Category: Heart Connection - The Creating Calm Publishing Group

ShirOne New Release from Arnier Davidson and Shelly Aronson

9/2/2014

Order Shir One Today

Here are some pieces from Music Carrier of Intention authors and musicians: Arnie Davidson and Shelly Aronson at Shir Hamakom in Glastonbury, CT.

Yedid Nefesh (Taubman)

Hu Eloheinu (featuring Shelly Aronson)

Wrap Me Close (featuring Shelly Aronson)

Hinei (featuring Shelly Aronson) Written by Arnie Davidson and EJ Cohen

Order Now

Here is what Arnie Davidson says, "Shelly and I have been recording our music!! Hear a preview of our Shir Hamakom "Take Out" music project, ShirOne!! Free with a donation to Shir Hamakom."

On Eden, Arnie Davidson says, "Kabbalah tells us that we reach out toward Eden in moments of performing Mitzvot (kindness). A righteous person, therefore, spends a portion of their life nurtured and nourished in the spiritual sublime womb-state of Eden. We come to understand that lasting satisfaction in life comes from giving."

Talented Jewish Musician Works in Portland, Oregon and Beyond

8/17/2014

Beth Hamon will be pretty busy this year as more rabbis and communities become acquainted with her idiosyncratic, original Jewish folk music:

Beth will be the Musician-In-Residence this fall at The Temple, Congregation B'nai Jehudah in Overland Park, KS, for the High Holy Days and the fall festivals of Sukkot and Simchat Torah. In addition to her duties as High Holy Days soloist on the bimah, Beth will also work closely with B'nai Jehudah's religious school and preschool and will tutor teen song leaders during her month long residency. The Temple, Congregation B'nai Jehudah

In addition, Beth will be a visiting Artist-In-Residence at Temple Chai in Phoenix, AZ. During seven weekends over the course of the coming academic year, Beth will serve as cantorial soloist during Shabbat services, and as a song leader during Sunday school. In addition she will provide one-on-one coaching for Temple Chai's teen song leaders to help them hone their skills for school and camp. Her first visit to Phoenix is the weekend of August 29. Temple Chai Phoenix Arizona, A reform congregation in Phoenix, Arizona

Beth continues to tutor private B'nei Mitzvah students in her hometown of Portland, Oregon and is available for workshops and special events. She is also writing songs for her next projects: a third collection of adult contemporary Jewish music focusing on liturgical settings, and a collection of children's songs. For more info, check out Beth Hamon Music

Beth Hamon Music, Handmade Jewish Music

Beth Hamon Sings Adon Olam at Temple Israel of Greater Miami

What Do You See in the Earth and Sky Around You?

6/16/2014

"Adamah v'Shamayim - The original chant was written by Tony Wrench, and was translated into Hebrew by Shimon Lev Tahor" - Rabbi Rachel Barenblat

Listen to Neshama Carlebach's new song: "Return Again"

6/10/2014

Neshama Carlebach & Josh Nelson

This week we celebrated Shavuot, the moment when the Jewish people received the Torah - Gd's road map and love letter to us all. We learn that every year at this time we are given a renewed opportunity to receive Gd's message in whatever form/voice is most relevant to our hearts. My father, Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, taught that we actually receive two Torahs on this day. The first, the Torah of Sinai, is a gift that is given automatically and flows to us energetically, regardless of where we stand on a physical or spiritual level. The second is something he called “The Torah of Mistakes.” This Torah must be earned. It is only received when we fall down, break in half, and learn to stand again. The first gift is in our breath, in the air. The second comes when we cry for it enough and are ready to receive in a different way.

My father said that one of humanity's gravest mistakes actually happened at Har Sinai. When Gd appeared to us, we should have begged Him/Her to include the entire world in the revelation. We didn't pray for a “Global Awakening.” We didn't even ask. Now we are still working to heal both this mistake and our priorities as human beings. There is too much selfishness in our world, too much jealousy, too much pettiness.

We learn that we're supposed to love others as we love ourselves. This is a beautiful goal. I wonder what would happen if this year, post Shavuot, we could all acknowledge our past mistakes, and from that place begin to care for every person we encounter. It's incredible what you can see and feel when you open your eyes and heart to another.

