Contemporary Miracles

During this season of holidays, parties, family gatherings and shopping, it's often easy to overlook the origins of the very things we're celebrating. In the Jewish community, it's the Festival of Lights, or Chanukah (however you want to spell it). We're celebrating the victory of the Maccabees over the evil Roman army and Antiochus. We're also celebrating the fact that some oil that was only supposed to last one day ended up burning for eight days - long enough for the Jews to keep the eternal flame in the sanctuary lit until replacement oil could be secured.

There is a great deal of religious symbolism found in this story, and we commemorate it in different ways. There are the themes of light, of the triumph of the small over the mighty, of the perseverance of faith and of the miracle of scarcity somehow being overcome through faith. We eat potato latkes and eat soufganiyot - foods that contain lots of oil. We light the chanukiyah and say the prayers. We spin the dreidl containing the letters nun, gimel, hay, and shin which remind us that "nes gadol haya sham" a great miracle happened there.

It makes me wonder, though... why is it that all of the miracles that we talk about happened in ancient history? Did God disappear for some reason? Or is it more a question of our perspective, of the eyes through which we see the world? Is it possible that miracles stopped happening because we stopped looking for them, or recognizing them when they occur? Could it be that miracles happen all the time, and that we're too busy on our Blackberrys and iPods to notice them?

I was reading a poem this morning by the Israeli poet, Zelda, where she talks about how nature provides signs of the existence of something larger than ourselves:



A light, sudden bird

prepared my soul for the song of the grasses.

There was something startling

in the blue of the sky.

I was amazed that the treetops

swayed gently

with no shadow of fear.

I wanted to flee from the white sky

but the small garden showed me signs

that His mercy had not ceased.



Perhaps by spending some time in nature, or in silence, we can learn something about our own true nature. And we will see that life is full of innumerable miracles in our own time, perhaps hidden just below the surface of "ordinary" reality.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic. If you have something to add to the discussion, I invite you to visit my blog page and let me know what you think.

I'm looking forward to spending this upcoming weekend in CT. I will be doing services on Friday evening and Saturday morning and concerts on Saturday evening and Sunday morning. Please check the show listings below for more details.

Speaking of modern miracles, my college a cappella group, The Tufts Beelzebubs, will be appearing tonight and (hopefully) tomorrow night and Monday on the NBC show, "The Sing-Off." Check your local listings. If you enjoy a cappella music, or the show, "Glee," you will definitely get a kick of this show. And remember to vote for the Bubs if they make the finals. =-)

In song,

Todd



*Please note that all "Shows" listed at Temple Solel are actually Shabbat Services, unless otherwise notated.


"'Bridging The Gap' wins Best Jewish Album of 2009 in the Just Plain Folks Music Awards!" — Just Plain Folks

"Todd's song "You and I" (peformed by saxophonist Michael Lington) reaches #2 on the Smooth Jazz Charts!" — Billboard

"Todd has the voice of an angel. His heart is pure, and he has a unique spirit that wanders into the soul and inspires all who are privileged to hear him." — Craig Taubman

"Your CD is a triumph and is easily one of the best Jewish releases of the year." — Sam Glaser, Jewish Artist

Practicing Life

It's hard to believe that we're coming to the end of another calendar year. It seems like the days just fly by. When I was younger, each day seemed to stretch on forever. I remember having a hard time going to sleep without knowing what events were planned for the coming day. These days, it seems difficult to find the time to do all of the things that I WANT to do, while keeping up with the things I HAVE to do.


I realize that one of the most important things I can do with my time is to prioritize those things that really matter to me. I just finished reading a book called "Talent Is Overrated" by Geoff Colvin. In it, he explores what the determining factors are for excellence in any given field. What he finds is that regardless of any myths we have been told about being "born with a gift" in a particular area, without exception it is those individuals who put in countless hours of practice, research and study in a given field are the ones who rise to stardom and notoriety. But beyond just putting in the hours, the type of practice that these people do pushes them beyond their current abilities and outside of their existing comfort zone. They have to be willing to fail repeatedly in order to achieve their highest ambitions.


What would it be like if we applied this philosophy to our relationships? What if we had to go beyond what we knew we were capable of in order to communicate with and support the ones we love? Or what if we applied this same philosophy to the workplace? How many of us are willing to put ourselves out there for possible failure and rejection in order to stretch the boundaries of our professional life? How much time, effort and risk are we willing to put into these areas of huge consequence in our lives?


