark back to us, so we can see our unique place in the world." --Susan Colin, an award-winning songwriter, Cantorial Soloist, and the owner of oySongs.com, the largest online distributor of Jewish music.