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 producers, and her music is used in worship in congregations throughout the US. Sue's latest folk CD, Notes from the Garrison, was recorded in Boston. She also has spearheaded a Hope and Healing music project that has raised over $16,000 for cancer causes. She has performed at numerous conferences, venues, homes, and congregations throughout North America and most recently was spotlighted at NERFA's DJ's Choice Concert, playing for fellow folk musicians, and music industry professionals. Publications include the URJ Ruach series, the CCAR's Hagaddah, Shalshelet, Chazak V'Ematz/Jewish Songs of Protest and Hope, WCN's Kol Isha, and Hebrew in Harmony, and she has been a finalist in the Just Plain Folks songwriting competition.  Sue has been involved in the Kesher Shir writing collaborative as well as yearly writer's workshops with Dar Williams and David Roth; She hosts and leads songwriting workshops including the Jewish Songwriting Collaborative Retreat, now in its second year. Consistently hearing rave reviews,  Sue's warm engaging presence and spiritual music captivate worshippers and audiences of all ages.

Sue's YouTube Page 
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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 (SongLeader Bootcamp), and host of 2 Jewish Rock Radio shows (Artist Feature and Jewish Camp Rocks), Charlie’s soul shines whenever he leads.  

Pioneering generous gear and instrument donations, Charlie worked to transform the camp library into “The Lab”, Camp Hess Kramer’s first ever fully designated music space. Enabling campers to explore their musicality in a fresh environment, the creation of “The Lab” culminated with CHK’s first inaugural Rock Band. Charlie established a thriving youth choir culture with 3 different age groups at Temple Israel of Hollywood (1st-3rd, 4th-6th and 7th-10th grades). This year, co-leading the Teen Chavurah at SLBC, Charlie is more present in the Jewish world of song than ever as he unlocks and activates the potential of each community he leads.  

Released in September 2017, Charlie’s debut EP, We Will Overcome maps out personal and global struggles with comforting, spiritually-driven sing-along anthems. With the music of We Will Overcome, Charlie hosted a Gathering for Change- combining concert, social action projects & fundraising together to benefit change-based organizations & communities in need of healing. During one Gathering for Change, Charlie and Temple Israel of Long Beach raised over $1,000 for Hurricane relief in Puerto Rico!! All proceeds (Every Dime!) of We Will Overcome benefit Planned Parenthood and The Ricky Martin Foundation.

Charlie's YouTube Page
Charlie's Spotify
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Charlie's Website

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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 – a collaboration with Grammy-winning producer, Ben Wisch. Elana has served on the faculty of both Shirei Chagiga in London and the Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion in New York, working as a teaching artist in the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music. In addition to her work as a guest Artist in Residence for communities across the United States, Elana worked in the Friday worship ensemble at Central Synagogue for 13 years. She has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, Tanglewood, and perhaps most memorably, five separate appearances at the (Obama) White House.

Elana's YouTube Page 
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Elana's Website 

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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 Page
Jason's Spotify
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Jason's Website

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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 with her extensive musical background, Abbie leads all music programming at her synagogue. 

Along with her Temple Israel role, Abbie is a renowned songwriter and performer, regularly sharing her music with communities across the US. Singing at Carnegie Hall at 18 and most recently The Memphis Grizzlies NBA game, she also frequently sings at notable Jewish events, such as the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) Biennial conference, Songleader Boot Camp, and NewCAJE. As an Emerging Artist on Jewish Rock Radio and a featured PJ Library musician, you can find her music everywhere.

Abbie's YouTube Page
Abbie's Spotify
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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. 

Shimon's life is filled with music. He is the head Songleader and Cantorial Soloist at the Daniel Centers for Reform Judaism in Tel Aviv Yaffo, where in addition to leading musical Shabbats and holiday services, he also teaches hundreds of Bar and Bat Mitzvah students every year. 

He is the Songleader for the Jewish Agency Summer Camp Shlichim seminars, as well as the  co-head of music for the IMPJ 2018 conference, Noar Telem (NFTY) Israel and Netzer Olami. Shimon is also called upon by the Israeli Reform and Conservativemovements to perform at protests regarding human rights, equality, race and gender. 

After serving as an officer in the IDF for 5 years, Shimon was a Shaliach (Emissary) for the Jewish Agency in Alabama for 2 years and a proud graduate of the Rimon School for Music and Jazz (Berkley affiliate) in Ramat Hasharon. 

Shimon was the Bass singer for the A-capella variety show The Voca People for 7 years, and is also known for his Hebrew voice dubbing of well known cartoons such as Hefty Smurf and Scar from the Lion Guard (seriously)...

Shimon's YouTube Page
Shimon's Spotify
Shimon's Facebook
Shimon'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, 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 Page
Ahavat Hinam's Spotify
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Ahavat Hinam's Website 

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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 curriculum of Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion, and is featured by Jewish Rock Radio & PJ Library. A member of the Jewish A Cappella group Six13, JSK believes in music’s power as a community-builder. He tours the country singing with multi-generational communities and using Jewish music as a tool to educate and engage the next generation of Jews. Find out more about Jacob and his music at www.jacobspikekraus.com.

Spike's YouTube Page 
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Spike's Website 

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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 It Down-a combination of her secular and spiritual writing which was met with critical acclaim. 

In 2015, Beth became the Bunzl Family Cantorial Chair at Temple Sinai in Atlanta. There, she fuses her love of liturgy and music production skills into creating dynamic worship experiences for the 1400+ family, URJ flagship congregation. 

Beth loves being a mom to her daughters, Hannah and Sarah,  and her dog, Chester.

Beth's YouTube Page 
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Beth's Website 

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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 rock online radio station! Rick is also the Executive Producer of PJ Library Radio. Recht is the Artist in Residence at United Hebrew Congregation in St. Louis, MO.  

Recht enjoys hiking and spending time with his wife, Elisa, and sons, Kobi and Tal.

Rick's YouTube Page
Rick's Spotify
Rick's Facebook
Rick'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.