Whole Phamily

The Rebbe Elimelech

2013-05-19T22:23:00.001-04:00

It's an old-world Yiddish tune, and we love it. Here's Concealed Light on flute playing "Der Rebbe Elimelech," which, incidentally, was written in 1927. And that year is a permutation of a number we hold so dear to our hearts (yeah yeah, we know the prediction in that link didn't come true last Chanukah. Still doesn't matter. 127 totally rocks).

Here are the words (in transliterated Yiddish...Stango will be very unhappy to see "nisht oys"...not a single Hebrew letter...so it goes) if you didn't check out the Wiki link I included above

Az der Rebbe Elimeylekh

Iz gevorn zeyer freylekh,

(Iz gevorn zeyer freylekh, Elimeylekh,)

Hot er oysgeton di tfilin

Un hot ongeton di briln

Un geshikt nokh di fidlers di tsvey.

Un di fidldike fidlers

Hobn fidldik gefidlt.

Hobn fidldik gefildt hobn zey!

(x2)

Az der Rebbe Elimeylekh

Iz gevorn mer nokh freylekh,

Iz gevorn mer nokh freylekh, Elimeylekh,

Hot er opgemakht havdole

Mitn shames Reb Naftole

Un geshikt nokh di payklers di tsvey.

Un di paykeldike payklers

Hobn paykeldik gepaykelt.

Hobn paykeldik gepaykelt hobn zey!

(x2)

Az der Rebbe Elimeylekh

Iz gevorn GOR SHTARK freylekh,

Iz gevorn gor shtark freylekh Elimeylekh,

Hot er oysgeton dos kitl

Un hot ongeton dos hitl

Un geshikt nokh di tsimblers di tsvey.

Un di tsimbeldika tsimblers

Hobn tsimbeldik getsimbelt.

Hobn tsimbeldik getsimbelt hobn zey!

(x2)

Happy Cinco de Mayo

2013-05-05T19:51:00.002-04:00

Tonight we held our now-annual Cinco de Mayo fiesta supper celebration. Exactly the type of stuff the kids are going to be embarrassed about in years to come. (Or maybe they already are?)

Whatever Happened to Arsenio Hall?

2013-05-03T01:00:00.000-04:00

Just as I'm sitting down to watch some classic "Coming to America," I couldn't help but wonder: Whatever happened to Arsenio Hall?

I must have some vibe or something because just a couple of weeks ago, he posted the following video that shows him doing a focus group for his new syndicated show to appear on 9/9/13.

Doubtful that I'll watch it, but I'm glad to know he's alive and well.

Meantime, I think I need some Soul Glo

Remember Cinco de Mayo this Sunday!

2013-05-02T10:22:00.001-04:00

Here's a relic from a couple of years ago. And the first time here on Whole Phamily you see me, Ms. Rachel Molly Loonin, on video. As I have expressed many times over, my blog is a combo of a lot of different things. Here's a glimpse into Stango and Loony's life. Let me know what you think.

When you post things of your kids they wouldn't appreciate

2013-05-02T10:04:00.001-04:00

I like to think of myself as a loving mama. I love my children and I love so much of what they do. I respect their privacy but I am also so proud of some of their things. Naturally, in this day and age I want to share them on the holy grail of the Internet.

For example. After test-running the following image created by my beloved near-8 year old the Wolfman with our very special kin The Nunever, I made the executive decision to share on Facebook and Twitter. The Nunever said it must have been one of my proudest mothering moments. Indeed, I was kvelling. Did the Wolfman specifically say don't share it? No. But if I asked him would he be happy? Don't think so.

Still, mama's got to take liberties some time...

Nice...it got retweeted by YemBlog!

This is pretty darn good stuff for your typical Phish-loving mama. Just don't tell the Wolfman about this. And, if you do, tell him it's the least he can do for his mama who doesn't even celebrate the upcoming Hallmark holiday of Mother's Day.

Classic Tune All Jazzed Up

2013-03-17T00:38:00.000-04:00

Growing up, I never heard the name Shlomo Carlebach. Unknowingly, I knew one of his classic tunes "Veha'er Eineinu." I think I heard it at a Chassidic Song Festival that my parents took me to in the late '70s.

Stango, my musical husband, raged this tune tonight on the piano. Not to be missed!

