Todd's Thoughts

Peek-A-Boo: A Game for Adults?

2011-11-18T12:08:00.000-08:00

Perhaps it's a symptom of spending too much time with babies recently, but I have become fascinated with the game of Peek-A-Boo. It's a fairly simple concept... you cover your face or turn the other direction, then turn back and PEEK-A-BOO! There you are! My son never seems to tire of this game, and I love hearing the sound of his laughter and seeing his smile. You might be tempted to think that this is just a game for infants, but as I thought more deeply about it, I realized that there is more to this game than meets the eye.

First of all, the reason why it's so interesting to infants is that they have yet to acquire the skill of "object permanence" (learned that one in my child study classes). This is the concept that even when we can't see something, it still exists in our world. Infants just don't have that ability. If it's out of sight, it's out of their world. So they really are seeing things at every moment as though they're seeing them for the very first time. What a wonderful thing to be able to experience life in such a vivid and present way. It seems difficult to me sometimes to refresh my images of familiar things, places, people, etc. and to see them again as they truly are without any preconceptions or outdated mental constructions.

Peek-A-Boo has also taken on another meaning to me. I realize that the way that I perceive the world is a direct reflection of my own mental state and how I am being in the world. There really is no such thing as separating the object from the person who is seeing the object. Some people look at a sunset or a baby or the ocean and say... oh yeah, I've seen that a million times before. But are they really seeing it? Or is their perception being clouded by past experience? I find that when I am most present, I see myself being reflected back at me regardless of where I look. In my son's eyes (Peek-A-Boo), in the mountains I hike through (Peek-A-Boo) in the music I create (Peek-A-Boo), it is all connected and all an indication at its deepest levels of God, or nature or life itself.

When I am not being present, that is also reflected back to me in the form of unhappiness, disconnection from family and loved ones and a lack of creativity and passion in my work. That is also a peek-a-boo moment... There I am! Now it's up to me to make the adjustments to bring myself back into the present. It's not always easy, but exercise, music, meditation and time out in nature usually work for me. I think if we all played peek-a-boo with ourselves and those closest to us more often, we might actually benefit a great deal. Sometimes the most worthwhile games are deceptively simple.

In song,
Todd

Returning Again

2011-09-28T11:46:00.001-07:00

Tonight is the beginning of the celebration of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. All throughout the month of Elul, we are asked to undergo a process of self-reflection, of asking forgiveness of those we may have harmed in the previous year, and returning to the true essence of who we are at our core.

Whether or not you are Jewish, I believe that a process like this is useful at least once a year. It is so easy to get sucked into what others around us want or expect from us... our jobs, our spouses, our children, our friends, our society. Every now and then it's helpful to go inside of ourselves - to recall that innate light that dwells in each one of us.

This is our birthright as human beings. In order to be able to fully share our light with the world around us, we need to find it again within ourselves. There is a saying in Judaism, "Or zarua latzadik ul’yishrei leiv simchah" which roughly translates to: Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.

My wish for all of us is for us to live in a way that brings light to our souls and joy to our hearts... may each of you (even if you're not celebrating Rosh Hashanah) have a sweet New Year and fulfilling days ahead.

L'shana tova,
Todd

Life As I Knew It... or it it just lack of sleep?

2011-09-07T09:30:00.001-07:00

Thank you all for your support on the new album, "A Shelter Of Peace." The emails and personal feedback I have received from many of you has been overwhelmingly positive and soul-nourishing for me. You remind me why I began creating music in the first place. If you have been enjoying the music, I encourage you to share your thoughts with others and post a review of the album on iTunes, Amazon, or CD Baby. These reviews help a great deal in establishing credibility with folks who have not yet heard my music.

Since last we spoke, our baby Sander has also grown... A LOT! He's almost 4 months old now and is over 17lbs. I'm not sure exactly who the father is, but I'm sure he was very tall... (just kidding) He's keeping us very busy and awake for many hours each day and night. I have to credit my wife Karen for being the one to get up to feed him frequently... ie about every hour or two depending on the night. Here's a recent photo of the little guy:

Maybe it's being a father, or maybe this lack of sleep just lends itself to an altered state of consciousness... but life as I knew it has definitely changed. It's no longer just about me. There's this other little being that depends on me to protect him and take care of him. It is a huge responsibility, but also an amazing opportunity to pass the things that I love about life onto someone else. And in the process, I learn to appreciate them again. I can't wait to see the things he is passionate about and the person he becomes. I can already tell that he is a joyful soul, and his laughter fills our sleep-deprived home...

