“I want to sing like the birds sing, not worrying about who hears or what they think.” -Rumi

Finding Ways to Connect

A couple of years ago, I was creating a Spiritual Care workshop for Arab, Jewish, and Russian health care workers in Israel, and was challenged to find spiritual teachings that are universal and inspiring. I had read Rumi’s poetry years before during a serious study of Persian classical singing, and had always felt that his words awakened my soul in very direct and trans-formative way. After becoming religious, and moving to Israel, I had lost touch somewhat with his work, but the moment I returned to his startlingly clear, mind-blowing way of expressing the Soul’s search (and find), I was struck by these melodies as if by lightening. They commanded my total focus and attention, and they just kept coming, one after another. The songs have been resonating within me ever since. I have sung them many times, in many places over the past few years, and they have an expansive and trans-formative affect on me, the musicians I play with, and listeners, who become part of the music by singing along to the cyclical, heart-centering chants.

Starting to Record

I began recording at Onyx Studio in Rosh Pinah, with the amazing Shahar Kaufman, who suggested that we tune our instruments to 432 tuning instead of 440, a tuning that is known to create a special resonance and healing harmonics. The album is based on an initial live session, so the music has this living, breathing quality that doesn’t often come through in a studio recording. The best Israeli musicians, such as Shye Ben Tzur, Oren Tzur, and Ayal Luman have brought their incredibly sensitive musical instincts and expertise to these songs, and more musicians are slated to take part in this project once I have the funds to continue, including Yael Deckelbaum, creater of the “Prayers of the Mothers” healing movement, which fosters peace between women that transcends religion, culture, and national identity. The Rumi album combines East and West in an organic, seamless way, with ethnic instruments, plus a traditional rhythm section. In producing the album, I got as far as I could on my own, but now I am turning to you for support in finishing, publishing and publicizing this music so that it reaches every person who knows, or will discover, that he or she belongs to Rumi’s Caravan.

My Journey As A Musician, and Exactly What I Plan to Do with the Donations

I have been dedicated to the creation of original Jewish music for the past 20 years. Now, with this album of Rumi’s poetry in English, I have a chance to reach an even wider audience, and to share my unique form of vocal expression, that thousands of people have found healing and heart awakening.
Like most people, I don’t like asking for help; so I am asking for your support. Everyone knows that the world of making music has changed so much in recent years. CD sales have dropped. And despite my having put all my resources into making this album, I have come up short and need to reach out to you all. Besides additional recording costs, the funds from this campaign will cover mixing, mastering, printing and online marketing to get this music on iTunes, Spotify, and ever other digital platform, as well as creating the materials to get the music and my message out to the media, and create an amazing video as a vehicle for that purpose. I have learned over the years of being an artist, that the creation of the music is only step one. In order for people to benefit from the songs, they have to have access to them; this budget covers all costs, from where I am now, until the final steps of publication and post production. I will be very careful with your donations to make sure that everything goes towards the goal of making music that is worthy of Rumi, to the best of ability. I have experience with producing 10+ original albums, plus the help of the best music professionals in Israel and beyond. Most of you who know me know that I am a single mother of three, supporting them on my own through my income as a musician, singing teacher, and the work that I do providing personalized playlists of favorite music to elders through the non-profit, Music & Memory. I really can’t to this on my own, and I thank you from deep in my heart for your generosity helping bring this project to fruition.

Bringing Healing on Many Levels

There are so many ways this music can benefit the world. First of all for every person who hears the songs and is reminded of the Heart pulsing within creation. So much of our world is focused on what separates us as individuals, as nations, as men and women. But at heart we have so much commonality; it is my hope and prayer that these songs will be part of the healing force in the Universe that helps to humanize and reveal our common ground as the sub-set of humans I call Rumi People. There are many of us. Just read a few lines of Rumi’s poetry to find out if you are a member of this tribe. We can sing these songs together. I envision festivals and gatherings where we can come together to share the hopes, dreams and visions that unite us; in song. This music is also going to be good for healing treatments, meditation, and prayer. Rather than a frontal listening experience, the music surrounds, enlivens, and also rises from within each of our hearts and souls. All are welcome. As the poem says,

“Come, come, whoever you are. Wanderer, idolater, worshiper of fire. Come even though you have broken your vows a thousand times. Come and come yet again, ours is not a caravan of despair.” -Rumi