Perhaps the more important question is: what if we DON'T take the risks needed to become the best possible spouses, siblings, parents, creators, workers, human beings we can be? Is playing it safe really that safe in the long run? I encourage all of us to think about not just the time we are putting in, but also how much of our SELVES we are putting into our everyday activities. Perhaps we would be richer for the experience...


I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic. If you have something to add to the discussion, I invite you to comment on this post and let me know what you think.


For those of you on the East coast, I will be traveling to Connecticut in a couple of weeks and then to Boston at the end of January. Please check the tour dates below for more information. I hope you had a great Thanksgiving, and I look forward to seeing you soon!


In song,

Todd

What's It Good For?

When I was a teenager and one of my favorite groups put out a new album, I would head out to the mall, get a copy of the record (I know I'm dating myself here, but yes these were the vinyl kinds that are now "retro" popular), put the album on the turntable, pull out the liner notes and start learning the lyrics to all of the songs. I would put my headphones on, or blast the music in my room and immerse myself in the sounds and the messages of the music.

Nowadays, it seems like music has to have some sort of utilitarian purpose in order for it to be worthwhile. Music, in and of itself, does not seem to have inherent value. We listen to music while we are driving in the car, working out, while we're doing our homework or having coffee with friends. It has become a "lifestyle choice" rather than simply entertainment for its own sake.

I have seen much dialogue in the Jewish world about this type of thing as well. My colleagues on the different listserves are constantly asking one another - "Do you have any good music for Sukkot?" or "What are you using for your High Holiday theme this year?" I admit that I am as guilty of this as the next person. And perhaps there are times when music rightly serves a very specific function as is the case in liturgical music.

But what I am wondering is - are there still people who enjoy stopping everything else that's going on in their lives and really focusing in on a beautiful melody or a well-crafted lyric? Or is this a symptom of something larger in our lives? Are we so busy multi-tasking that it has become difficult for us to just do one thing at a time?

I would love to hear your thoughts on this topic. If you have something to add to the discussion, I invite you to visit my blog page and let me know what you think.

I hope you are all having a relaxing and thoughtful week, and I look forward to seeing you in person sometime soon...

In song,

Todd

The Power of Music

Recently, I had the privilege of taking part in the Just Plain Folks Music Awards. I went to the Wild Horse Saloon in Nashville, TN and joined 600 other musicians and industry veterans in a celebration of a widely diverse collection of music, spoken word and instrumental songs. Over 42,000 albums and 561,000 songs were submitted for consideration. I am proud to say that from among this wealth of talent, my 'Bridging The Gap' album was named Best Jewish Album for 2009. And my song "Give Me The Strength" came in #3 in the Best Pop Song category. Beyond the wonderful feeling of recognition for much hard work, this particular awards process means a great deal to me because of the one question judges are asked to answer:

"Does the music move you?"

A deceptively simple mechanism for screening material, but one that gets at the heart of what music is all about for me. The question of whether the song is a "hit" or whether there is a "market" for the material is secondary to the power that music has to create lasting and profound change in its listeners as well as for its creators.

I would like to share with you another piece of positive feedback I received recently that means as much, if not more, to me than any award. It comes from a parent of one the preschool students at Temple Solel where I do music on Thursday mornings:


"One important element in our decision to choose Solel for our daughter's care, was the varied stimulation the children receive each day. However, Thursday stands out as "the big day" in our daughters life at Solel - and that is because she gets to dance, watch, and listen to you! I cannot tell you the difference in her personality when I pick her up on Thursday afternoon - she is giggling and full of smiles (and I'd swear she is playing an air guitar).

Todd, that is result of the time you provide to the pre-school children and your super personality and talent. I am confident the other children enjoy you as much as (our daughter) (although I think she may be your biggest "little" fan!)"

To me, this type of feedback reminds me of why I became involved with music in the first place. Music is such an amazing vehicle for conveying the emotions and appreciation of life that are so often difficult to put into words. I am very aware of the awesome responsibility that this power carries with it, and try to do my best to always use that power for good.

I wish all of you a very uplifting and musical week. To those of you celebrating the Jewish New Year, a Shana Tova u'mtukah!

