Jewish Songwriter

Originally from New Rochelle, NY Sue Horowitz grew up playing in NFTY and rock bands, but didn't write her first song until she was 40 years old after attending Hava Nashira.  But with her first release, recorded with Josh Nelson, she made it onto Ruach and the rest is history.  We talk about her journey and "Peace Song" from her latest release, "Notes from the Garrison."  Listen to "Peace Song" and all of the featured songs that have appeared on Jewish songwriter by subscribing to the Jewish Songwriter Playlist on YouTube and Spotify.   Sue Horowitz is  a Jewish singer-songwriter from the rocky coast of Maine and just recently, the fields of Iowa. Sue believes in the power of community singing and knows that music can be healing, uplifting and helps us connect to one another. Her tunes range from lyrical to bluesy, from meditative to joyous. Sue's CDs, Eleven Doors Open, In The Water, and The Power and the Blessing have been produced by talents such as Josh Nelson, Dan Nichols, and Grammy-nominated Nashville

This week, my man Charlie Kramer from LA opens up about his blindness and how that has impacted his life as a Jewish songwriter.  Then we talk about the powerful message of hope behind his tune "Closer." Listen to "Closer" and all of the featured songs that have appeared on Jewish songwriter by subscribing to the Jewish Songwriter Playlist on YouTube and Spotify.   Legally blind and armed with an acoustic guitar, Charlie Kramer unites, magnetizes and elevates the communities around him. A touring songleader, songwriter & spiritual leader. Charlie has sung with communities throughout North America, Israel, Australia and New Zealand.   Full time song leader at Temple Israel of Hollywood, Head Songleader 3 years running at Camp Hess Kramer in Malibu, Faculty at the 2016 UPJ Shir Chadash Conference (Union for Progressive Judaism), Presenter at the 2017 ACC Mid Winter Retreat (American Conference of Cantors), featured as an “Emerging Artist” on Jewish Rock Radio, Faculty at the 2019 SLBC National Conference (S

The Season 2 opening episode of Jewish Songwriter included a hilarious and heartwarming story from this week's guest, Elana Arian, and her special connection and encounters with Debbie Friedman.  We finally get to share the rest of this amazing conversation and share Elana's "Yih'yu L'ratzon" as well as the story of it's creation.  Spoiler Alert:  Elana was a new mother with 10 years of experience as a successful touring secular singer/songwriter but this song was not only her first Jewish composition, but the first composition that came to her in complete form.   Listen to "Yih'yu L'ratzon" and all of the compositions from this season of Jewish Songwriter on the official Jewish Songwriter Playlist on YouTube and Spotify.  Elana Arian is one of the leading voices in contemporary Jewish music. A composer, multi-instrumentalist, and recording artist, Elana inspires communities across the country with her soulful songwriting and spirit. She recently released her third album of original music - A Spark of Light

Continuing on last week's theme of belief, this week I chat with my buddy, the hilarious Angeleno Jason Mesches and chat about life, Hebrew school, comedy, and his song "Faith." Listen to "Faith" and all of the compositions from this season of Jewish Songwriter on the official Jewish Songwriter Playlist on YouTube and Spotify. Born in New Jersey and raised at Jewish summer camp, Jason Mesches has drawn on his own experiences as a child to bring a new sound and style to the world of accessible family music. When he is not in his new home of sunny Santa Monica, CA he is touring the country teaching Judaism and Jewish values through high energy, thoughtful melodies. He breaks down his style into three equal categories: sing. dance. schvitz. Jason's YouTube PageJason's SpotifyJason's FacebookJason's Website This week's episode was brought to you by Bandzoogle which makes it easy to build a stunning website for your music in minutes.  Click here to try it free for 30 days and get 15% off the first year of your sub

I knew that my friend Abbie Strauss was an incredible vocalist, but I had no idea she studied opera until we sat down for this week's episode of Jewish Songwriter.  The Memphis based Jewish Songwriter and I chat about her journey, both physical and spiritual that led her to Israel and back and about faith through her composition "Ani Ma'amin." Don't forget to subscribe to the Jewish Songwriter Playlist on YouTube and Spotify. Cantorial Soloist, Abbie Strauss counts over a decade of experience as a professional musician. Classically trained in vocals with a background in piano, guitar, and saxophone, Abbie’s talent and vision shines throughout the Temple Israel music program, inspiring those within the Temple community and far beyond.  Abbie graduated with a BS from Indiana University and went on to earn a Master of Education. She continued her academics at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, where she studied Hebrew and Jewish texts in Jerusalem. Now, with over seven years of teaching experience coupled w