Some other good news to share... I was recently chosen to participate in the Start Me Up AZ Fellowship. This is a group of young professionals in the Phoenix area who are committed to making a difference in the Jewish community. The group is led by Rabbi Darren Kleinberg, founder of Valley Beit Midrash. This promises to be an exciting opportunity to create some very real engagement in our community and beyond.

I am grateful for your support. I will keep you posted on new musical offerings as soon as they become available...

In somnia,
Todd

Two New Babies

2011-06-17T23:29:00.001-07:00

You haven't heard much from me over the past couple of months, but rest assured... I've been busy! I've had two babies recently. One was human, and his name is Sander Leo Herzog. He arrived on May 9, 2011 and has been eating, sleeping, pooping and looking adorable ever since. Here's a recent photo:

The second baby was my new album, "A Shelter Of Peace." This album includes my versions of many of the prayers contained in the Friday night Jewish prayer service. It also has my versions of a couple of well-known songs, like Train's "Calling All Angels" and Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah." I am very proud of this recording and want to let people know about it. I realize that the best way for me to do that is to let YOU do that... by posting a review of the album on iTunes.com, CDBaby.com, Amazon.com, Rhapsody.com or wherever else you listen to music. In fact, this is so important to me that I am offering a FREE copy of the new CD to the first 10 people who respond to this newsletter and who promise to post a review of the CD online. Here's a recent photo of that baby:

In other news, I will be heading to St. Louis this weekend to do a concert at United Hebrew Congregation. Rabbi Howard Kaplansky is retiring, and I'll be taking part in the big send-off celebration on Sunday morning. It will also be my first official Father's Day, so happy Father's Day to all of you dads out there.

Thank you as always for your support and your positive feedback. I hope you enjoy the new music, and please feel free to drop me an email or post on FB page to stay in touch!

In song,
Todd

A Shelter Of Peace

2011-02-09T18:04:00.000-08:00

I am currently putting the finishing touches on a new recording which will be called "A Shelter Of Peace." Here are the liner notes to give you a sneak peek into the process and the motivation. I anticipate that the album will be ready by the end of March... I'll keep you posted:

When I first began the process of putting together an album for Shabbat, I had to put some time and reflection into the importance of taking some time each week to rest. At first glance, it seemed that the idea of Shabbat was outdated, a relic of earlier times. But as I looked more deeply, I discovered that this concept is more relevant now than perhaps at any other time in history. We are so glued to our computers, our Blackberries and our flat screens (myself included) that we rarely take the time to reconnect with our truest, deepest selves. And if we are not connected to our most authentic selves, then how can we be fully present and appreciate the people and events in our lives?

In looking at the Shabbat liturgy, one prayer spoke to me as really encapsulating the essence of Shabbat, and that was the Hashkiveinu prayer. In it, we ask God to spread over us a shelter of peace. Ordinarily, when we think of peace (at least for me), we think of a time when all of the chaos around us has stopped. We are lying on a beach with the waves gently crashing on the shore and all is well in the world. Unfortunately for most of us, life is not like that. There are deadlines to be met, relationships and responsibilities that place demands on us. The pace of life is unyielding. Amidst all of this activity, the concept of Shabbat appears like an oasis in the desert. It's a chance for us to release the burdens of our outer lives and to focus inwardly. It's an opportunity to recharge our souls and emerge renewed into the new week.

The image that came to me of Shabbat was the eye of the hurricane. Around this calm center, there are storms swirling. And yet, within this center... our own center... we can experience peace. In fact, the idea of creating a shelter of peace is only meaningful if we are being sheltered from something on the outside. There is no need for us to wait for the world to slow down to begin living our lives with clear intentionality and purpose. We need only to take some time for ourselves each week to unplug, to breathe deeply and to remember who we are.

It is my wish that the music on this recording will help in some small way to enhance the celebration and rejuvenation that is Shabbat. May we all lie down in peace and rise up waiting to do God's will.

In song,
Todd

ps. I will be sharing some new music of mine in Los Angeles on March 12th at 3pm during a yoga class - part of an exciting new conference called Ashkenafard. This conference, put on by Craig N Co., is a cultural celebration of who we are and where we come from featuring the best in Israeli, Sefardi, Persian and Ashkenazi music, dance and cuisine.