In song,
Todd

Timeless Melodies

Last week I attended a conference called Mifgash Musicale on the campus of Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, OH. It was a great opportunity to meet other synagogue musicians, to learn new melodies and to delve more deeply into the liturgy and traditions found in the Jewish religion. One area of study that I found particularly interesting was the concept of 'nusach.'

Nusach is the system of musical modes used to identify the particular service or time of year. There are different melodies for each of the festivals, for Friday night and Saturday morning services, and the mode even switches from one part of the service to the next. The idea was for someone just walking into the room to know exactly what time, and what time of year, it was. As we know, music has an amazing power to connect us to one another, to our emotions and immediately transport us back to that time and place where we first heard it. Remember that junior high dance and listening to 'Stairway to Heaven?' Or that party where all your friends shook on the floor to 'Shout?' Or maybe it was the song you shared with your college sweetheart.

Music is one of those unique gifts that makes us human. I encourage you to listen to music that makes you feel good and reminds you of good times, past and present.

In song,
Todd

Leaving Traces

Last week I had the opportunity to visit St. Louis to be the artist-in-residence for the Jewish Community Center (JCC) day camp. I worked with kids from ages 4-14, taught them some of my music and had the chance to interact with the community in St. Louis. I had a great time and met a number of new people. I also was able to sample some of the local culture - like tasting Ted Drewe's custard, visiting the downtown area near Washington University, eating at some local restaurants and driving through the neighborhoods that make up this wonderful city on the banks of the MIssissippi and Missouri Rivers.

As the name of the town suggests, it continues in the tradition of the French settlers who claimed this area. The names of the streets, the style of the architecture represent a legacy that has descended through the ages. It made me think about the way that the language and culture that surround us really impacts the way we see the world. The words we use express unique ideas and play a large part in shaping who we are. Can we use our words to create the type of world we envision for ourselves?

This ties into some ideas from a book I am currently reading - Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell. In this book, he talks about how cultures pass down values and traditions from one generation to the next. He explores why some people are wildly successful, while others toil in obscurity. A large part of the success comes from hard work (10,000 hours in a given discipline to be precise), but there are historical and social factors factors which also come into play. Perhaps by becoming aware of the traces of our own heritage, we can bring these things into our consciousness. We can build upon the strengths of our past and hopefully learn from the mistakes of our ancestors to achieve whatever success looks like in our own time and culture.

In deep thought,
Todd

ps. I wanted to share some good news: I am currently nominated for 9 awards (in 6 different categories representing songs from 3 different albums) in the Just Plain Folks Music Awards. This is a wonderful organization which hosts the largest awards process in the world, and I am honored to be among those nominated. I will be heading to Nashville at the end of August for the awards ceremony... so wish me luck! To find out more, please visit www.jpfolks.com.

http://www.reverbnation.com/toddherzog

The Illusion of Individuality

How do we know ourselves in life? There is so much pressure, especially in Western society, to be "an individual," to "stand out from the crowd," and to "get noticed." Siblings take on different roles in a family because one niche was already occupied. Instead of striving to be more ourselves, we end up struggling to be "NOT someone else." We confine ourselves into limited self-portraits that narrow our experience of life. Our own perceptions create invisible fences that prevent us from dancing in public, skydiving, taking a computer class, or any other activity that might not fall into the category of "this is who I am."

When I work with young people on songwriting and composition, I talk about the difference between originality and authenticity. I tell them that there is no sense in trying to do something "original" just for the sake of being different. It might be different, and it might also be really bad... and on top of all of that, it might not even reflect the truth of who you are. And by the way, "who you are" is a moving target. Being authentic means paying attention to what feels true and right on a day to day and moment to moment basis.

The irony of all of this is that we are all already uniquely individual. Like snowflakes, no two souls in the world are exactly the same. We all have something to contribute to the world in some small way. So, if we can delve more deeply into the truth of who we are rather than trying to just be different from everyone else, we will actually end up being different from anyone else! And in the process, we will live our lives in an authentic and deeply fulfilling way.

I wish you laughter and learning along the way,
Todd

Appreciating The Ordinary

It is often tempting to judge life based on peak experiences and recognition received. We are pushed by advertising and the media to be consumers - to always want more of everything. We are not successful until we have achieved "the American dream." So why is it that so many who have supposedly accomplished this goal are so unhappy in their daily lives?

