The Jew Spot

The couple, with two very different styles, have produced a sound I’ve never experienced before yet can’t get enough of. They call it “Biblegum Pop” which the band admits the term has received a few groans, even accusations that it somehow cheapens what they are doing. “Either way, we like that it’s gotten people talking,” they say.

Integrating Torah thought to dance beats with Eurythmics feel , the two aren’t nervous to push one another’s limits. Check out our interview with Stereo Sinai below and see why we’re talking about them, too.

I read that you orginally came together to write a lullaby for your rabbi's newborn son. Did you know at that point that you had something amazing? Did you think it could be something bigger than a one-shot deal?

"Gideon's Song" became the first Stereo Sinai song, but we had written and performed together as different duos for a few years before that. But yeah, when we finished that song we really loved the sound. I think we knew there was something there.

There was something special, fun, about combining this pop music, where everything is so shallow and synthetic, with biblical verses, which have this inherent depth. We liked how they played off one another, and how they synthesized. So we played with that sound with other verses, and the idea evolved, and it's still evolving.

With so many influences in your music (Pop, 80‘s dance, Sonny and Cher, Torah), what do you keep in mind when writing? How do you stay focused and true to your sound?

Alan: Wow. Those are some huge questions. Songwriting is inherent to both of us, but definitely different for each of us. I’m at a place where I believe that the best lyrics have, arguably, already been written. By Hashem. In the original language. So when I write for Stereo Sinai, I’m trying to keep that in mind.

Davening and niggunim have an influence - these are meaningful moments that speak to us. But the defining Stereo Sinai sounds are the production style and our vocals, and that's what keeps the consistency from song to song. It's always us.

Your music incorporates a lot of powerful concepts from Torah. What is the one idea from Torah that resonates with each of you most, and why? How does that play into your music?

Miriam: I feel kind of a connection with my biblical namesake. Miriam is totally outspoken and impetuous, and it gets her into trouble. But it also creates these rich moments. After this harrowing experience of crossing through the Sea of Reeds, she picks up her axe and leads the women in song. I love that the Torah acknowledges that there are certain moments that can only be fully expressed, or fully experienced, through music. When I sing, or play, or write, I want to be like her.

Alan: The Torah concept that resonates with me the most is actually mitzvah #613 in Sefer HaChinuch. Hashem commands every Jew to write a Torah scroll. In many ways, it’s the culminating commandment. The best part is the verse from which our sages derive the mitzvah, Deuteronomy 31:19. Hashem says, "And now, write for yourselves this song and teach it to the Israelites - put it in their mouths - in order that this song remains a witness for the Israelites." The Rabbis equate the word “song” with Torah here. Hashem is a songwriter, and the Torah is Hashem’s song. As a songwriter, I think that’s pretty awesome.

What do you believe came first - Torah, music or love?

Miriam: Phew, ummm... I guess I won't do the whole it's-not-fair-to-separate-them-cuz-they're-all-interrelated thing and go with love. The other two are dependent on the existence of love.

Alan: I believe that music came first. Hashem brought existence through sound. Whether that’s the Big Bang, or when Hashem spoke “Vayehi or,” or that they were both the same thing, it all started with a sound.

As a couple who sing together, do you find the songwriting process more or less challenging? How do you work together?

Miriam: Writing used to be really, really difficult. We have completely different approaches to songwriting. I'm more spontaneous, and I rely more on inspiration. I have a hard time "deciding" to write a song, and once I've started, I feel like I have little control over where it's going to go or what it's supposed to be about. My first draft is usually my final product.

Alan is more methodical. He has a concept in mind from the beginning and he works it through, over and over, tweaking and adjusting, until the song fits his vision. They're both valid methods, but they're coming at it from totally different ends of the spectrum. I think we work best when one of us approaches the other with an unfinished project and we complete it together, rather than trying to force something from the beginning.

Alan: I agree. Some of our songs are credited much more to one of us than the other, but I think our best work is the stuff we mostly collaborate on. That’s what keeps me challenged and wanting to continue writing with Miriam.

Your music and narration was featured on G-dcast. Tell us about that experience.

