“Tzuri”
by Alan D. Busch

Teach me to be whoever I am.
Share the secrets of Your sage text.
Shape me into a vessel for thy purpose serve
my portion may I merit in the next.

Your mitzvos guide me along the path,
chasing them lest I lose my way.
I endure by the strength you provide me,
the depth of my soul I deepen each day.
How frail was I when You formed me,
into my nostrils a soul You did breathe,
fault me none too severely when I lapse
from this world when you call me to leave.
My fabric is torn I do need it mend
I sew but to no avail it doth seem.
Strengthen my stitch with resilient thread
let my life’s fabric be “le’orech yamim".
Alan D. Busch

7/20/09

Tzuri - my rock
mitzvos - commandments
le’orech yamim - for length of days

A wedding prayer for my friends whose names are Noam, "pleasantness" and Tehilla, "praise".

To submit your poetry of Jewish and / or Israeli content send an email to bbresky@israelnationalradio.com with the subject line: Poetry Submission.

Press release

Tofa’ah Releases 10th CD
www.myspace.com/tofaah

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.

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

25 shekels or 20 shekels for students

www.myspace.com/andersnermanband

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.

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


Sam Green (c.) 2009-02-07
http://www.mrmusicman.com

Today I stood on Masada
As the sun began to rise.
A reflection
of a reflection
Of G-d's eyes.

My toddling steps must have pleased Him
As he played for me that morn,
On the granite reeds of the Moab
A soft tune on the judgement Horn.

Ian Heiss

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To submit your poem of Jewish and/or Israeli content email bbresky@israelnationalradio.com with the subject line: Poetry Submission.