Facebook link:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/group.php?gid=8133219870

Event web page:
www.LetMyPeopleSing.com

Link to reserve tickets:
http://ashkenafardfestival.eventbrite.com/

New Beginnings

2010-12-07T23:05:00.000-08:00

“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end.”
-Seneca, mid-first century Roman philosopher

I've always liked this quote, and always attributed it (until just now) to Semisonic and their song, "Closing Time." The end of the year gives us a chance to review the things that have taken place and to see possibilities for the year to come. There are relationships and lives that have come to an end and others that are just beginning.

This year, I lost my Grandma Leah, as I shared with many of you on this list. What I haven't shared publicly until now is that there is a new life that is forming and that will be joining us in the coming year. Karen and I are expecting our first child, a baby boy, sometime in May. It is an exciting and intimidating time in our lives. The thought of being responsible for another human being puts everything into perspective.

There are so many things I am looking forward to sharing with my son. I know that in doing so, I will get to experience them again as though for the first time, through his eyes. It is a powerful reminder to me that I have so much to be grateful for. It is easy to become jaded and cynical and to think that life has lost its glow. But when I think of all the incredible experiences I want my son to have, I realize that this world is still a very magical place.

I am reminded of another quote... "Wonders never cease as long as you never cease to wonder," although I think that one is attributed to Ziggy (the cartoon strip character). No matter who said it originally, it is still very true. The way you look at life that determines how you experience it. I'll leave you with one last quote, this one from Albert Einstein:

"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."

In this season of miracles, I hope you choose to see life through the eyes of a child...

If you have not yet "liked" me on Facebook, I urge you to do so HERE. Thank you as always for your support!

In song,
Todd

ps. In other very exciting developments, my music is now being featured on Jewish Rock Radio, the first Jewish internet radio station in existence - the brainchild of my good friend and mentor, Rick Recht. Please visit the site and listen to the many extremely talented artists found there.

pps. Just for fun, I posted a version of U2's "With Or Without You" on YouTube. You can view it here. Let me know your thoughts, and if you have any requests for future covers, email me and let me know.

"'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

"I believe Todd is one of the rising stars in the contemporary music scene. His vocals are gorgeous as is his beautiful person and spirit. Temple Beth Avodah loves Todd Herzog." — Cantor Susan Glickman, Temple Beth Avodah

"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

Clean Slate?

2010-09-22T09:49:00.000-07:00

Most religious traditions have a practice of confessing our sins, releasing our guilt, forgiving one another and then moving on with life in a renewed way. In the Jewish religion, we just celebrated the holiday of Yom Kippur, which is designed to do exactly that. One of the aspects that I like about the tradition is that you can't just confess your sins to God and expect that everything is going to be fine with all of your friends and family. The requirement is that for sins against human beings, you actually have to ask for forgiveness before you are granted atonement.

For other sins against God however (like you didn't keep all 613 commandments every day during the past year), you can simply ask forgiveness, vow to change your ways and return to the right path, and then take action in the right direction and you will be forgiven. It's a three-step solution - returning to your highest self through prayer, repentance and charity.

We often talk about this process as "wiping the slate clean," an ancient reference to those old blackboards that we used to use in school (do they still have those??) What I remember about wiping the slate clean is that even after you erased the board, there were traces of the writing that was there before. Is it the same with us? Even when we forgive those closest to us, are there still reminders of the hurts that they have caused and that we have inflicted upon them? I believe it is possible to forgive, but do we ever truly forget?

It's interesting that tonight we begin the holiday of Sukkot, which was traditionally a time of harvest. To me, it's symbolic of the fact that even after you have been cleansed all of your transgressions, you must still reap what you have sown. Perhaps thinking about it in this way will make us less likely to act in hurtful or unthinking ways in the year to come. In any case, I wish all of you renewal and revitalization in all aspects of your lives. I hope to see you soon.

In song,
Todd

ps. As a follow-up to my last newsletter, my grandmother did pass away last month. Thank you to all of you for your overwhelming words of support and comfort.