Miriam: That was the fastest we have ever written a song together. Matthue Roth, a crazy-talented writer and good friend of ours, approached us about the project and we were so thrilled. The first two narrations had been spoken word, but of course we wanted to do a song. Part of the assignment with G-dcast is that you need to include a "chiddush," a new insight. So I wrote the lyrics from Sarah's point of view. Meanwhile, Alan had been working on music entirely separately. It was a total coincidence that the two fit together so well, and we produced the final product in about a week.

Where would you like to see your Biblegum Pop band 5 years from now? What would your headline say?

Miriam: Well, it'll be a lot like the end of "Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey" where Wyld Stallyns play this concert that saves the world. That's all I ask.

Alan: (To Miriam) You set your goals way too low. Five years? Come on, we can do that in three, tops.

Last Question: What would you say the best thing about being married to your partner in crime is?

Miriam: I think it's really helped us grow both as musicians and as a couple. We're always learning from and about each other. In order to make good music, we've had to learn how to step out of our own comfort zones, really push ourselves, and try to understand the other's musical language. It's a challenge, and we argue, and we make mistakes, but we also laugh a lot.

Alan: That’s what it says on our ketubah, actually. “Partners in crime.” Actually, the best thing about being married to Miriam is that she constantly amazes me. Including her musical talent. I honestly couldn’t imagine doing this project alongside anyone else.

... And there you have it. Love really does make the world go round. So if you want your music to kick ass, make it with the one you love. Thanks Miriam and Alan.

CNN online posted a collection piece of the "New Jews" movement featuring everyone from Heeb Magazine to G-dcast.com. It's pretty apparent that there's a new way to do Jewish - and I wonder what that means for the establishment? Can Jews now skip Sunday school and listen to some Punk Torah instead? I love this quote by the way from front man Patrick A: "When I'm on stage screaming, hitting my face with a microphone and pouring beer on my head, at least I'm singing about the Torah," said the 26-year-old founder of PunkTorah, an outreach effort to inspire Jewish spirituality.

Read the entire article at CNN HERE. Thoughts welcome and appreciated.

How many people today google “genocide,” “holocaust” or “rape camp”? With changing journalism comes a changing agenda. Yet New York Times Reporter Nicholas Kristof, single-handedly, is still pushing stories of genocide and women’s inequality to the front pages.

When filmmaker Eric Daniel Metzgar set out to follow Kristof on his stories, he realized this film is as much about the art of journalism as it is about compassion, and suffering. He let the story tell itself which led the audience to meet people in the greatest suffering, in the deepest anger, and with the saddest stories. And that is what Kristof wanted, because one person’s story can provoke compassion and maybe bring the issues alive.

Today, it is unbelievable to think how we got here. There are 5.4 million dead in Africa’s genocide over the past five years, and 1.4 currently misplaced in Eastern Congo alone. Twenty two militias are in battle in the region, in a place with absolute no law and order. Rape is not a crime, in fact it is what militia do during battle. In this case, it’s a battle that never ends or clocks out. Kristof has written 60 columns addressing the genocide, alone.

“If it’s happening every day, it should be written about every day,” said one journalist in Reporter. “Imagine, during the Holocaust, saying ‘Oh, there was 20 stories written about the extermination of the Jews. It’s redundant.’”

One way to fight the genocide is with militia and guns, said Kristof. Another is with notebooks and pens. “And that’s what I do,” he said, bringing two students with him – Leona Won and Will Okun – to travel as eyewitnesses in the Congo.

The CONGO

The Congo is a land where 22 militias are at constant battle especially among the most fierce, the Hutus and Tutsis. After fleeing the Rwandan genocide, the Hutus fled to the Congo reliving a same kind of fate there.

Kristof and the crew spent, at one point, time with Nkunda – a warlord on the side of the Tutsis – where they got to see their church and even stayed for dinner. “We love G-d too much,” said one militia.

After attempts to fight peacefully, Nkunda formed a rebel militia. “In Africa, we have no human rights. Only strong rights,” Nkunda said. “I’m not a warlord. I’m a liberator.”

They all believe they are liberators, as told in the film. All trying to create order, and justice, in their own way through murdering and raping others.