Here is Shlomo singing his tune, just for comparison sake. My preference is Stango's funkier one.

What? Me? Persnikedy?

2013-03-15T10:54:00.000-04:00

As I mention from time to time, this isn't a Phish blog, but as a huge fan, I feel compelled to share this wonderful 2 minute clip from a recent interview on CBS Sunday Morning with Phish's lead guitarist, Trey Anastasio. It shows Trey in such a real way - he loves his fans and that they give him the ability to feel "openmindness...encouragement to take risks...a desire to go at least a little bit somewhere that is new and unexplored."

As I told the Nunever, the only persnikediness I feel is that I haven't been consulted personally on what I think are great ideas for the band, and that's no joke.

Which leads me to remembering a great lesson I learned this week..."Who is rich? One who is happy with her lot." -Pirkei Avot

And though I have heard it many times over, the lesson learned is that everyone has a lot, or a portion. No one will ever have everything. We all get a portion. So, perhaps my portion with regard to Phish is simply to enjoy where I am and what I have already experienced with this incredible musical outfit.

Trey Anastasio with CBS Sunday Morning's Anthony Mason photo courtesy of liveforlivemsic.com

A Couple of Years Behind Schedule

2013-03-06T01:05:00.000-05:00

I'll be truthful: I don't know much about current popular culture. For whatever reason I decided to finally catch up on the entire 8 years of Entourage, the hit HBO show about life in the Hollywood fast lane. Putting aside the profanities and sex, I am actually pretty grateful for a lot of the stuff I'm learning from it. And I'll be ready for the film they're making as a follow-up to the show. It's been green-lit, so we should hope to expect it soon!

Put aside as well the question that looms through your mind, which is, "Why does Loony really need to poison herself with this meaningless shtuss?"

I don't really feel like defending myself, but first and foremost is all of the music I am hearing for the first time. From Blind Melon to Jane's Addiction to LL Cool J, I am hearing some familiar tunes but also tons of music that I should know but don't.

With that, I leave you with some Funkadelic circa 1971, which appears at the end of Season 5. Ya'd think a girl who loves going to see music would know this stuff already. Think again. And yet it's never too late to learn new things. Indeed, I did see Bernie Worrell, an original Funkadelic member, perform a couple of years ago.

me with Bernie Worrell at a Steve Kimock show I think end of December 2011

Mama, I'm Hungry

2013-02-14T10:39:00.003-05:00

Here is Stango the other day at the piano, playing "Al HaNisim" which is sung on Purim and Chanukah. Purim is in less than two weeks, so we're getting ready. Watch (or, yes you can admit it, skip) till the end when The Wolfman whispers a little thing to me.

Yidl Itzik aka Ed Koch, Of Blessed Memory

2013-02-04T14:32:00.001-05:00

Just caught a glimpse of the most over the top Jewish funeral I have witnessed, that of the former mayor of New York City, Ed Koch z'l. I had the privilege of working a temp job in the late 90s where Mayor Koch was renting some office space, so for a couple of weeks there I saw him come in and out of the office. He was a great mayor. I liked him. The funeral was held at Temple Emanu-El in Manhattan. I always know it was a shmancy Reform synagogue, and I was happy to see that the rabbi was wearing a kippa. The irony, though, was that most of the other head-cover bearing men were members of the NYPD. Not even Bloomberg was wearing one.

And then the casket escort of the synagogue out to the songs "New York, New York" and "Lullaby of Broadway." As my friend Emily mentioned, it was like a Liza Minnelli concert. We all joked how we couldn't help think about the Milford Plaza.

I'm glad I was able to catch his name during the memorial prayer. Baruch Dayan emet to Yidl Itzik.

Stevie, You've Been on my Mind

2013-02-01T00:45:00.000-05:00

A bit less than a year ago, I had Stevie Wonder on my mind, and now he's crept back in. Why didn't I know his funky '70s stuff back in the day? Stango said it's because I knew his newer stuff in the 80s, Ebony and Ivory and the like.

Now that I know it, I'll stick with the '70s funk.

This is from later, but it's got that leftover disco beat from the late 70s

And of course as a Phish loving mama (cuz they cover this tune), I can't forget Boogie On...