Letting Go

2010-08-04T09:57:00.000-07:00

My grandmother is dying, and I'm doubtful that I will see her again. It is a sad moment, and also a time to think about letting go. My grandmother and I have been having pretty much the same conversation for the past 20 years or so. She asks how I am. I tell her what's going on and what I've been working on lately. She tells me that "somebody in this family has got to make it one of these days!" I ask how she is. She says, "What can I tell you, Todd? I'm getting older, my _______ hurts (fill in the blank here). It's hard for me to get around. But I don't like to complain... Then she reminds me that "whatever you do, with the RIGHT foot." And our conversation usually includes the old standard, "A person needs money, but money needs a person." I've spent years trying to figure this one out.

It is my impression that she has been ready to go ever since my grandfather died in 1980. But she is very stubborn, and despite her complaining, she doesn't give up easily. Now, it seems she has come to the point of no return. She has pneumonia again and is in hospice. They say it could be any day now that she leaves us. I know that I will miss her. And it is a reminder that I am growing older and that life must change and move on to new stages and new developments. I suppose it is also an opportunity and a chance to gain new perspective. I realize that I am now as old as my dad was when his father died.

I feel lucky to have had my grandmother this long. And I also know that in order to grow, it is necessary to let go of the life you are familiar with and venture out into the unknown. At this time of the year, as I prepare for the upcoming High Holidays, it's time to take stock of my life and to see what still fits and feels authentic and what no longer applies. It is a time of forgiveness... both of myself for having fallen short of expectations (my own and my grandmother's), and of others who, after all, are only human and are doing the best they can. Besides, holding on to negativity from the past only holds me back from becoming who I am capable of being in the world.

So, as I let go of my grandmother, I let go of those parts of myself that I no longer need. I let go of a piece of my childhood and open myself up to whatever comes next. The process is painful sometimes, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Pain is often the best tool for evolution, and it reminds me of what is truly important in life. I wish that kind of clarity and growth for all of us as we approach the New Year. Perhaps it's time for a new conversation...

In song,
Todd

Dissolving Problems Away

2010-06-01T12:09:00.000-07:00

Do you have an issue in your body or your life that has been affecting you recently? I would imagine that there aren’t too many of us out there who don’t have any problems at all. I have noticed a tendency for myself that when I have something that’s bothering me, either physically or emotionally, that I tend to tighten or clench around that area. Many times the sensation I feel in my body mirrors another larger experience that’s going on in my life. If I am closing down my emotions, I’ll experience heartburn. If I’m not incorporating lessons from my life into my daily routine, than I may experience indigestion.

Recently, I remembered a technique that I learned a few years ago when I took a class in Tai Chi. Tai Chi was originally developed as a martial art, but has been found to have great health benefits because of its ability to move energy through our bodies and relieve stress. The technique I learned was called “dissolving.” The basic idea of dissolving is to mentally scan your body for any area where you might be holding tension. Then you focus your attention on that area, breathing into it and imagining the tension being a piece of ice. As you bring more awareness to the area, you can actually feel the tension changing state… from ice into water and then from water into steam, at which point you can release it from your body.

If you agree that these physical issues can be representations of other larger things going on around you, then you can see that the technique of dissolving can be applied to almost anything that is happening in your life. Rather than shutting down and ignoring the unresolved issues (one of my personal favorites…), try breathing into the issue and facing it head on. While at first at may seem intimidating, the rewards are tremendous on many levels. By opening up to the problem and viewing it as a potential for growth, you may find new approaches for resolving the issue and the person or situation that has been causing you the most stress may end up being the one to teach you the most about yourself and about life.

In song,

Todd

Trusting The Process

2010-04-28T09:20:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but I seem to have this idea about how my life is "supposed to turn out." And then when things don't look exactly the way I think they should, I start to stress about it and try to control the situation. When I look around at nature, the trees don't seem stressed out about when their leaves will appear again after the winter. The birds don't freak out about when it's time to make their nests, and the lizards all seem to have a perfect sense of when it would be the right time to come out again into the world.

How can I be so detached from my own nature that I feel such a need to be "hands on?" Aren't I part of the same world as the birds and the trees? Wouldn't whatever universal laws that have everything else in the world functioning so systematically also apply to me? And yet it's so difficult to trust the process of life as it unfolds.

For me, the hardest part is finding the balance between acceptance and action. While I find it helpful to start my day with some time for meditation and reflection, I realize that if I am going to accomplish the goals I have set for myself, I also need to take some action. I think the moments of introspection are important because they allow me to see my life in a broader context. The activities then take on greater meaning because I feel more conscious and aware of WHY I am doing them.