“It was unbelievably eerie to eat with people who caused so much suffering in the Congo. But it was the best meal we had since we got there,” Metzgar said.

THE WRITING PROCESS

It was said that if it were not for Nicholas Kristof, the world would not know of Darfur. Kristof was the first to put it on the map, and continues to push the agenda. He has covered women’s issues including sex trafficking for almost a decade now. His work has been acclaimed with two Pulitzer awards. How does Kristof get us to care?

Kristof has a habit of reading the psychology of compassion. He has learned that people are far more compassionate when they see one girl in need on a television screen, or hear of one death, than when they see or hear of even two people. Then it becomes a statistic; then our minds lack the ability to comprehend that.

Kristof’s art is in telling the story of one person to bring systemic change for all. That one person is who Kristof calls his “Rokia,” the person whose story can illuminate the massive conflict. Everyone warranted a column, Kristof said. But he was still seeking the saddest story, even though saddest stories exist whether he writes them or not, Metzgar said while capturing the hunt for Kristof’s Rokia.

Take that one person’s story and multiply it by 4 million – and then you have a fuller story of what’s really taking place. Kristoff is famed for his piece “Save the Darfur Puppy.” If people are unmoved by the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of humans, maybe they will care about a puppy, he decided.

The film incorporated beautiful still snapshots taken by student Will Okun to coincide with the stories, and luckily, student Leona Won knew medicine enough to help a 40 year old woman, under 80 pounds, get to a hospital to find out her infections were incurable. Kristof interviewed that woman who could barely speak on the way there.

HOW DO WE HELP?

Actress Mia Farrow, now involved with UNICEF, said Kristof’s column on Darfur “Tore me apart and rearranged me.” Hearing about what is going on, seeing it, reading it rearranges most of us, for deep down we are unbearably human. Some issues are too great to deal with. What is it that we can possibly do? Building a school, as said in the film, isn’t helpful when militia return and burn it down. Giving instructions to the people isn’t helpful. But, Kristof says, we can listen more and speak up more.

Ruth Messinger, President of American Jewish World Service who hosted the film premiere at HBO Studios, sat on panel after the premiere alongside Eric Metzgar and Nicholas Kristof. What can we do? She said we can read newspapers more and keep journalism alive. We can start and continue to talk about these issues. We can get involved in organizations that help keep this agenda front and center and continue to write to our leaders that we want to see action.

As a journalist who is most passionate of all about the 60 to 100 million young girls and women missing to the sex trade -- girls who die in their early 20s to aids or get their eyes gauzed for being resistant -- Kristof tends to break his journalistic boundaries and even “buys” girls in order to return them to their homes. This model of what we can do says we can do anything; that we should do anything in our power.

“I think this is true compassion,” Metzgar said in the conclusion of the film referring to Kristof’s desire to create change by telling these stories. “If Nick didn’t think he could do this, he’d probably given up by now.”

During the Q&A session that concluded the premiere, Kristof said he likes traveling light. He prefers not to make plans and instead maneuvers around in as much secrecy as possible to prevent any likeliness for kidnap. Not only did he bring two students with him this time, but a camera crew is “really not my style,” he said. With all the gear that was brought, Kristoff joked he was tempted to hand over the crew to General Nkunda. But ultimately, Kristoff said, “I care about the story. If Eric can do that [bring alive this story], then I’m willing to have on an extra twenty boxes of supplies.”

The event was sponsored by American Jewish World Service Global Circle. For more information about the Global Circle, please visit http://www.ajws.org/get_involved/global_circle.html. For more information about Reporter, please visit www.Reporterfilm.com.

Regina Spektor was darling.

With a classical piano and two violinists, Regina transformed the Union Square Barnes & Noble and made it her own under the “Upstairs at the Square” series, performing alongside author Kurt Anderson. Intertwining excerpts from Anderson’s new book Reset and bestseller Heyday, Regina shared moments of her personal life moving from the former Soviet Union, to her musical career, but first starting with her new single “Laughing With.” The crowd fell silent until the last key.

“I wanna hug you, baby,” shouted one guy to the stage, making a bashful Regina blush and laugh.