If you've gotten this far, here's the inspiration for this blog post title. Bob, the prophet and poet, yet again saves the day.

Speaking of getting this far, if you're reading this, why not give a shout out and let me know your thoughts. I feel like Rodney Dangerfield..."I don't get no respect!" (meaning, I get little feedback and desire it!)

xoxo

Loony

It's a Fruit Rap

2013-01-24T10:22:00.001-05:00

Every year around this time I try to find something fun for my children to watch about the birthday of the trees. Usually there's nothing great. Not this year!

With Tu B'Shvat just around the corner this Friday night and Shabbat, you gotta check out this video. My old friend Elana Greenspan is the talent behind it. Actually she is my old friend Chana's friend but who's counting.

So cute!

And funny!

This is one great mama doing good things for her family and the world. Love you Elana!

Only thing to improve is: Let's see your smiling face, Elana!

Too Jewy For Youie

2012-12-26T23:56:00.001-05:00

Really loving the newish neighborhood here in Philly, but I can't get Albert Brooks' line of being "too Jewy" from This is 40 out of my head.

Didn't sit well with me, but hey, that's Hollywood. Hollywood's just Jewy enough to not be too Jewy. Just ask good ole uncle Ralph about not being too Jewy. What Wasp is gonna buy into Lifshitz? Or wannabe Wasp who hides her Jewyness so well (Yes, Tory, I'm talkin' bout you, sister).

Lest you think I didn't like This is 40, stop right there. Judd Apatow is basically a genious and I love his writing. Boy can write. And of course you might know by now my love for Paul Rudd. All those years of drooling over Adam Sandler? Gone?! Now, finally, ever since I saw him on our honeymoon in Hawaii in 2002, it's all about the positive. With Adam it was just so much negative. With Paul, it's all happy and good.

I keep telling Stango that it would be nice to find some more like-minded friends around these parts. Anybody else too Jewy around here? The problem is most folks who are too Jewy are just too Jewy. I'd need you to too earthy, too brainy, too pop culturey, too Gen-Xey, too hippy and still be all good with luxury and Louis.

Ok, if you dig Bottega, that's all good too.

And just because I can, here is the man who I have a very silly Hollywood crush on. (Yes, I told Stango and he laughed).

It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's Jewperhero

2012-12-14T02:30:00.000-05:00

Leave it to the clever Chabad youngin's - dare I say hipsteresque - to come up with something like Jewperhero. Moshe Kravitsky is putting out weekly videos of "The Moshe Show," in which he pounds the New York pavement and does Jewish outreach in his somewhat outlandish, extroverted heimish mitzvah-seeking, light-spreading comedic style that only a Chabad chassid can pull off. Yasher koach, Moshe!

This video where he goes to Union Square and passes out dreidels is pretty funny. Love the guy who spins the dreidel upside down on the subway, as if he's saying, "yeah yeah, I know the drill." Moshe has chutzpah, stamina, and doesn't take no for an answer. And he does it all in such a mentschluch way!

What a breath of fresh air in light of the Weberman verdict this week. B'h that animal is going to the slammer where he belongs. Sorry to bring you down but, as Deborah Feldman said, this court case was a true Chanukah miracle. Ken yehi ratzon.

Good shabbos! My challahs are just cooling off and it's fer sure time for bed!

Blues For Challah Setlist Recap

2012-12-02T23:41:00.000-05:00

We're nearly done unpacking from Blues For Challah: The Second Set, and what a weekend it was. The Whole Phamily was so grateful to have the opportunity to provide social media services and onsite kids' programming to this weekend. I hope that these efforts were successful. Here are some highlights:

Seth Rogovoy's presentation on Bob Dylan's link to Judaism was polished, well-delivered, and entertaining in its own right. I wrote about Rogovoy's book earlier, but had no clue that his presentation would include live performance. How happy was I when he confirmed my suspicions regarding the messianic theme of Quinn the Eskimo?!? And even happier when I shared that Phish's rendition brings Quinn to a new level.