Hailing from Tel Aviv and representing our first writer from Israel, this week's Jewish Songwriter is none other than my good friend Shimon Smith.  We talk about how songleading at Capitol Camps led to his discovery of Jewish music and how he's helping to bring progressive contemporary Judaism and Jewish music to Israel.  So it's also appropriate that we talk about his composition "Avinu Shebashamayim." As always, you can listen to all of the compositions from this season on the Jewish Songwriter Playlist on YouTube and Spotify. Shimon Smith tours the Jewish world and lives in Tel Aviv.  Shimon is one of the leading Jewish-Israeli songleaders and performers in Israel. He also tours the USA and Canada throughout the year visiting both Jewish communities and summer camps.   After making Aliyah from New-Jersey when he was only 5, Shimon brings with him a combination of many different worlds. His unique style of songleading brings a message of unity, community and musical connection to Judaism and Israel.  Shimo

This week, from all the way down under, my good friends Shannyn and Max Jared Einsohn, A.K.A Ahavat Hinam.  We talk about how this husband-and-wife duo met at Hava Nashira, the Jewish music scene in Australia, and their joint composition "Gam Ze Ya'avor." As always, you can listen to all of the compositions from this season on the Jewish Songwriter Playlist on YouTube and Spotify.   Ahavat Hinam is a supergroup of Jewish educators and musicians Max Jared (Dallas TX, USA) and shannyn.art (Melbourne, VIC, Australia) who create sacred moments using music inspired by Judaism, pop, rock, love, and social action. Max graduated from HUC-JIR with a masters in Jewish Education in 2016 and Shannyn completed her Bachelors of Education (Primary) this year. Since their formation, they have performed all over the world, from Texas to Sydney, and launch a new album this year! Ahavat Hinam's YouTube PageAhavat Hinam's SpotifyAhavat Hinam's FacebookAhavat Hinam's Website  This week's episode was brought to you by Bandzoogle w

My next guest is a fellow New Yorker and one of the massively talented fresh faces bursting onto the Jewish Songwriter scene.  Jacob "Spike" Kraus and I talk about his journey in the new music industry and his poppy new tune "You Will Find Me." As always, you can listen to all of the compositions from this season on the Jewish Songwriter Playlist on YouTube and Spotify. Jacob “Spike” Kraus is a singer/songwriter, educator & innovator from Boston, Ma. He has released two studio albums of original Jewish music: “Shake Off The Dust” (2014) & “Cornerstones” (2017). Twenty-seven years old and based out of New York, NY, Jacob serves as the Music Teacher for Beit Rabban Day School. He has been song leading for over a decade at synagogues, day schools, and summer camps, serving as Head Songleader at both the URJ Eisner Camp and the URJ Kutz Camp for several summers. He graduated from Muhlenberg College in the spring of 2013 with a degree in Music Performance. His music has been included in the cantorial curri

This week, I welcome the massively talented Beth Schafer all the way from Atlanta to Jewish Songwriter and we talk about her composition "History Will Ask."  As always, you can listen to all of the compositions from this season on the Jewish Songwriter Playlist on YouTube and Spotify.  Beth Schafer continues to redefine Jewish music by combining masterful songwriting with sensitivity to liturgy and unique insight toward text. She specializes in music for Torah-minded adults looking for an extension to their Jewish lives through music. What makes her music special is her attention to the universal themes that not only define Judaism, but many other faiths as well. Her 7 CDs of original Jewish music have become favorites in synagogues as well as churches and spiritual radio stations of many denominations. The title song to her CD Build That Bridge, was written and recorded with “Still the One” singer, Larry Hoppen, and was released in 2007. In 2009 she released her first acoustic rock album, Raise It Up Bring

Representing my hometown of St. Louis, MO my close friend and mentor Rick Recht and I sit down to talk about his journey from secular musician to Jewish music and the new version of his hit song Halleluyah, this time incorporating the words of Psalm 150. As always, you can listen to all of the compositions from this season on the Jewish Songwriter Playlist on YouTube and Spotify. Rick Recht is one of the top touring musicians in Jewish music playing over 150 dates each year in the US and abroad.  Rick has revolutionized and elevated the genre of Jewish rock music as a powerful and effective tool for developing Jewish pride and identity in youth and adults across the US. Rick is the national celebrity spokesman for the PJ Library and is the founder and Executive Director of Songleader Boot Camp – a national songleader training immersion program held in various cities around the U.S.  Rick is also the founder and Executive Director of Jewish Rock Radio, the very first high-caliber, 24/7 international Jewish ro