Answering a few questions from the moderator, Regina spoke of how she pictured America to be like the Jungle Book before she moved here at the age of 9, and how it wasn’t until the age of 15 that she heard female vocalists for the first time, introduced to Joni Mitchell and Ani Difranco via a mixed tape, and thought that she maybe could do that, too. Transitioning from a classical pianist to a singer/songwriter, Regina admitted she had her doubts.

“You go from playing Mozart and Chopan to your own crap,” Regina said. “Does anyone need this music? There’s so much wonderful music out there already,” she would tell herself.

But thankfully for her, and for the sake of her music, she stuck with it.

Anderson commented on how it’s a time like this, when people are forced to recognize what truly makes them happy and what they really need in life, that proves a talent such as Regina Spektor made it based on her talent and worth. Commenting on the current economic situation, reading from his book Reset, Anderson said, “This is the end of the world as we know it. But it’s not the end of the world.”

Regina performed three more songs for the night, including “Blue Lips.” She commented on New York City as a singer and songwriter, saying that just walking outside we experience a lot of emotion; cannot walk by and not notice heartbreaking things and beautiful things. It’s not going to be just an easy-going day, she said.

“When you’re writing, there are just so many stories here. It’s the place to be,” Regina said, and finished off with a song from her album Soviet Kitsch, “Us.”

Watch the full event at www.BarnesandNoble.com.

Niles Goldstein is famous for taking Judaism back to its roots: tradition, rebellion, mysticism and G-d. His last book Gonzo Judaism showed us the exciting, provocative and exhilarating parts of being Jewish and living Jewish lives. Now Niles get’s a littler more personal in his new book, The Challenge of the Soul, where his part memoir, part soul-help book proves that G-d really does give kudos to the badass.

All about using adversity as opportunity, Niles mastered a black belt in karate, founded the New Shul in Tribeca, and is about to move in on one of many new, exciting directions. What we may have lost as a culture, and what Niles attempts to do in his new book, is remind us that spirituality, and G-d, exist and exist everywhere we let it in. It’s up to us to tap into it for strength.

“We must accept that life is, fundamentally, a mystery,” Niles says in The Challenge of the Soul. “Our ability to respond effectively to that mystery, rather than becoming paralyzed by it, helps to define us.”

A self-proclaimed Gonzo rabbi, Niles takes teachings from all sects of Judaism and other world religions to reinforce that the purpose of religion is not to restrict us, but to develop us and let us live greater, not smaller, lives. The purpose; the goal in life? To inherit a balanced, and seeking, soul.

We sat down with Niles to hear more about his life, soul search and yetzer hara, evil inclinations.

Press has called you the “Bad Boy Rabbi.” I don’t know you well enough to say if that‘s true. Does the label resonate with you? Why, why not?

If that means, I’m unethical, then I’m not comfortable with that label. But if by “bad boy,” and this is what I think they meant in the article, that I didn’t play by other people’s rules, I was willing to push the boundaries, I broke a lot of people’s presumptuous stereotypes, I was hard drinking, womanizing, and liked to push the envelopes in ways that most ordained members of the clergy wouldn’t -- in that sense, I don’t mind being called a “Bad Boy Rabbi.”

Your new book, The Challenge of the Soul, is entirely immersed in G-d, spirituality, self-work. How much do you think these concepts will resonate with people in today’s world? And was this a fear of yours in writing it?

If they’re opened, they’re going to get it. What I’m offering is a challenge. I would challenge even your assumption. I think you’re 100 percent right, in the area of religion, that people don’t want to do the heavy lifting, they don’t want to do the work. But in other areas, going to the gym or starting up a business, people are willing to put long hours in those areas. So I would challenge the assumption that we live in an era that people don’t want to do the heavy lifting. I would challenge a culture, and the men and women lazy in this area, and I would say Why the hell are you not willing to invest the same kind of time into working on your soul? And if you’re not, I would say you are really missing the boat.

The first line in the book is from Hobbes: Human life is nasty, brutish, and short. The second line is, so the f*ck what? The real question is, if that’s true, what do we do next? Starting with that assumption and acknowledging that difficult reality, what do we do next? That is what the book is about.

