post-konzert-sonntag
December 4th, 2011mensch, dass hat spass gemacht, gestern. anbei eine kleine berichterstattung vom gestrigen konzert. Danke an A.J. Llewellyn fuer die netten worte!
recently at the gardenia
November 16th, 2011BCC to host “Love in Us” Concert
November 8th, 2011A little PR for my upcoming concert:
Remember those BCC postcards that were distributed during BCC’s new home dedication back in April?
Among the various programs listed to take place in our new home was a so-called “Cantor unplugged” event. Back then,
the date and content had yet to be determined, but now, thanks to some inspirational encounters and conversations, the event has begun to take shape. On Saturday, December 3rd, I’d like to invite you to an evening of music and spoken word, Broadway tunes, jazz standards, some original songs, real stories by real people – all evolving around the ever-inspiring various states of love.
“Love in Us” will be a very special evening where BCC’s space will be turned (with the help of some magic spots and curtains) into a small theatre – or at least the closest it can be! Rehearsals have already begun and I’m very excited both to step out of my cantor comfort zone as well as to present you what we’ve been working hard to make an enjoyable night. Proceeds will benefit Project Chicken Soup and One National Gay & Lesbian Archives. More information can be found on BCC’s website:
bcc-la.org/love-in-us. Tickets can also be purchased via phone: 323-931-7023 #20
bcc-la.org/love-in-us. Tickets can also be purchased via phone: 323-931-7023 #20
konzert impressionen
September 13th, 2011cantors in concert
July 17th, 2011Most songs about home involve motion: you are either leaving or returning, rarely
actually staying there.Dorian Lynskey, music writer for The Guardian
Pondering the idea of home, I have to admit my mixed relationship with that concept. I wonder if it might be something I regularly have to leave behind in order to redefine it again in a later stage of my life.
Once, home was the pleasant sensation of my bare feet touching the cool stone tiles in the living room of my parents’ apartment in Netanya, Israel, as I was playing with the Dalmatian on a Friday afternoon. Spending my early years going back and forth between Israel and Germany, partially by myself, partially with my family, home could be found in physical places, in smells, in rituals and in friendships. Later, in my first relationship in Berlin, following one’s nesting instincts became a joint effort, often challenged by previous perceptions of what it meant to develop a domesticated little universe for two. Then I moved to Los Angeles, and finding a place to
belong started all over again. Here in LA I got re-acquainted with my inner judgmental self, had some dates with fear and anxiety, wrote some songs, built relationships with congregants and colleagues, successfully found new
friends, tasted new flavors, listened to new tunes and experienced some of the loveliest moments in my life.
Have I ever felt at home during all that time? I’m not sure. Maybe the feeling of being on the run and feeling slightly lonely is a default that just sticks with me due to my own personal history.
Nonetheless, it did take me by surprise when familiarity and comfort overcame me as I was landing in LAX, coming back from a Passover holiday in Israel. It was the first time something close to feeling like “coming home” stepped into my consciousness. It’s nice to look back at my first year since my official installation and to realize that somehow I’ve survived, personally and professionally. Nothing was ever really as scary and threatening as it seemed. It makes sense to me that all these impressions are valid for everyone experiencing change and obviously, I’m not the only one who has somehow found a new home in this past year. BCC, as most of you have noticed, is getting used to its new – may I say, quite magnificent – space as I write these lines and I am so happy that so many cantors have agreed to participate in a concert simply titled “HOME”, to celebrate BCC’s move. With fantastic musicians lined up, in an event that will hopefully trigger a tradition of annual musical encounters at BCC, I invite you to take part in this event that will musically remind us what it takes to turn a house into a home.
Click here for more info and
click here for the facebook-event page!
Umzug
April 17th, 2011letztes wochenende ist meine gemeinde in ein neues gebaeude umgezogen. das neue gebaeude befindet sich 2 bloecke westlich der bisherigen synagoge und besteht aus einer umgenutzten gewerbeflaeche. monate der planung und vorbereitung haben viele mitwirkende auf diesen tag warten lassen und ich denke es hat sich gelohnt. entworfen wurde die neue synagoge von den recht fabelhaften architekten marc shoeplein und toni lewis und sie gilt als die einzige synagoge in los angeles die mit umweltfreundlichen mitteln gebaut wurde. teils der inneneinrichtung wurde von gemeindemitgliedern entworfen und ausgefuehrt. ist echt schoen geworden. anbei ein paar videos zum eindruck:
Purim 2011
March 21st, 2011yummy
March 3rd, 2011song nr. 5 wurde geschrieben während meiner noch-immer-andauernden-wenn-auch-nicht-mehr-ganz-so-intensiven meditationphase. eine freundin hat mich auf die audio-dharma seite hingewiesen, auf der ich mir ein paar vorträge von andrea fella runtergezogen und angehört habe. die idee vom loslassen können um neu zu beginnen fand ich inspirierend. ist nicht immer einfach, aber gut sich immer wieder mal daran zu erinnern. und gleichzeitig kam dann der song herbeigeflogen. freddie diaz war so nett mit mir an einem wochenende in venice beach und malibu ein passendes video zu filmen. eis in der waffel inklusive.
embrace
February 18th, 2011closer to better
February 8th, 2011und hier ist song nr. 3 – … »