Season 2 of Jewish Songwriter opens with my good friend, Ellen Allard who talks about her song "How Good" and her journey from classical concert pianist to Jewish Songwriter. As always, you can listen to all of the compositions from this season on the Jewish Songwriter Playlist on YouTube and Spotify.    Ellen Allard is an award-winning recording artist, music educator, composer, performer, and music coach, and one of the most influential musicians on today’s Jewish music scene. With a strong commitment to building community through music, Ellen has a unique, charismatic, charming, and heartwarming way of encouraging audiences to join together in playful singing, whether she is performing a concert, presenting a workshop, conducting a choir, or leading Tot Shabbat, religious school Wow Worship, or an adult worship service.  Ellen holds a BA in music from Boston University and a Master’s in education from Arcadia University. She is a certified holistic health coach, baby/toddler yoga teacher, Kidding Around Yo

As always, you can listen to all of the compositions from this season on the Jewish Songwriter YouTube Playlist or Spotify Playlist.  And please subscribe to the podcast and leave a review on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, GooglePlay or wherever you listen. If you are familiar at all with North American Jewish music, it should come as no surprise, that as with almost any conversation about or with Jewish Songwriters, one name repeatedly comes up in conversation, without whom, probably none of us Jewish songwriters would be here today.  And that name, of course, belongs to the one and only Debbie Friedman.  Debbie Friedman is considered by many to be the mother of contemporary Jewish music.  If her name isn’t familiar to you, but you’ve entered a Temple, synagogue, or shul in the last half century, there’s a high likelihood you’ve heard her music.  Though Debbie passed away in 2011, it just doesn’t make any sense to not have an episode of Jewish Songwriter dedicated to her.   Professionally speaking, I’m not sure

Hailing from New Jersey, this week's Jewish songwriter, Peri Smilow shares "The Priestly Blessing" and how she found her way to Jewish music after a difficult period working with troubled teens.  Special thanks to the URJ and Bruce Raden for their onsite recording and technical help with this week's episode. As always, you can listen to all of the compositions from this season on the Jewish Songwriter YouTube Playlist or Spotify Playlist.   Peri Smilow is an internationally recognized contemporary Jewish music performer and composer.  For over 25 years Peri has brought new, inspiring and social justice infused music to the Reform Movement in the US, Canada, England, Singapore and Israel.  She has recorded four albums of original music and produced an album of new social justice anthems to benefit the Religious Action Center (Together as One). Known for her interfaith work, Peri created The Freedom Music Project, an 18-voice choir of young black and Jewish men and women singing the freedom music of their tradi

This week, Chicago born Jewish Songwriter Josh Warshawsky chats about his song "El Baruch (The Blessing One)."   As always, you can listen to all of the compositions from this season on the Jewish Songwriter YouTube Playlist or Spotify Playlist.  Josh Warshawsky is a songleader and songwriter, currently studying in rabbinical school in LA. Josh spends his weekends and summers in residency teaching and sharing music and Tefillah at synagogues and camps across the country. He has two albums, which can be found on iTunes, and is now recording a third. You can hear his songs "Mah Rabu" and "V'ahavta at camps and synagogues across the country. Josh's YouTube Page Josh's Spotify Josh's FacebookJosh's Website This week's episode was brought to you by Bandzoogle which makes it easy to build a stunning website for your music in minutes.  Click here to try it free for 30 days and get 15% off the first year of your subscription.

This week's guest is Nashville, TN based songwriter Stacy Beyer who shares about her song "Good Trouble" which was inspired in part by Congressman John Lewis. As always, you can listen to all of the compositions from this season on the Jewish Songwriter YouTube Playlist or Spotify Playlist. Stacy is a producer, composer, singer, musician, arranger and conductor. She’s written for film, tv and the recording industry. Once a staff writer for EMI Publishing, Stacy had a #1 in Australia. Songs from her 4 cds of original Jewish music have found their way into congregations around the world, and have been performed by the Nashville Symphony. Stacy is also an activist/lobbyist. Inspired by this work she’s created even more new music, and performed her song 'She Has the Right’ for the United Nations, and 'Good Trouble’ to close the Women’s March, in Nashville this past January. Most recently Stacy co-produced a cd of 8 new social justice songs, entitled ‘Together As One’. She is also the co-founder of the Facebook, l