In my humble opinion, it is because those things that we are looking for - those awards, those bonuses, those big screen tv's - make up such a small percentage of who we really are and how we really spend our time. Most of life is waking up, brushing our teeth, taking out the trash and spending time with our families and co-workers. So, if we are not able to appreciate those "ordinary moments," we will never be truly happy. Now, don't get me wrong - it's not that I don't also appreciate the finer things (I've been bugging my wife for years about getting that big flat screen tv). It's just that in the midst of my consumer greed, I realize that there are things much more important than that, and that ultimately those things are not going to fulfill me.

I encourage each one of us to continue digging beneath the surface of the everyday to find the things that really matter. Sometimes the hidden treasure is found in those things right before our eyes.

Be well,
-Todd Herzog

http://www.reverbnation.com/toddherzog

PS. I wanted to let you know that I will be participating in a very special event in the Phoenix area next Thursday, May 28th at 7pm at Congregation Beth Israel in Scottsdale. There will be a community choir concert featuring Cantors Jaime Shpall, Peter Halpern and myself as well as many extremely talented singers and instrumentalists from the community. The choir will be conducted by John Massaro of the Metropolitan Phoenix Opera Company and will include excerpts from the Bloch Sacred Service, pieces by Lewandowski, Andrea Jill Higgins, Peter Halpern and others. It promises to be an enjoyable evening for all.

Counting Our Days

It is during this time of year, between the second day of Passover and the festival of Shavuot that we count the "Omer": 49 days between the Exodus from Egypt and the receiving of the Torah at Sinai - a journey from slavery to redemption. By counting the days between these two holidays, we are connecting these two experiences and remembering the difficulties that all people have endured over our history.

I have mixed feelings about the idea of counting our days. On one hand, I understand that this is meant to be a period of mourning, a measure of respect for the past. But does the counting take us out of the present moment? Are we living our days as T.S. Eliot says with measured “coffee spoons?” Are we so caught up in the counting that we are not able to be present in the moment? Or is it the counting that forces us to be cognizant of the limitations of our time? In short, are we counting our days in order to make our lives count for something?

I prefer the latter interpretation. If we felt that our time was without end, what would be the motivating force for us to accomplish something with our lives? Isn’t it scarcity rather than abundance that gives something its value? If gold could be found under every rock, would it be selling for $900 an ounce? Perhaps it is because we realize that our days are numbered that we are truly able to appreciate the laughter with our friends, the fleeting beauty of a sunset and even the times of sadness. All of these things remind us of the opportunity we have to be alive, in this time, and in this place. I hope that not just during the Omer, but at all times, that we choose to make our lives count.

Be well,
Todd

Let All Who Are Hungry Come and Eat

Tonight marks the beginning of the celebration of Passover in the Jewish tradition. There is a saying that we should “let all who are hungry come and eat.” It is a mitzvah (commandment, good deed) to invite a stranger to your Passover seder. During the meal we recount the story of the Exodus from Egypt. It is a story we are all familiar with, and yet each year we find something new to focus on and hopefully find meaningful within the course of the meal.

It is a celebration of freedom. And as with any Jewish celebration (besides Yom Kippur) it involves food. Just as there are many ways to define freedom, there are an equal number of ways to define food. Are we filling ourselves with junk food and shoving it down on our way to our next activity? Or are we eating healthy things and savoring each bite? Are we spending our time on meaningless conversations and empty rituals, or are we giving ourselves the things that will truly satisfy us?

Whether you are celebrating Passover or not, I hope this night is different from all others. I hope that we are able to celebrate with friends and family. I hope that we are able to open ourselves to those around us and to new experiences. And most of all, I hope we choose to fill ourselves with the things that make our lives healthy, spiritual and whole.

Be well,
Todd

My Wife The Vigilante (Do NOT Try This At Home)

I wanted to share with you a story about my crazy, albeit very althletic, wife and business manager, Karen. Please note that this email is subtitled "Do NOT Try This At Home," as I do not recommend this tactic to any of my readers.

