Sam Glaser
Issue No. 70
June 2015

California Dreaming  

 

Hope you are all doing great.  LA's June Gloom seems to be abating and the recent blue skies are making it harder to stay indoors!  I'm getting ready to head out on my California-based summer tour with shows in LA, Limmud San Francisco, Mosaic Law in Sacramento and a Shabbaton at the High Sierra Music Festival.  Then I'm off to New York, Boston and to Hartford for the annual NewCAJE Jewish educator's conference.  I will be travelling with my wife on our anniversary weekend to my shows in Asheville and Boone, NC, both of which are quaint towns that I'm told will offer a romantic ambience for our celebration.  Finally I'll wind up in Denver where I'll be performing and teaching workshops in tandem with my brother Yom Tov. Yes, we will be spending our days tearing down the Rocky Mountain trails on our full suspension downhill bikes! 

 

We are now booking November and December shows and all of 2016.  Can you initiate a meaningful, musical Sam Glaser weekend for your community?  Let me come ROCK your world on my Rock Your Life Tour!  By the way, I'm excited to announce that I will be leading High Holiday services at Beth El in Yardley, PA.  Looking forward to a spirited yom tov and to seeing all my Philly friends! 

 

My weekdays have been jam-packed producing albums, scores and music for apps for a wide variety of clients.  Keep your ears open for great new Jewish albums from the likes of Josh Warshawsky, Bryce Megdal, Ashira Hamilton, Rabbi Yaakov Gruen and a super talented teen female singing group from Orange County. Got any music inside of you that you are burning to record?  Summer is the time to get it started...no more excuses!

 

Thanks to all of you for davening for my dad during his recent multi-level back surgery.  Yes, it will be a long road back but I'm happy to report that last week he went to a Dodger game!  Please enjoy my commencement speech written for my son Jesse's recent high school graduation.  The fact is that they asked me to sing the national anthems but in the interest of time, asked me NOT to give the speech.  You'll find it in all its undelivered glory below. 

 

I wish all of you a happy, healthy month of Tammuz.  Yes, we are entering the period of "lessened joy" as we approach the Three Weeks and our annual day of mourning, Tisha B'av.  But lessened joy still means that we live with joy nonetheless!   Be joyful!  Be in touch!  Buy Jewish music!   Shalom.

Towards the Dawn  

The reviews are in: 

 

I'm happy to report that my classically inspired collaboration with concert pianist Sha-rone Kushnir is touching hearts around the globe.  Towards the Dawn picks up where the first Edge of Light album left off: over seventy minutes of spiritual renditions of my most meaningful songs in a simple, dramatic piano, violin and vocal setting.  Order yours today!

 

"I just finished listening to your new CD. To say it is great is the understatement of the year. It is a collection of amazing renditions of your songs. It is pure delight. Every song is special, every song is moving, every song is uplifting. And then, to wrap it up, Blessings, with all the voices harmonizing together, is "goosebumping!"   -Sandra Lillienthal

 

"There are moments in this CD that are so awesome that they take my breath away. The juxtaposition of musical styles is so effortless, the improvisation virtuosic, and Sam's voice is once again a soothing companion in the soundtrack of my life." -Libby Berman

 

"Sam, you've done it again.  You are easily the most prolific and accomplished Jewish composer we have.  Thanks for the incredible music." -Shai Sternberg

Dear Yeshiva University of LA High School Graduates...

A Commencement Speech by Sam Glaser

 

It gives me great nachas to stand here with you today. I have watched many of you grow up, either as your music teacher at Hillel or YULA, or as you have befriended my own children, one of whom, Jesse Glaser is wearing a cap and gown today.  Some of you are thinking that this ceremony is not a big deal. Some are here because your parents made you show up. Some of the guys are plotting pranks, some girls can't wait to get the gown off because they think they look fat.

 

I chose to speak because I want to tell you that this is, in fact, a big deal.  Graduates of this legendary institution have gone on to remarkable careers in business, science, law and medicine, becoming powerful leaders in their communities.  Some even have gone on to become teachers and rabbis!  Most importantly, they have done so as proud Modern Orthodox Jews, fully aware of the presence of God, cherishing every mitzvah, seizing opportunities for chesed.  Because they are interfacing with society at large, they have touched countless others with whom they interact.  You'll learn that it doesn't matter so much what you choose as your career as it does whether you are a Kiddush Hashem, one who is sanctifying God's name everyday. 

