* This was the first learning theme song I wrote for Temple Sholom of Chicago, back in fall 2014. I had been thinking a lot about this text from Deuteronomy 30:11-14 during my job interview process as I prepared to graduate Hebrew Union College, and how I wanted to make Judaism accessible and not some far-off thing that didn’t seem relevant to life today. As it happened, I was assigned to chant the Torah portion containing this phrase for Yom Kippur that fall, and it seems all signs were pointing to embracing this text for my first learning theme as Director of Lifelong Learning.
* This song features a duet with Beth Reinstein, a member of Chicago Sings who was the songleader for both our Gan Shalom early childhood center and our Makom 20/30s monthly Shabbat services. Beth is currently at Cantorial student at Hebrew Union College in NYC. She was my daughter’s guitar teacher, as well as mine, and performed at my son’s 3rd birthday party. Many of the songs for this album were originally written on guitar, which was only made possible by Beth’s lessons.
* Rabbi Donald Rossoff, interim senior rabbi of Temple Sholom of Chicago in 2019-20, is also featured playing flute.
GRATITUDE REFLECTION: What’s something simple you could do today to get closer to the person you want to be?
from
Attitude of Gratitude,
released January 21, 2022
Music & Lyrics by Jay Rapoport
Copyright Maxfun Music 2014 (ASCAP), all rights reserved
www.ruachrock.com
Vocals, Piano, Fender Rhodes: Jay Rapoport
Vocals: Beth Reinstein
Flute: Rabbi Donald Rossoff
P Bass, Guild CV-1, Martin D35, Guild 12, Airline slide, Ancient 1850 classical guitar, Gretsch, Brian Moore I2p solo, Ukulele, Mellotron Flute, Vocals: Zach Singer
Drums: Walker Adams
Jay Rapoport & Rabbi Donald Rossoff recorded by Andy Shoemaker & Jason Schmidt at Rax Trax in Chicago, IL
Beth Reinstein recorded at home in NYC
Zach Singer recorded at Star Guitar Records in Austin, TX
Walker Adams recorded at home in upstate NY
Graphic Design by Rick Lupert
Executive Consultant Cantor Ross Wolman
Produced, arranged & mixed by Zach Singer at Star Guitar Records in Austin, TX