A couple of weeks ago, Karen was having coffee with a friend of hers at a local Starbuck's. The shop was located in a decent neighborhood, and it was mid-afternoon. She sat chatting with her friend as they drank their lattes, relaxed and enjoying the Phoenix spring weather. She was on her way out to the barn to ride her horse, so she was dressed in her riding pants and boots. Her purse was looped over the back of her chair.

As they finished their drinks, a young man came up behind Karen, said something to the effect of "I'm sorry" and then proceeded to grab her purse off the back of her chair and then ran off across the busy street. Most people in this situation would have yelled something after the guy and then called the police to handle the matter. Not Karen. She took off after the perpetrator, all the while screaming at the top of her lungs: "He's got my purse! He's got my purse!" Her intention was to call a great deal of attention to what was happening, and she succeeded.

She followed the thief across six lanes of busy traffic. Miraculously, neither one of them was hit by a car. He ran into an apartment complex with Karen trailing him slightly. They ran all the way to the back of the complex when Karen yelled out to the mail carrier who was delivering letters to the complex. "Get him! He's got my purse!" The mail man tossed his bag over his shoulder and proceeded to tackle the purse snatcher, who by this time had already dropped Karen's bag out of fear and surprise. Two other passers-by jumped on top of the guy and they held him down until the police arrived.

Apparently, all the yelling and screaming had been effective, because there had been about 9 calls to 911 from onlookers and drivers who had seen the pair running across the street. When the police arrived on the scene, they seemed surprised to have actually apprehended the criminal. And they looked at Karen with a sense of wonder and admiration.

I heard the story after the fact, and would not have believed it if it had been anyone else telling it to me. I felt somewhat sorry for the young pickpocket, as he had obviously messed with the WRONG woman. Since then, Karen has heard many lectures on how she should not have done what she did... but at the end of the day and since I know she's okay, I am secretly proud that my wife is such a bad-ass. And the streets are just a little bit safer now...



In song,
-Todd Herzog

What does it mean to be free?

I had an interesting conversation today with some students at a local Jewish high school about the meaning of freedom. We discussed what freedom looks like on an individual basis as well as what it looks like in the broader context of society. Some students felt that freedom was simply the ability to do whatever you wanted to do without fear of repercussion. Others felt freedom could be defined on many different levels and that it meant different things to different people. Most felt that true freedom was more than simply hedonism.


"Freedom is not merely the opportunity to do as one pleases; neither is it merely the opportunity to choose between set alternatives. Freedom is, first of all, the chance to formulate the available choices, to argue over them -- and then, the opportunity to choose."

C. Wright Mills

We raised the question of whether there was a difference between the "experience of freedom" and the freedom to act and express yourself in whatever way you chose. After all, can't freedom be experienced within the walls of a jail cell or in an open field? At the end of our discussion, we agreed upon one thing: that true freedom involves transcending the borders that confine you - whether they are physical, emotional, psychological or political. Or to put it another way:


"Ultimately we know deeply that the other side of every fear is a freedom."

Marilyn Ferguson



The discussion is still a work in progress, but it has inspired me to look into my own life and the way that I experience freedom. I wish you courage in probing into your limitations and finding a way to break through whatever restrictions are holding you back from a greater sense of freedom.

In song,
-Todd Herzog


http://www.reverbnation.com/toddherzog

Finding Our Bliss

Dear Friends,

I was thinking about what to share with you today, and in the process I was searching through some quotes online. One of my favorites was this one from Benjamin Franklin:

"Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of."

It made me think of how often we treat life as if it is a dress rehearsal for "the real thing." Once I get the best job, the perfect relationship, when the economy finally picks up, when I get my degree...THEN I'll be happy! But aren't these all just excuses we use to avoid being happy on a daily basis? It doesn't seem to make sense. Isn't being happy what we're all searching for? Why would we want to avoid it?
For me, I think the answer lies not in the fact that we don't want to be happy, but that we don't always look in the right places for that happiness... which brings me to another quote from old Ben Franklin:

"Happiness depends more on the inward disposition of mind than on outward circumstances."

Some people can have no money, be going through an illness, be dealing with physical or emotional hardships in their lives, and yet still have a smile on their face and a positive attitude. I got an email today from a friend who lost his job recently. Instead of feeling sorry for himself, he realized that he finally had the free time to pursue his passion of photography - something he had wanted to do for years. He was able to transform his loss into a gift, not just for himself, but for everyone around him.