Meeting Michelle Esrick, the brainchild i.e. filmmaker behind the Wavy Gravy movie Saint Misbehavin', was a real treat. We sat at the same table on Friday night and I was thrilled, since I am connected to challah baking, to be asked to explain the symbolism behind using two challot and salt at a shabbes table. Her sister and I connected on mindfulness meditation. I lamented I have yet to read Jon Kabet-Zinn's book on it that Stango gave to me already a few years ago. Michelle's film was educational about Wavy Gravy's life and mission. Because of the weekend's intimate setting, I couldn't have imagined a more perfect scene. I loved that Concealed Light asked after the film's screening, "what's the big deal about Wavy Gravy?" This film, therefore, opened the door for my 9 year old regarding the whys behind the 60s counterculture. Sure, she knows we love Dylan and the Dead, and that we read plenty of books about MLK, Jr in February, but a two sentence explanation (end of Camelot, fight for Civil Rights, end of Baby Boom, the Beatles, Vietnam) was a good start.

Me and Michelle Esrick, producer/director of Saint Misbehavin'

Of course, I loved that Michelle expressed that her presence at this weekend was bashert and from Hashem (two terms she learned just this weekend). Doesn't everything happen for a reason? Hakol bashamayim hi. (you can ask your rabbi what that one means).

Meeting Rabbi Moshe "Mickey" Shur finally was inspiring. He grew up with Stango's close childhood friend's father. We had long-heard of Berman's dad's hippy cum frum friend. I was thrilled to see that, even though I didn't know him when he knew Wavy Gravy while living in San Francisco in the 60s, he maintained his open, loving, laid-back, funny, warm vibe that was clearly a product of those years.

Saturday night jam: a bunch of participants brought out their guitars, drums and voices for a really fun homegrown Dead jam. What an interesting mix of people. The diversity of Jewish folks is captured in this brief video where we see Rabbi Moshe "Mickey" Shur's son on vocals (long payos dude).

Stango was most impressed by Arthur Kurtzweil's presentations on lyrics. He was also the keynote speaker. Stango liked that he got to the real truth on a high intellectual plane without fluff, pretense, or glamour. That's my husband for ya.

I ran the kids groups for which I received positive feedback. We made centerpiece tablescapes for the dining room tables with Duplos . We acted out a play about the parsha with the parts of Yaakov, Eisav and Hashem. We read the parsha story. We visited the goats. We ate fantastic snacks provided by Isabella Freedman. We dressed up as turtles, pirates and creative play silk creatures. We read books about being a young farmer. We played Uno and Zingo. We enjoyed Pez as a Shabbes treat which was cleared ahead of time with the program director (since I am sensitive to the healthy food vibe at Isabella Freedman; I am, after all, an advocate of drinking raw milk and eating fermented foods), though it wasn't for everyone.

photo from jkrglobal.com

Pez at a Dead show is just so much fun, so that was where I was going with that. Or just a couple of Mike and Ike's. But I don't know if the kids fully understood that this was very specific to being at a Dead show. They likely just saw it as candy.

Here are some more photos and footage.

Stango and Concealed Light at Dead Jam

Stango and The Nunever. Rodeo! Note the lovely Gucci scarf.

these guys knew how to jam! Another son of Rabbi Shur and Rabbi Jeff Hoffman

Concealed Light felt stifled that she couldn't read chords. Clearly was too tired to improvise and jam, which I know she is capable of.

And how is it that I always thought this was a Peter, Paul and Mary song?

What a success! Hope to join again next year!

Jewish Relief Agency: A Miesian Out of the Box Concept

2012-11-29T03:54:00.002-05:00

This video brings a lump to my throat.
I am so honored that I know some of the folks responsible for this amazing food-relief agency in Philly.
And I know that if ever we needed the help, we could get it from JRA.

Just tonight I was looking at a book entitled 50 Bauhaus Icons You Should Know. Not too impressed, but I always thought that Mies van der Rohe coined the concept of thinking out of the box. Didn't think my memory was shot yet, but I found little online to back myself up. Not that I'm wrong. And isn't he also credited with "form follows function"? Yet the wiki entry gives credit to Louis Sullivan. Must be my 40 year old brain talking.

JRA calls their video Beyond the Box, and I'm good with that.

But the founders of the agency are out-of-the-box thinkers, whether they're interested in the Bauhaus or not.

