Rahel: Home
B"H
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If we can find peace within ourselves we can create Peace throughout the world! - Rahel
Award-winning Israeli-American singer-songwriter and performing artist, RAHEL is the quintessential “Ambassador of Jewish Music”, from ancient to modern. A working musician hailing from Lexington, Massachusetts, Jerusalem and Maaleh Adumin in Israel, and currently living in New Hampshire, she performs anywhere and everywhere as a soloist, and with her band, ROOTES, works closely with a bunch of very cool Rabbi’s as their sidekick, occasionally posing as one of them when they are not there, conducts profoundly inspiring healing and meditative concerts and spiritual services, is an expert on working musically with babies and young children, teaches Hebrew to anyone interested in learning to speak in tongues, and has fabulous recordings and very cool T-shirts for sale!
JEWISH FOLK MUSIC FOR PEACE
Hebrew songs, chants and meditations engage an inner quest that inspires expansive thinking and open discussion to raise new awareness and consciousness, build bridges, and create peaceful relations and connections between peoples and communities.
Book Rahel for concerts, presentations, alternative healing and meditative services, and for workshops, seminars and training courses on working musically with babies and young children.
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Considered a cornerstone of Israel's “Anglo” folk music scene, Rahel performed regularly at the "Jacob's Ladder International Folk Festival" and in folk clubs during her extended twenty-two year residency in Israel. Judi Ganchrow writes in FolkNotes, Israel's folk music publication,
“Rahel is a virtual cornerstone in the folk music scene. She has created a mature and modern sound with its sometimes driving rhythms and sometimes gentle sounds. The music sounds so very smooth, so very modern, and even ‘hot’. There are hints of jazz, Middle East blends, further East mantras.”
A woman who follows her own path, Rahel has been paving new roads for many years. As a founding member of Israel's original all-woman band, "Tofa'ah", her music impacted a new generation of creative women who have carved a niche in the world of Jewish music by and for women in Israel. The Jerusalem Post, concurs;
"It's nice to see Jewish music being made by women who are trying to be spiritual in their own ways."
Back in the USA since 1998, Rahel’s unique sound is turning heads. Drawing on the wisdom well of ancient, mystical and spiritual traditions that have merged out of Israel and the Middle East, Rahel is building bridges with beautiful and compelling melodies, chants and meditations that define her intriguing folk-infusion-world and transformational music. Inspired lyrics in both Hebrew and English reach deeply into the Psalms and Mosaic wisdom for both poetry and enlightenment. Rahel's award-winning songs inspire and uplift as they move you from the familiar to the new and from the simple to the profound.
Turning her musical attentions towards alternative and complementary health therapies and the healing arts, Rahel studied Vocal Energy with Israeli Natural Healer, Astar Shamir, creator and founder of the "Voice-of-Light System"; at the NY based "Music for Healing and Transition Program", and became a certified hospice worker playing music at bedside for the ill and dying. Beloved Arlene z"l succumbed to cancer in 2007. Rahel received these kind words from Arlene’s sister after her passing;
"Thank you for sharing your gifts with my sister. She was blessed to have you come into her life. You had such an enormous impact on her in helping her find how Judaism fit into her life. You filled a void in her life that no-one else could, not just as a teacher, but as a compassionate bearer of peace, comfort, faith, spirit and friendship. After your visits she was always happier and genuinely uplifted. She loved when you sang and she repeatedly played your CD. You were a significant help to her peace of mind. People like you are rare."
Rahel is immersed in the study and practice of JEWISH HEALING. Her debut solo CD, “Time Passes By” features songs that inspire all ages and faiths. Rahel’s masterful guitar work supports her beautiful soothing vocals as she sings in both Hebrew and English. Julia, aged seven thanked Rahel for the music;
"You sing beautifully; makes my heart feel good."
In 2004 Rahel released her landmark 3-disc CD and GRAMMY entry, "TIKKUN"; a profoundly unique musical work that features verses from the ten healing Psalms of the Tikkun HaKlali - The General Remedy" revealed by Rebbe Nachman z”l in the early 1800’s. Rahel’s compelling melodies sung in Hebrew are interwoven with the inspirational countermelodies of the oud, sitar, guitar and bass arrangements. Rahel is a member of the NH Council on the Arts (Arts in Health Care; and Traditional Arts and Folklife), and the "New Hampshire Jewish Art Connection”. Phyllis Thomas of the NH Telegraph comments on the music of "TIKKUN";
“The music beckons, invites you to sit down, listen a while, let your thoughts float.”
Tracy, a participant at a "TIKKUN" concert agrees,
"The concert was amazing. It was wonderful to slow down; to connect to myself and to the spiritual world around me. The music was so beautiful, powerful at times, awakening at others. I didn't want the concert to end. It was such a healing experience."
Rahel has been working musically with babies and young children since 1986. She founded the Israeli branch of Barbara Cass-Begg's "Listen Like Learn Association" and established "Your Baby Needs Music" classes in mishpachtonim (family day-care) and pre-schools around Israel. She conducts workshops, seminars and training courses, and often collaborates with Dr. Betsy Diamant-Cohen, founder of the “Mother Goose on the Loose” early literacy program. Amongst the subjects covered are: Building Repertoire, Songs, Rhymes, Fingerplays & Lullabies, Liturgy, Instruments & Props, Movement & Dance, Arts, Drama, Poetry, Books, and the Musical Development of the Young Child. Rahel has released a number of well loved recordings in Hebrew and English for children: "Your Child Needs Music", "Kit & Caboodle" (with Betsy Rosenberg), and "Listen Like Learn with Mother Goose on the Loose" (with Dr. Betsy Diamant-Cohen).
Featured performances at CAJE, Hadassah, the National Havurah, JCC's and Federations, and at venues around the USA have inspired comments from colleagues, students and listeners;
"I love your music. Your music is beautiful and you really make an impression on a lot of people." – Sam Glaser
“Your songs are beautiful.” – Fran Avni
"Your songwriting is unusually good. I mean really GOOD." - Michael Kates of the "Baal Shem Tones"
“Cool tunes” - Bruce Burger of “RebbeSoul” and also featured lead guitarist on the upcoming CD