In this book, you talk about your path through martial arts and rabbinical ordination which appeared to be an obvious path for you. Not all people are so certain about their direction. How were you?

To remain confident in my decisions, and in my passions and pursuits, was accepting the fact that I was surrounded by uncertain ambiguity, and at times, moments of very, very serious doubt and questioning. I had to make that leap -- in a spiritual and physical sense. Some people spend their life at best taking baby steps. Then they are at their 80s and 90s and about to die, looking back in regret. That is one thing I resolved never to do. All the pervasive fear of my own mortality was the galvanizing force behind all of this. While I think I am a pretty confident person, and the book is about how to become confident and be bold in the face of adversity, I am very much in fear. How do you embrace fear without letting it paralyze you? That is the core of the whole book.

What is one teaching you encourage readers to take from your book?

One teaching, common to every thing I have written and sermon I’ve given, is that despite life’s uncertain ambiguity and moments of real terror and challenge, there is light at the end of the tunnel. It is possible to mime courage and strength from within even in face of all that adversity if we have the right mindset and if we have developed the right skills. That takes patience, humility, study. I think that’s really the key.

If we accept as a given that life is uncertain, rather than sitting paralyzed at that awareness, through patience, belief and faith, learning from others and humility, we can still develop the strength and the skills we need to continue to grow. None of those things are going to go away. Growth ends when we succumb to fear. Or to sense of hopelessness. When you’ve lost hope, you really lost it all.

What is one Jewish teaching or teacher you take with you wherever you go?

I think you could guess, if I had to reduce it to one, the Kotzker Rebbe [a Hasidic leader in Poland born in the late 1700’s]. He understands the darkness so well. His teachings are on the mark. His insights are short, aphoristic, so powerful. HE would be the guy. He was so aware of how damaging our ego could be with our ability to move forward and grow and how it could serve as basically a wall to prevent G-d from entering our lives.

His teaching: Where is G-d? Wherever we allow G-d to enter.

G-d is everywhere. The burden is really on us, not on G-d. It’s about opening up, allowing ourselves, scary as hell, to become vulnerable and opened. And then transformable things can happen to us. Not just in spirituality but other areas of our lives as well.

How does it feel to have testimonials from Rabbi Zalman, one of the most respected modern-day kabbalists, calling you an “insightful guide,” or editor in chief of ESPN saying, “When Jacob wrestled with the angel, he could have used Niles Goldstein in his corner…?”

After nine books, like a lot of other authors, you learn not to take praise too seriously and not to take criticism too seriously.

To know I could touch the life of someone who is a secular sports writer as well as someone who is a modern day kabbalist is a very cool thing. To know that someone, who makes it his business to write about sports, really resonated with what you wrote and respected what you wrote about religion meant a lot. These are two different kinds of people, two different stages of life, two different backgrounds, and both found meaning in this book. Obviously as an author I’d like to reach as broad an audience as possible. That meant a great deal.

What’s next? After scaring off bears, an affair with a bi-polar Mormon, feeding the hungry in Chechnya and starting up a shul? (All on record in The Challenge of the Soul.)

[Laughs]

As I transition away from the congregational world, I am working on several projects right now looking to strive and have national impact on religious and spiritual life on America and the world. I’m continuing to write. In December, heading to Peru with my brother and father. One of my dreams before I die is to visit Iran.

You can find Niles’ new book The Challenge of the Soul for pre-order on Amazon. Let us know if it meant anything to you. Comment or write to us at FindMyJewSpot@gmail.com.

Goes to me! Yours truly. Unfortunately, I wish it were under less "creepy" circumstances.

Heeb Magazine, a self-proclaimed take-no-prisoners zine for the plugged-in and preached-out, gave The Jew Spot the shout out for our two lovely posts on Shaindy.com (see below).

In regards to these articles, Heeb states , "If you’re going to be a pervert, please have the decency to be an honest pervert, and not a creepy one skulking around behind your spouse’s back. And if a website dedicated to cheating is creepy, a website dedicated to Orthodox cheating is creepy squared. Or cubed."

Amen. Read their salute to me here. If you missed what the heck we're talking about, read the following:

Meet Shaindy.com
Unkosher Sex: Underneath the Shaindy scandal