Lawsuit Filed Against Gay Conversion Therapy Group

2012-11-27T21:53:00.000-05:00

Chaim Levin, along with three other gay plantiffs, filed a civil suit today against a JONAH, a New Jersey-based therapy organization, claiming their methods of trying to change their sexual orientation were fraudulent. The New York Times writes, " the former clients said they were emotionally scarred by false promises of inner transformation and humiliating techniques that included stripping naked in front of the counselor and beating effigies of their mothers."

I have known of Chaim Levin for about a year now. He is doing very important work and I have the utmost respect for him. It was very recently that I ruminated over how to keep my children safe from child predators. As I told Chaim on his Facebook page this evening, I admire him for his kind, level-headed, peaceful demeanor. No one likes an angry activist (tendencies which I have and need to work on, admittedly), but Chaim is such a wonderful orator and writer. I know he will succeed no matter what the outcome. He's a real mentsch.

I do worry about how the world will view Orthodox Jews as a result of this press. Naturally, I believe this therapy is a terrible thing and that this awful experience should be given justice. Yet there are those folks who jump at every opportunity to put down Jews, especially the Orthodox ones. Don't you have a cousin who thinks that all Orthodox Jews are smelly swindlers who force their wives to shave their heads? Evidence of forcing young adults to try to change their gay orientation with quackery therapy doesn't look good. But that doesn't mean it should be kept locked up in a box. Quite the contrary, as Chaim and his co-plaintiffs are proving.

My hope is that this will ultimately help strengthen the Jewish community. And that those ~~rabbeim~~ ~~crooks~~ individuals who have gotten away with abusing innocent kids in yeshivas for years, thereby turning people away from their rich heritage, will be exposed and excommunicated. And that the vibrant percentage of our world that is gay can live in health, happiness, success and harmony. Because we all deserve to get to the Garden of Eden.

As I mentioned in the past, it is the Golden Age of Miracles, right?

The Green Bubbie and I Wish You a Happy Thanksgiving

2012-11-21T09:16:00.001-05:00

I loved the Green Bubbie's photo wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. She just took a trip out to Utah and became buddies with Smokey.

courtesy of The Green Bubbie (tm)

And now the Whole Phamily wishes you a Happy Turkey Day.

The Wolfman's Brother from 2008; handmade Turkey costume by aunt Reba

Sadly we won't be spending the holiday with Reba, my dear sister, who made these fantastic festive costumes 4 years ago.

Concealed Light, then age 5, with her aunt Reba, the best sister and aunt a girl could ever dream of!

Thankfully though, we have our special spot at the parade.
Praying that it is still accessible.

Stango at least year's parade with the cross-dressing clowns.

And we'll be missing our first cousins who normally join us at the parade. This year they are heading to a warm spot for Thanksgiving. As I told my sis-in-law, drink a strawberry daquiri. Have me in mind. I'm yotzay.

Goobers and The Wolfman's Brother, then age 4. And Spiderman.

In case you missed my Thanksgiving chocolate lollipop post a while back, I'll be so proud of my forward-thinking-ness when I bust these out tomorrow morning.

Gobble gobble!

And we of course remember our brothers and sisters in Israel who are not having it easy right now.

Had To Cry Today, Yep I Got the Faith!

2012-11-18T06:00:00.001-05:00

Looking at that subject heading, you thought I cried today? Had a g'shrai?

I'm talking Steve Winwood sang the life-changing "Had To Cry Today," the other night at The Greek.

It's already written that today will be one to remember
The feeling's the same as being outside of the law
Had to cry today
Well, I saw your sign and I missed you there

-Blind Faith

Many thanks to Mr. Bob Lefsetz who continually informs about the music industry. He heard Steve belt this one out the other day. About it, Bob says:

"it connected in a way regular life never did...so as to believe that everything truly could be right with the world, that someone got it, and if we could just go on the road with the band our lives would be perfect." -Bob Lefsetz

These are pretty powerful words. Bob knew the scene back in '60s and, from my layperson's perspective, knows the commercialized music scene today. Music wasn't just a magic carpet ride to an imaginary place, but the young music fans believed wholeheartedly that the music would transform their existence, their country, their planet. The messages found in music like Winwood's are still fresh and powerful. Maybe we're not roadies, but we can still apply these words to our daily lives. Anyway, I like my flannel sheets from the Company Store. They don't have those on tour.

Do you see or not see someone's sign and ever "miss you there"?

