Final Shabbat Unplugged

Wow, it has been almost a week since I last posted. That speaks volumes about how crazy our life has become as we get read for this move.  We are packing, working, and changing diapers like pros! I picked up the car finally from the mechanic this morning, A/C still not fixed, but I guess I will have to sell it as is. Someone is coming to look at it tomorrow, so hopefully that will seal the deal.

I played my final Shabbat Unplugged last night, which was definitely a bittersweet experience. I am going to miss the guys and the experience terribly, but I am excited to bring the experience with me, and glad for the way it has changed my view of Judaism.

It has been an amazing group to be a part of - Rabbi Strom is an incredible example of a young Jewish leader - he is so comfortable with his own interpretation of what it means to be a rabbi and a member of the Jewish community that I think he makes everyone feel that they can also define their place. I know he has done that for me. It was incredibly awkward enough for me at first to play piano in the synagogue on Shabbat, and definitely felt strange trying to play with fun and letting my emotions out in the playing. Now that I am used to it, it has really helped me find my place in a Jewish community in a way I had never before. I always felt my religion was intensely personal, and I always defined my community experience outside of Judaism. I think part of the reason for this is that I never was able to express myself musically in my Jewish experiences. This group helped me realize that for me, music is not going to be able to be separated from my Jewish experience, and I will continue to find places and congregations where I can express myself musically in order to fully be a part of the community. Thank you Josh Strom, Evan Schultz, Sandy Simon, Jon Singer, Ted Seigel, and Josh Myers for some great nights of music making. And especially thanks Jonathan "Chops" Levy for inviting me into the group and realizing that it was something I would enjoy and needed.

So, gonna miss them and the congregation a lot, and I expect to keep hearing great things from them.

La la la, and here are some youtube videos of some of my favorite moments.

Mi Camocha to the tune of Freedom '90 by George Michael


Hashkivenu


Yihiyu