Jewish rock with story songs adapted from the Tanach, and original, modern, singable liturgical songs.

10 MP3 Songs in this album (42:33) !
Related styles: SPIRITUAL: Jewish Folk, ROCK: Rock & Roll

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Details:
Let it Happen, the second studio album from Jeremy Gimbel & Shira Tirdof, presents two meaningful sides of Jewish music. The first half -- "Side A" -- includes five songs that each tell a story. "Salaam Achshav" is about our need to stop merely talking about peace and working together towards our common goals. "Only Start" is a ballad of the possible unrequited love between Eliezer, Abraham's slave who finds Isaac a wife, and Rebecca, the future wife of Isaac. "Joe's Blues" is what Joseph would have sung if his brothers left him with a guitar after they abandoned him. "Make it Through" imagines what was going through Miriam's mind right before the Israelites crossed the sea out of Egypt. Lastly, "By A River" is a melancholy song of the Israelites' emotions after the destruction of the Temple. The second half -- "Side B" -- includes five songs that are musical settings of Jewish prayers. "L'cha Dodi," "Eitz Chayim Hi," and "Adon Olam" are upbeat and fun versions of classic prayers. "Sh'ma" and "Elohai N'tzor" are slower but bring out the emotion of the prayers. All of these melodies are easy to sing by yourself or with a group. Listen and try to open your mind to the possibilities these stories and melodies possess. Let it Happen.

Jeremy Gimbel is the youth director & song leader at Congregation Beth Israel in San Diego and was most recently the head song leader at URJ Camp Newman in Santa Rosa, CA. He also song leads for various synagogue functions and NFTY events throughout California. He was the 2004-2005 NFTY Religious and Cultural Vice President and is the editor of "Birkon Mikdash M'at: NFTY's Bencher." He graduated from the University of California-Davis with a major in political science and a minor in religious studies. Jeremy formed his Jewish identity through his involvement with NFTY, as a camper at URJ Camp Newman/Swig and URJ Kutz Camp. His sister Becky is also a past NFTY-Board member, and his parents Joanne and Ken raised him to be a mensch.

Shira Tirdof, meaning "song shall you pursue," is a Jewish rock music group that focuses on setting Jewish text, culture, and philosophy to original melodies that speak to a modern audience. Jeremy Gimbel, a nationally acclaimed song & youth leader, and Brad Lennox, a camp counselor & Jewish music educator, collaborate to create and teach singable tunes perfect for camps, youth events, and synagogues. Shira Tirdof formed at URJ Camp Newman in 2005, and is on the cusp of the new sound of Jewish music. Brad is from Calabasas, CA and is currently a student at the University of Las Vegas, Nevada. Jeremy is from San Diego, CA.

Brad Lennox is a URJ Camp Newman unit head, religious school teacher, and a Jewish music educator. His love of music and Judaism has taken root from his experiences studying and traveling in Israel and participating in numerous choral productions. Brad is now a student at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, while preparing for future adventures in life. While his Jewish education came from many synagogues, Brad considers Temple Beth Shir Sholom in Santa Monica, CA, to be his home. Brad has a loving sister, Stephanie, and mother, Diane, who are supportive of all his accomplishments.