And maybe that broader perspective is the key to feeling peaceful in life. We are taught in this culture especially that there should be no painful moments, no sadness, no frustration. But perhaps those are life's signals to us that we have strayed from our true nature and that we need to refocus ourselves, to take a deeper look at what we're doing and why we're doing it. Maybe the broken road is the one we were meant to walk down, and the lessons we learn along the way are the ones we really needed to experience to have a fuller sense of who we are and why we're here...

In song,

Todd

Identity Versus Inclusion

2010-03-16T13:33:00.000-07:00

It was inspiring to watch the Olympics last month. So many athletes from hundreds of countries around the world pushing one another to achieve their greatest potential. Seeing all of the different flags being waved around the stadiums made it evident that many of us feel a very strong sense of national pride and patriotism. For me, it also raised the issue of identity. When one feels such a powerful sense of "us," what does that do to "them," the outsiders in the group? Isn't the ultimate goal of the Olympics to bring people together rather than increasing the divisions between people and countries? Does having a strong identity, whether we associate ourselves with a country, or a group or a religion, necessarily mean that we have to exclude others in the process?

I've been reading two different books (at the same time) that touch upon this topic. The first is entitled Defending Identity, and it was written by Natan Scharansky, a political dissident in the former Soviet Union. He claims that having a strong identity as a member of the Jewish people made him more resilient and able to withstand the physical and emotional torture inflicted upon him. In fact, he says that he bonded with and drew strength from other political prisoners who had very strong identities, even when those identities were very different from his own.

The other book is entitled The Art of Happiness in a Troubled World, and it was written by the Dalai Lama and Dr. Howard C. Cutler. In this book, the Dalai Lama talks about the paradox of defining one's individuality while still embracing a common humanity with every human being. The Dalai Lama talks about how different cultures develop and adapt to their own unique surroundings, and that differences in language and customs are about as important as the clothes we decide to wear each day. They should be appropriate for the elements, but they don't define who we are at the deepest levels.

I like to think of each of us as being made up of different circles of identity. Rather than an either/or situation where we have to say we are either a Jew OR an American OR a teacher OR a musician, I think it might be more productive if we can picture our identities as ripples flowing outward from ourselves. Perhaps we can define ourselves as individuals, AND as members of a family, of a community, of a city, a region, a country, a world... and realize that each of us and every other human being in the world is also made up of these same layers. We might be able to respect and even celebrate our different identities rather than using them to separate us from one another.

In song,
Todd

ps. I had the honor of singing the National Anthem for my first time at an Oakland A's exhibition game this past week. Here's a link to the YouTube video:

www.youtube.com/watch

I'll be singing again when the A's play the Dodgers on Wed., March 24th at 7:30pm at Phoenix Municipal Stadium if you are in the area and want to catch the game.

Creating A Sanctuary

2010-02-18T18:13:00.000-08:00

It can be difficult to create a space in our lives that is safe enough for us to open up, to relax and to experience a connection with something beyond (or within) ourselves. For many of us, there is so much going on in our lives that we rarely have time to appreciate the stillness. If you read this week's Torah portion, it talks about building a Tabernacle in the wilderness. Very specific instructions are given regarding the materials to be used, the dimensions of the space and the way it is to be constructed.

Interestingly enough, the materials are things that were already available to the people, or that they had brought with them on their journey. The building is constructed in such a way so that the most sacred areas are deep within the structure, not even visible from the outside. Veils separated one area of the main room from another.

Aren't we each built in a similar way? We create our bodies and our minds through the foods we consume and from the sensations and information that surround us. We keep the most precious emotions and aspects of ourselves hidden from the outside, and only share them when we feel safe enough to do so. We segment ourselves into different areas such as work, family, spirituality. And when we look deep enough within ourselves, don't we usually receive the most accurate guidance and wisdom... whether we feel that this originates with God, or the universe, or simply our higher selves. It seems to me that when we can connect with this part of ourselves, we can experience "sanctuary" even during the roughest of storms.

I hope that each of us is able to experience that feeling of stillness and peace and get a sense of who we truly are.

In song,

Todd

ps. I had an amazing trip to Newton and Needham, MA a couple of weeks ago. The communities at Temple Beth Avodah and Temple Beth Shalom were extremely welcoming and it was a joy to share my music with you...