My wish is that each one of us is able to celebrate the opportunities we are given from day to day. I hope we can realize that what at first seem like a personal tragedy may in fact be the hand of destiny gently guiding us to an even greater adventure. And may we all recognize the true happiness that already exists in our lives.

In song,
-Todd Herzog

http://www.reverbnation.com/toddherzog

PS. "You And I," a song I co-wrote for smooth jazz saxophonist, Michael Lington, is now at #2 on the Smooth Jazz Charts. Let's keep our fingers crossed for #1 in the coming weeks!

PPS. You may notice the new look of my newsletter. It is also reflected in my new website design which you can find at www.toddherzog.com. The design was done by Juliana Swenson at Studio Lapis (www.studiolapis.net) and programmed by Jason Lehman at Jazepromedia (www.jazepromedia.com).

PPPS. Once we hit #1, then I'll REALLY be happy! =-) just kidding...

Turning Over An Old Leaf

Next week marks the celebration of Tu B'Shevat in the Jewish community. It's our version of Arbor Day, and is sometimes referred to as the New Year of the Trees. It is not just a celebration of trees, however, but a celebration of the creation of the Earth and all its inhabitants. Many schools use this holiday as an occasion to teach students about environmental consciousness, about recycling and about taking care of the environment. We plant trees in public parks and in Israel and have a special seder to celebrate the holiday.


For me, Tu B'Shevat is about all of these things, and it is also a recognition of our connection... both to the Earth and to one another. As our awareness grows about things such as global warming and environmental pollution, we begin to recognize how our actions impact those around us. We as individuals have a wonderful ability to create change within our own circles, and these circles in turn can radiate out to larger circles. We can use this ability to create positive changes which can have far-reaching results in our community.


Take for example the phenomenon of Facebook. Many of us didn't even know what Facebook was until relatively recently (myself included). Now, all of a sudden we are reconnecting with people we haven't spoken to in 20 years or more. Just yesterday, my wife received an email from a childhood friend she had lost touch with since she moved away from their neighborhood back in high school. And to top it all off, she lives right here in Phoenix. They have plans to get together again in the near future... talk about the magic of the internet!


All of this connection made possible by one person, who knows another person, who knows another person sharing information and history in the tangled web of life. I have no idea what possibilities the future holds in terms of technology and evolution, but I know that people coming together with a common goal and working as one will play a huge role in shaping that future... for better or for worse.


-Todd Herzog
http://www.reverbnation.com/toddherzog


PS. My new children's album, Everyday Blessings, is now available online atwww.cdbaby.com and will be available shortly at iTunes and many other online retailers. Stay tuned for more details...

A New Year, A New Way Of Thinking

The New Year has just begun, and already there is a lot of sobering news that we are hearing about on a daily basis. For me, hearing about the deaths of innocent civilians in the Israel/Gaza conflict is very difficult to bear. I feel caught between two worlds. On one hand, as a member of the Jewish community, I am very supportive of Israel and what it represents as a homeland and a place of safety for the Jews, who have been persecuted for thousands of years.

At the same time, I don't always agree with everything that the state of Israel does. It seems to me that if we continue the same strategies to counter terrorism in the world - ie. military solutions - then we will continue to create anger and hatred between people. It is said that the definition of insanity is continuing to do the same thing over and over again while expecting a different result.

Most disturbing to me in all of this is the extremism found on both sides. The conflict has degenerated into an US and THEM dispute. I saw a disturbing video on the internet of a Muslim woman in Florida calling for the Jews to "go back to the oven," a reference to the Holocaust. And I have been to a rally where a Jewish official called for the "extermination of Hamas." On the other side of the spectrum, I have heard of a coalition of Israelis and Palestinians who believe that there is a peaceful alternative to the violence that is taking place in their region.

My own opinion is that as soon as we lose sight of our shared humanity and begin labeling the members of another group with broad stereotypical brands, then we have already failed in our efforts to bring about a resolution. Even if there is a "winner" in this war, it will create a "loser" who will someday try to take his vengeance on the other side. The only true solution will come through stubborn and persistent negotiation, against all odds, and surpassing all "realistic expectations." It will only come about when both sides in this conflict realize that to continue in the ways of the past will only cause unbearable damage to future generations.