I wonder if Jason Flom, a music industry executive whose daughter I had the pleasure of teaching in the late '90s, respects Bob's insights. I mean, I think they're good. I think historically Jason has been a successful outside-of-the-box thinker in the music biz.

But, Jason was there, too, well, at least in the 70s. He gets the spirit of the '60s, for sure. Just don't have peanuts on your breath if you ever have the chance to meet him because he's got a severe peanut allergy. You'd know that, too, if you kept up with your New Yorker readings.

Here's an incredible preservation of Blind Faith's only live recording of "Had to Cry Today," and their first gig, to boot!

This is an important video for all peoples to view in its entirety.

Note Steve's purple shirt.
If you can groove along to this tune, we have stuff to talk about.

Stand With Israel

2012-11-16T08:26:00.001-05:00

What a week for the Jewish people and our brothers and sisters in Israel. Especially a pregnant woman. "Must be careful with the information coming out from Hamas," is what Mark Regev states. How true. I am amazed by all of the wonderful information I get via my friends' Facebook posts. This one in particular came highly recommended and is worth a watch.

Shabbat Shalom parshat Toldot.

Elmo, the Count and Sesame Street Connections

2012-11-13T10:12:00.000-05:00

Of course, the news of sexual allegations by Elmo puppeteer Kevin Clash is disturbing, and I certainly hope and pray that these are, indeed, just allegations. As you know, lately I have been ruminating about child predators and how to keep my own children safe. I remind myself of the old dictum "innocent until proven guilty."

Yet, H. Melvin Ming, the president and chief executive of Sesame Workshop assured the New York Times that, as with the passing of Jim Henson and, this year, the Count, the brand will endure after this incident.

Wait...that Count passed away?

That's right, folks, Jerry Nelson, the man who played Count von Count for nearly 40 years, passed away on August 23, 2012, at the age of 78. That makes me sad, very sad. And, how exactly did I miss that last summer?

courtesy of HLNTV.com

(no need to worry about the Count, he lives on via the expertise of Muppeteer Matt Vogel)

And, now...the connections.

Mr. Nelson debuted his character on November 27, 1972. Just two days before my birth!
And he passed away just one day before Concealed Light's birthday.

I'm no brain scientist, Torah scholar or musical prodigy but this is the kinda stuff that pretty much blows me away.

And just because this video is 1:27 in length (a number I simply love, see here for more despite that my prediction is null and void and yeah I'm ok with that), I shall share it with you:

If you thought I was gonna share an Elmo video, you gotta be kidding me.

Whole Phamily Takes the Crew on the Road

2012-11-09T12:02:00.001-05:00

In case you might have missed our most recent gig Camping with My Kids & a Whole Bunch of Jam Bands last June, you all have a second chance to join up with the Whole Phamily crew in just a few weeks!

We are so thrilled to be a part of Blues for Challah: The Second Set, a "weekend-long workshop exploring the spiritual and mystical aspects of the Grateful Dead and Bob Dylan," writes Seth Rogovoy on his Rogovoy Report. Whole Phamily is heading up the programs for children on Friday night and Shabbat morning.

In case you were wondering, my friendly friends, this is a pluralistic event, welcome folks of all persuasions (but a love of the Grateful Dead is sorta the point...). You don't have to be Jewish, but it don't hurt to be, neither. And, in case you were wondering, my frum friend or relative (yep, Heshy, I'm talkin' to you), this is, indeed a shabbaton. Just different than my 8th grade experience. I have desired to attend an event at Isabella Freedman and its affiliate Elat Chayyim since the mid '90s, living as a single working woman on Upper West Side. It is finally, baruch hashem, coming to fruition! And on the cusp of mine and Stango's 11th wedding anniversary and right after my birthday, no less. Someone is surely watching over us for the good.

C'mon Children! Shabbat Fun for Kids

Pipe cleaner creations and a fun food craft are among just the many exciting things we have planned for kids of all ages. Concealed Light, The Wolfman and the Wolfman's Brother will be there ready to have a whole lot of fun with all the kids. We'll sing classic tot-shabbat tunes, do puppet shows and read stories. We will talk about that week's torah portion, Vayishlach, in an interactive way and maybe even make up a skit about it! Who knows, maybe kids will even get to borrow their very own Pez dispensers as a shabbat treat on Friday night. Parents, just be chill with the food coloring, ok? It's 12 tiny pieces of candy! And if the goats are willing, maybe we'll take a walk over and say 'mehhhhh! So much more can and will happen. Anyone under the age of 21 who is shlepped along for this epic shabbaton is a lucky one and for sure should be grateful!