BRING NESHAMA TO YOUR COMMUNITY!

To hire Neshama for concerts, private parties, fundraisers, Shabbat services, "women only" events, interfaith concerts with an incredible Baptist Choir, and in collaboration with Josh Nelson, please visit NeshamaCarlebach.com or send an email for more details.

Becoming Home with Renna Khuner-Haber

6/9/2014

Renna Khuner-Haber grew up in Berkeley, but left for the east coast to attend Barnard College. After completing her bachelor's degree, she returned to San Francisco where she chose the Mission District as her home, and became active in the Mission Minyan community. Sharon Shakked grew up in Tiburon with a more traditional Jewish upbringing, while her husband, Orr, grew up in Israel in a more secular setting. When the two met, Sharon was active in her congregation which Orr soon came to claim as his own. In this segment, both Khuner-Haber and the Shakkeds consider the thoughtful ways they observe Shabbat each week.

The decision to live in the Bay Area is personal and encompasses a wide range of experiences and motivations—some have moved here because of love, others to attend university, to seek a new job, to escape persecution, to establish new rituals, or just to dream a little.

In this documentary commissioned for the exhibition "California Dreaming: Jewish Life in the Bay Area from the Gold Rush to the Present", filmmaker Pam Rorke Levy interviewed a wide range of individuals who call the Bay Area home and identify in some way with being Jewish.

Learn more about "California Dreaming"

Singing, Signing and Selected Music with Judy Caplan Ginsburgh

5/26/2014

Imagine feeling the vibration of the sounds and the words, feeling them as they float across time and space. Now imagine adding a visual component that takes in body movements further engaging you in the sensations of the music.

That is what Judy Caplan Ginsburgh has been doing for more than a dozen years. A cantor, she sings, plays guitar and also signs the music. Not all at the same time, of course.

In her CD Singing and Signing Hebrew Blessings and Songs, Judy instructs you in the basics of sign language beginning with the sign alphabet. Then she leads you step-by-step as you learn to sign eight Hebrew blessings and songs on a beginner level using American sign language. Included are the Sabbath blessings, Ma Yafeh Hayom, Shema and Al Shelosha Devarim. This instructional DVD is designed for teachers and parents to learn from so that they can in turn teach their students and children how to sing and sign Hebrew blessings and songs.

Like tapping, drumming, or dancing, signing adds another layer of engagement and sensation.

What do you do to increase engagement in your services or spiritual practice?

Judy Caplan Ginsburgh

Judy Caplan Ginsburgh: Singing and Signing Hebrew Blessings and Songs

Judy Caplan Ginsburgh: Havdalah Pajama

Judy Caplan Ginsburgh: Boker Tov /Laila Tov

Judy Caplan Ginsburgh: Sing Along & Smile with Judy

Judy Caplan Ginsburgh: A Flower Is An Educated Weed

Judy Caplan Ginsburgh: You

Judy Caplan Ginsburgh: The Judy Caplan Ginsburgh Jewish Family Music Collection

Judy Caplan Ginsburgh: Shalom Yeladim/Hello Children

Judy Caplan Ginsburgh: Amazing Songs For Amazing Jewish Kids

Judy Caplan Ginsburgh

Judy Caplan Ginsburgh: Chanukah Favorites

Every Day Is A New Day

5/22/2014

Susan Colin: Be Strong

Susan Colin: Prayer of the Heart

Susan Colin: Every Day

Susan Colin: Shabbat Favorites

Shefa Gold: "There I Will Give You My Love"

5/21/2014

Shefa Gold

Shefa Gold talking about chanting: Sham etayn et dodai lach / There I will give you my love. (Song of Songs 7:13) "This is a practice of strengthening and refining our deepest and finest intentions to love God through each moment and detail of our lives. Before the chant begins, imagine before you the landscape of your life - all the small details that make up your day. Then when you chant the word "Sham - (there)," focus the force of your love into a particular detail or relationship of your daily routine. Imagine bringing the power of Love (a love that embraces the mystery of the Whole), to everything you do... "