Here's a link to a video of my "Hinei Mah Tov" performed with Cantor Susan Glickman and MidraShir:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gjbLbgLoxs&feature=sdig&et=1266480398.4

No 'Right' Track

2010-01-20T10:44:00.000-08:00

I've been thinking lately about the ways in which our society directs us into particular ways of thinking and acting. Certain things are acceptable, while others are not. Values can come from many different places, such as religion, friends, families, media sources and educators. We have so many opinions coming at us at one time that it's hard to know what to believe. There is the sense though, that there exists a 'right track,' or an ideal way of living that will bring us the peace and fulfillment that we so desire. It reminds me of the song, "No Such Thing," by John Mayer:

So the good boys and girls take the so called right track
Faded white hats
Grabbing credits
Maybe transfers
They read all the books but they can't find the answers

There are certain moral values (thou shalt not kill, rob your neighbor, or illegally download music) that are important for the preservation of order in society. But other things are less clear. Is being a doctor or a lawyer really the way to salvation? If you ask any Jewish mother, of course she will tell you yes. (just kidding, Mom) We each have such unique perspectives and gifts that it seems there must be a better benchmark to determine if we are on our own 'right track.'

For myself, I have started asking the question:

"Are you doing all you can?"

This simple question gets me to focus on my own strengths. Instead of comparing myself to where others are at and feeling jealous (yes, I admit it happens...) this question brings me back to my personal journey. At the end of my life, if I can say 'yes' to this question, I will have fulfilled the purpose of my life. Yes, I wrote the best music I could. Yes, I was the best husband, father, son, friend, co-worker I could have been. Yes, I gave as much as I could to charity. Yes to whatever was truly important to me to the best of my ability. Then, I will know I was successful. Perhaps by asking this question on a daily basis, I will make my corner of the world a better place. I invite you to try it and let me know if it makes a difference for you.

If you have something that calls you to be the best person you can be, or if you'd just like to voice your opinion, I invite you to visit my blog page and share your thoughts.

I will be heading to the Boston area next week to do concerts and services in Newton and Needham. So, if you or anyone you know is back East, please come out and say hi. Check the performance schedule below for more details.

In song,

Todd

Small Adjustments

2010-01-07T22:04:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year to everyone! With this, my first update of the New Year, I thought it was important to address the topic of resolutions. I am all for taking the opportunity to look back at the past year and seeing how I can improve my habits and attitudes and be a better person in the year to come. But what I notice is that many people (myself included) are overly ambitious with their goals and then within a couple of weeks or a month, we start feeling overwhelmed and we give up on our efforts.

I started thinking about the way that pilots (or autopilots) navigate their airplanes to remote destinations. It is not a straight line from point A to point B. There are hundreds of little corrections along the way. The plane's navigation system determines the flight path and then constantly recalibrates the plane's controls based on the current location, altitude, etc. Autopilots also improve fuel efficiency and passenger comfort, since the adjustments made by an autopilot are more subtle and accurate than those made by hand. It's similar to what happens to your GPS route when you accidentally take a wrong turn. Rather than berating you (wrong turn, idiot!) it simply reevaluates the course based on your current location.

So, my suggestion is this: rather than taking on unrealistic resolutions and then beating up on ourselves when we cannot live up to them, what about making some smaller, more reachable goals along the way? Instead of "New Year's" resolutions, what about "New Month" resolutions? At the beginning of each month, we have the opportunity to check in with ourselves, take stock of our current locations, or progress, and then make the necessary adjustments... without all of the guilt and drama.

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 will be heading to the Boston area in a couple of weeks to do concerts and services in Newton and Needham. So, if you or anyone you know is back East, please come out and say hi. Check the performance schedule below for more details.

In song,

Todd

Contemporary Miracles

2009-12-15T16:16:00.000-08:00

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

2009-12-01T10:57:00.000-08:00

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?

2009-10-07T11:03:00.001-07:00

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

2009-09-15T12:44:00.000-07:00

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

2009-08-05T14:15:00.001-07:00

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

2009-07-21T22:19:00.000-07:00

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

2009-06-16T23:03:00.001-07:00

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

2009-05-23T07:19:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-23T09:58:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-09T08:00:00.000-07:00

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)

2009-03-18T16:07:00.000-07:00

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?

2009-03-04T07:28:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-19T16:48:00.001-08:00

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

2009-02-06T14:39:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-07T22:06:00.001-08:00

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.