During a moment in the morning prayers, the community recites liturgy in which we act as if we are angels. In acting like angels, we turn to one another and give one another permission to continue in prayer, saying “Notnim reshut”. In some Hasidic communities, as well as mine at Hebrew College, another phrase is added, “in love” – b’ahavah” and people within the community look up from their prayer books and actually make eye contact with another during prayer. A group of individuals look up from their personal, transformative practice to invite one another into a shared, angelic experience.
Throughout my life, different people have looked me in the eyes and gave me permission to join them. A dirty dining room floor to sing slow songs on Shabbat. A new camp, tucked between beautiful trees in wine country. My Jewish path has been fostered by loving permission. This album is the beautiful result of those spaces and relationships of growth.
This album is also an invitation, sent to you, in love. The Jewish tradition is sustained and elevated by our active interpretation. The transmitting of wisdom is done through sharing our own personal insights and perspectives, chiddushim. One of the ways I find myself in this tradition is through music. This album is an invitation to you into that world of personal interpretation, into thousands of years of conversations.
In addition, I want to do this project with folks who have been major influences in my life and given me permission, Dan Nichols and Josh Warshawsky. Rather than record simply in a studio, or simply live, I am hoping to do both in the hopes of capturing the unique essence that I think resides in these melodies.
Where Does the Money Go?
Studio Recording with Dan Nichols: $6,000
Live Recording with Josh Warshawsky (and the Chaverei Nevarech Ensemble): $3,750
Musical Charts: $250
Album Creation and Distribution Costs: $1000
Jewcer, Travel, and Design Costs (by the incomparable Rachel Jackson at Binah Designs): $1000
Total: 12000
Timeline
December – This Awesome Crowdfunding Adventure!
January – Recording with Dan Nichols in Raleigh, NC
February – Mixing and Master of Studio Tracks
March – Rehearsal of live tracks with live band
Late March – Recording with live band in Los Angeles, CA
April and May – Editing, mixing, and mastering
May and June – Printing, packaging, promotion and distribution!
While we have only hit the half-way point in duration, this morning the campaign officially surpassed the $8,000 mark meaning we are 67% of the way there. Each morning waking up to new emails of support and love has made the end of 2019 exciting and invigorating. 2020 plans to be a tremendous year for me and I can’t wait for this album and the multitude of other beautiful Jewish music albums set to be released this upcoming year.
Happy 2020!
Here is a short clip of “Esa Einai” along with a bit of Torah to bring into the new year:
“Notnim B’ahavah Reshut” – Lovingly, give permission…
During this line in our morning prayers, our Hassidic teachers tell us to imagine ourselves as the angels the prayerbook is describing. In order to proceed in our own personal prayer, we must ask the permission of our cadre of angels. We do so by lifting our eyes from our prayerbooks. We give permission to connect with The Divine by lifting our eyes to meet the eyes of those who surround us.
We give permission, in love, in the way Psalm 121 describes, “esah einai”, lifting our eyes to search for The Divine.
Earlier tonight we hit a tremendous milestone… the 100th individual donation!
I can’t tell you how thankful I am. I began this process at the USCJ Biennial in Boston where I was fortunate enough to sing with my best friends Josh Warshawsky and Deborah Sacks Mintz. To be able to support both of them musically was such a treat!
Then I jetted off to Chicago (during the beginning of finals which was definitely not stressful!) for the URJ’s Biennial where I had the privilege to again sing with Josh on the Jewish Rock Radio stage and a handful of our other Jewish rockstar friends as well having the honor to share my own music in the URJ’s Emerging Artist Showcase (video below)
I teach and sing at the 32:30 mark as well as again at the 46:30 (but you should watch the whole session if you wanna hear some great Jewish music!)
Again I want to thank everyone who has contributed already and ask you all for two small favors. The first being to share. On social media! Or personally with any friends or colleagues you think might be interested in this project. Every bit helps. The second request comes as we close our fiscal year, to think if somewhere in your budget you have a few dollars to increase your contribution. Perhaps its with your colleagues as a clergy team through your discretionary funds. Maybe you band together with your camp bunkmates to contribute as a team. Every bit of help will be so needy and SO appreciated.
Thank you so much for contributing and for believing in me!
Jackson