How Good Is It?
Craig Taubman has just released “How Good,” a collaboration between leading voices in praise music. The recording on the Craig ‘n Co. label features 14 songs. Taubman’s Friday Night Live, CD released in 1999, is credited as the catalyst for revitalizing instrument-based Shabbat celebrations around the world. Taubman reached out and collaborated with friends and fellow musicians Debbie Friedman, Alberto Mizrahi, Josh Nelson, and Michelle Citrin in an effort to share his excitement and love of Jewish music.
You Tube sensation Michelle Citrin (“20 Things To Do with Matzah,” “Rosh Hashana Girl”) simply stated that she was involved “because singing harmonies with Craig Taubman is truly one of my favorite things to do.” Added musician Josh Nelson, who is currently composing the music for the Broadway musical version of Sleepless in Seattle, “Craig’s music is a central piece of the American Jewish experience. I’m excited to have been a part of recreating and reimagining them for today’s audience.” Alberto Mizrahi shared that “Combining tradition with modernity seems to be the obvious portal to prayer for the 21st century Jew.”
Behrman House is releasing its new Siddur, How Good – A Family Shabbat Prayer Book as a companion to the new CD and American Greeting Cards will feature “New Beginnings,” a song from the recording as part of its Chanukah greeting card campaign.
“How Good” can be found at www.craignco.com, iTunes, and in gift stores, and Temple shops across the country.
Need Some Words?
Yontifications, Jewish holiday wear by Susan Fischer Weis, announces its newest addition – sterling silver word charms. The “Words to Live By” bracelets are arriving just in time for Chanukah. Each bracelet can be made to order with any color beads.
Susan Fischer Weis, who has been a freelance graphic artist since 1981, began specializing in the field of Judaic art two years later. Her two-dimensional works include ketubot and greeting cards. She has authored and illustrated six Jewish interactive children’s books and has written and illustrated Create Your Own Jewish Calendar for children from 1999 to 2008. Other gift items made by Yontifications include necklaces, earrings, pins, talit clips, wine class markers, and golf accessories.
To see the entire collection, visit www.yontifications.com.
Can You Tell Me How to Get…?
Middle East meets West with some special and furry guests in “Shalom Sesame,” a new series from the creators of “Sesame Street.” Featured are American and Israeli celebrities Debra Messing, Achinoam Nini, Mira Awad, Jake Gyllenhall, Christina Applegate, Greg Kinnear, Debi Mazar, and other top talent.
Grover and celebrity host Anneliese van der Pol travel to Israel to meet new people and learn new things in the 12-part DVD series co-produced by Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit organization behind “Sesame Street,” and Israel’s Channel HOP. Designed to bring the vitality of Jewish culture and tradition as well as the diversity of Israeli life to American children and their families, each 30-minute live-action and animated DVD focuses on storylines drawn from Jewish cultural traditions, highlighting lessons on Hebrew letters and words, unique sites in Israel, and Jewish values.
Each CD is $14.95 and can be purchased from Sisu Home Entertainment Inc.: (212) 947-7888, sisu@sisuent.com, or www.sisuent.com.