Jerusalem’s Tofa’ah, the world’s first all-woman Jewish rock band, continues its trailblazing tradition with the release of its 10th album. Feel the Power pushes the envelope from the opening notes of the title song to the mystical Windows on the Water that concludes the CD. This is only to be expected from a group of musicians Lenny Solomon calls “the matriarch Jewish rock band” and the Rockin’ Rebbetzin, Michele Gardner, considers “a true phenomenon.”
When Tofa’ah started – the first all-women Jewish rock-and-roll/blues/jazz band that would play only for women – nothing like it had ever been seen. It continues to dazzle today, performing for tens of thousands of women at concerts sponsored by the Jerusalem Municipality each year, as well as in smaller, intimate venues. The band's mission is to inspire women to find their voice, joy and spirituality. To that end, Tofa'ah performs for women across the entire Israeli political and religious spectrum.
The unifying purpose, the high level of musicianship and the sound of Tofa’ah remain unique in the world of Jewish music. The album journeys through rock and roll, prayerful ballads and a rousing 12-bar blues, with the band’s signature lush rhythms creating a heartbeat over which melodies dance in unexpected twists and turns.
Speaking of the power of unity, appreciating the small details, by turn stilling in a moment of raw personal prayer, or dancing exuberantly, Feel the Power may be Tofa’ah’s most compelling, intimate work to date.
Tofa’ah will be launching the Feel the Power concert tour with several large events in the Jerusalem area, planned to coincide with the Jewish holiday of Sukkot.
Av 21, 5769, 8/11/2009
The Anders Nerman Band live in Jerusalem
The Anders Nerman Band Sunday August 16th 8:30PM at the Caanan Bar at 15 Shammai Street near Ben Yehuda Street http://cnaan.rafram.org
Drumming with him is the legendary Zeev Macklin and with Jonathon "the bass" Fialka and Dov Dov on guitar - crazy talented guitarist, the line up is one of the best you'll find all summer.
"Anders harnesses the chilled out folk sounds of the Canadian West Coast and unites it with a traditional ethnic rhythm that only Jerusalem can inspire. " "Anders... he's a powerhouse of funk, rock and reggae that won't let you go till he's turned off the mic"
Anders is a singer songwriter and has written and recorded songs for the Osbornes TV show, and has cowritten music with Canadian Country Music Award Winner Jesse Farrell and Simon Collins.
Tammuz 24, 5769, 7/16/2009
Poetry Submission: Ode to my Father by Sam Green
Ode to My Father by Sam Green
My father told me, of a land, where we once live and dwelled In our hearts we will remember all our days Two rivers ran together, and be came one mighty flood We grew our food, and taught the wisdom to our young
In relative, we lived in peace and harmony Those enemies cut us down so many times My father told me, you must use your brains and not your might And put the flames out, before they rages to far
Though the Russians, had invaded his home town He join the racks, and came a captain of supply At the border he wrote home, every day That its peaceful now, and hope it will last
Then the Germans killed, and bombed six hundred miles And the army had dispersed, and gone there only way After walking back to the village, were he was born Walking three months, as a peasant man in rags
He saw, and was an eye witness, to the murder of three towns In his heart and soul he said, never again From the ashes, nechomer his Partisan, became a force And there was a one hundred thousand marks on his head
I can remember, and still proud to know this man May he rest in peace, and I hope peace is found He work so hard, for those people, all around And live and died, and became a legend of this town
May he rest in peace, and hope that peace is found May he rest in peace, and hope that peace is found
Ben Bresky is a music journalist and recording engineer living in Jerusalem. On The Israel Beat Jewish Music Podcast he interviews the latest Israeli and Jewish artists and covers a wide range of styles from Carlebach, cantorial, klezmer, Israeli trance, Mizrachi, rock, Sephardic, hasidic and everything in between. The Beat brings you live in-studio performances with up and coming Israeli musicians as well as interviews with the stars of the Jewish music world. Plus your music requests and the free CD give-away air live on the show. Past interviews have included Matisyahu, Avraham Fried, and Miri Ben-Ari. The Beat broadcasts live every Tuesday from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Israel time on Arutz Sheva - Israel National Radio.