Stango will likely be found during those times in the shul, but off-the-record will be available for any brain-talk-walk therapy and of course discussion of chassidus and Jerry that folks might be interested in.

For more info, read what Seth Rogovoy wrote on his blog regarding the event.
(remember when I reviewed Rogovoy's book on Dylan?)

Or what Josh Fleet wrote in his Huffington Post coverage.

All-inclusive prices, which include farm-to-table food and wine and lodging, begin at $233 for the 2-night event. EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION DISCOUNT EXTENDED UNTIL TODAY NOVEMBER 9, 2012!

For more info check out Blues for Challah: Second Set.

Have a good Shabbes, have a good show!

Nor'easter this week...Cold, Rain & Snow

2012-11-06T18:09:00.001-05:00

My heart goes out to those folks who are still without power due to Hurricane Sandy. The conditions are unfathomable.

And now we're expecting a nor'easter in Philly? I'd rather be where those chilly winds don't blow.

Here's a little ditty from 32 years ago, almost to the date...

Baruch Dayan Emet: Larry Bloch

2012-11-05T15:18:00.000-05:00

The man who created the club the Wetlands in lower Manhattan, Larry Bloch, passed away on Sunday of pancreatic cancer, the Bratteboro Reformer reports. The Wetlands was a place that allowed me to get my own feet wet in the jam band scene. Admittedly, I didn't go nearly as much as I should have, but I knew that it was the place to be and wished I went more. Still somewhat in-the-box and not having a group of friends to venture with to Tribeca from the Upper West Side, I saw just a handful of shows in my early 20s at The Wetlands. But these shows provided a foundation from which I was able to build and grow strongly in the appreciation of live music.

Larry Bloch was a trailblazer and built an institution in a neighborhood that, at the time, was so undesirable that who knew Tribeca would become what it is today. He created a space that allowed people to learn more about two great things in life: environmental activism and good ole' fashioned rock-n-roll.

May Larry Bloch's, son of Ephraim and Miriam, memory be for a blessing.

I loved flipping to the ad section of The Village Voice and looking at the bands where were playing that week. Usually it was the Zen Tricksters. Often it was bands I had never heard of and never went to hear.

Thank you for being an enabler.
Larry enabled folks to hear great music.
Larry enabled folks to care about the earth.

These are two very good things, and for those who are in the know, you know what I mean.

Come Together, Right Now, Judæo-Tat

2012-11-04T20:44:00.000-05:00

Y'ave heard of Yiddish.
Y'ave maybe heard of Ladino.
Ya've less likely heard of Judæo-Tat aka Juhuri.

My friend Zita came to this country at the age of 3. Her family is from Azerbaijan. This is where Jews of the eastern Caucasus mountains lived. She grew up speaking Juhuri. Not Russian, as I mistakenly thought.

Neither Ashkenazi nor Sephardi: Zita is of Mizrachi descent, from a country that was Arab-ruled. Her family comes from no place of European origin: like Indian, Iranian, Syrian and other locales, she comes from a community of the East.

Having studied in Israel during college, I learned of mizrachim years ago, but it is a sad state of my affairs that I have simply forgotten about them. It has just been too long, and perhaps I have become so America-focused to my detriment. Plus, the presence of mizrachi Jews is overshadowed in the United States greatly by the prevalent Ashkenazi culture. Most Americans know about matza balls. Savvy New Yorkers (who aren't so strict with their kashrut) certainly know of the scrumptious chicken in the pot at 2nd Avenue Deli. But who knows about tchorba?

Remember when Amit Women used to be called Mizrachi Women's Organization of America? I wonder and sortof doubt that any of my new friends at the recent Amit Women Saks' event discoursed about this. Why would they? Belts and bags are a lot more interesting!

For thousands of years we have been dispersed. We have so many various cultures and customs. All this is nice and dandy, but isn't it time we just merge back together so we're just Jewish?