On this week's episode, I welcome Phoenix based Jewish songwriter, and fellow Jumbo (Tufts Alum), Todd Herzog to talk about his brand new composition "Returning to Who I Am." Todd Herzog is an artist who takes the raw material of life experiences and creates soulful, spiritual, acoustic pop music along the lines of John Mayer, Jason Mraz, and Marc Cohn. His mission is to use music to open the hearts of his listeners to love, wisdom and spirituality.  The music industry has taken notice of Todd’s talents. He has worked with some of the top songwriters and artists in the world, including Burt Bacharach, Tonio K, Dave Koz and Michael Lington. With his most recent release, Something to Believe In, Todd returns to his singer/songwriter roots and includes moving songs of personal revelation alongside songs of shared humanity. Todd’s Bridging the Gap CD won the award for “Best Jewish Album” in the Just Plain Folks Music Awards. His music and voice have been featured in television and film. His children’s album, Eve

This week, I'm happy to welcome ritual leader and Jewish songwriter, Shira Kline, and we talk about her song "The Sun Shines Down On Every One" which she co-wrote with Lee "Free" Frisari and Avi Fox-Rosen. Recognized as a “revolutionary educator” and named one of the “new re-engineers of Jewish life,” Shira Kline plays worldwide as a performance and ritual artist.  She specializes in creative musical worship with adults and children's spirituality.  Her work is in the garden of life: activating imagination, expression, and heart opening.  On Shira’s tours, she performs in communities of all ages throughout the United States and stages in Israel, England, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.  She also presents extensively across the denominational spectrum for clergy, educators and lay leaders, and is adjunct faculty for the HUC-JIR Debbie Friedman School for Sacred Music. Shira is a co-founder of Lab/Shul NYC, an artist driven, God-optional experimental community for sacred Jewish gathering where

My guest this week, NYC based Jewish Songwriter Noah Aronson talks about his song "Anneini." After earning a degree in Jazz Composition and Piano from Berklee College of Music, he held the position of Composer-in-Residence at Temple Beth Elohim in Wellesley, MA where he produced 4 albums of Jewish communal music with his mentor Cantor Jodi Sufrin.  As a solo musician, Noah has released three full-length albums and songbooks entitled 'Am I Awake,' 'Left Side of the Page,' and his latest 'More Love' including his 4 member all Israeli-Berklee alumni band. Music from these albums are now sung in progressive communities and summer camps worldwide and has been included as part of the Cantorial curriculum at the Hebrew Union College's Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music in New York City.  Renowned for his unique and engaging style of prayer leadership, he had the distinct honor of leading over 5,000 people in Shabbat worship at the 2013 URJ Biennial in San Diego, CA.  Noah serves on the faculty of the annual Hav

This week we welcome Jewish Songwriter Joanie Leeds to the podcast and we chat about her song "Shayne Punim."  As one of the top nationally touring kindie rock singers, New York-based Joanie Leeds has played for thousands of families all across the country. As a singer/songwriter, Joanie has won first place in the USA Songwriting Competition, an Independent Music Award, Gold Parents' Choice Award, NAPPA Gold Award and she has been a John Lennon Songwriting Award Finalist and an International Songwriting Competition Finalist. Her original music with her band Joanie Leeds & The Nightlights has been featured in People Magazine, USA Today, Parents Magazine, New York Times and Washington Post. She is currently touring the USA promoting her 8th children's CD, 'Brooklyn Baby'. Her songs are played on many radio stations nationwide climbing up the chart to #1 on Sirius-XM's Kids Place Live and WXPN's Kids Corner. Joanie's YouTube PageJoanie's SpotifyJoanie's FacebookJoanie's Website

On this week's episode of Jewish Songwriter, Josh Nelson shares about his powerful new medley of "Avadim Hayinu" and "Wade In The Water." One of the most popular performers and composers in modern Jewish music, Josh Nelson brings his extraordinary message of hope, unity and spirituality to concert stages and worship services across the globe. Josh is a gifted multi-instrumentalist and songwriter whose work is celebrated and integrated into the repertoire of congregations, camps and communities around the world. His music builds community, lifting up congregations and concert audiences alike through experiences that are at once energizing and deeply moving.   A classically trained musician who is equally versed in rock, jazz and world music, Josh combines his broad range of influences into a breathtaking musical style that is accessible to audiences of all ages and backgrounds. He was recently hailed by Time Magazine as a “star of the New Jewish Music.”   Josh lives in Brooklyn, NY with his two children and a