 

At this point in your lives you may not feel that this is priority number one.  This is the peak of a period in your lives where you are doing the normal activity called individuation.  That means you are rebelling in your own unique way, distancing yourself from your parents and teachers, worrying about what everyone thinks about you, wondering what you are going to do with your life, struggling with a toxic combination of angst and shpilkes.  Leaving your parents and siblings isn't easy but it's necessary if you're going to stand on your own.  Believe it or not, your occasional ungrateful or obnoxious behavior is a crucial function of your pituitary gland that serves to make your adoring parents want to throw you out of the house.

 

What's next for you is the greatest, most exciting ride of your lives that you will ever experience.  How totally amazing to share this moment on the edge with you.  You'll notice that when you tell anyone how old you are you will see a hint of jealousy.  You are in the prime of your lives, filled with optimism, ready to change the world.  Most of you will be spending a year studying in Israel.  That's the best place in the world to be young, open minded and adventurous while learning about spirituality, learning about yourself and learning how to survive waiting in line with Israelis.  This is a magical time when you are on your own and yet you still have your folks helping with the bills and offering advice, even if you pay no attention.  People go to Paris to learn about food and romance, to Italy to learn food and art and to Jerusalem to learn about God.  It's said that the air makes you wise and that access to God is a "local phone call."   Around a quarter of you are going straight to college.  Mazeltov on getting accepted.  I will be davening for your souls.

 

You see, one of the problems with individuation is that Hashem can get thrown off the bus.  Separating from your parents is a good thing.  Separating from Hashem is not.  Remember the song from kindergarten?  Hashem is everywhere.  Loving you, giving you breath, keeping your body functioning, arranging all the unique circumstances in your life.  Hashem gave us our awesome Torah that is the deepest source of wisdom, insight and self-help advice in the universe.  Torat Emet...the Torah is truth.  Our Christian and Muslim friends understand that the Torah is indisputable and so, perhaps reluctantly, they must incorporate it in their own traditions.  Torah is the key to our eternity. Every mitzvah is a once in a lifetime chance to make that particular moment holy.  Kedoshim Tihiyu...be holy.  That's our mission statement.  So don't run from Hashem.  That just doesn't make sense.

 

As you leave YULA, you will be responsible for your own nurturing of this relationship.  A relationship is as strong as the weakest partner.  If I think you are my best friend but you only call me back once a month, we have a once a month relationship.  God loves us so much that we always will be the weakest partner!  You have learned with your rabbis and teachers a profound 3000 year old system to keep this relationship on fire.  Are you sick of the Sh'moneh Esrai?  From now on, no one is going to make you do it.  Find those tefillin annoying?  Well, now you can just leave them in the bag if you so choose.  Or you can choose life.  You can choose to bring Hashem into your every day with a blessing over everything that goes in your mouth.  You can act as Hashem's partner in creating the world by perceiving the impact you have in your heartfelt tefilah.  You can hear Hashem's patient voice in every word of Torah that you learn.  You can touch everyone you meet by serving as an example of what it means to be a fully invested Jew.  Hashem is ready to make miracles for you, to make your life amazing, to hear your requests in your prayers and make your dreams come true.

 

Observant Jews live in a parallel universe.  We are totally engrossed in the material world and yet we are removed, separate, spiritual.  You have learned techniques in school and from your parents to maximize both worlds.  Modern Orthodox Jews have a particularly challenging path: we don't throw away all connections with secular culture and the internet.  We understand that we have to be "in the world" in order to be a light unto nations.  Whether you realize it or not, you are all Jewish leaders!  People will see how you act and judge all Jews accordingly.  You'll be explaining your dietary habits, your kippah, why you have to leave early on Fridays.  It's not easy to walk on this tightrope and maintain your footing.  In college the balance gets even trickier with your academic mentors preaching secularism and even anti-Israel sentiments.  That's why today is a big deal.  Your parents have spent a small fortune to put you in an environment like YULA, one that has empowered you with our eternal traditions to keep you on track. 

 

Here's another reason why today is a big deal.  Look around you at your graduating class.  These people are your brothers and sisters.  You have a lifelong connection with one another, a deeper bond than you'll make with your future college buddies and business peers.  All those tough classes and school trips and demanding teachers and issues with the administration have served as the glue to connect you.  What you have with each other is real achdut (brother/sisterhood.)  And achdut is priceless.  We learn that our Temple was destroyed because of lack of achdut.  And the restoration of achdut brings us closer to our redemption.  Invest in your YULA friends.  Treasure them.  Count on them.  Some of your peers left YULA early to go straight to City College or wherever.  They missed out on this opportunity.  Take a moment to be grateful for the circumstances that allowed you to make it all the way.  You got the real diploma and not a GED.  Most importantly, you got achdut.

 

Finally, I urge you to keep your Judaism fresh. Judaism is a lot of work.  It can get tiring and repetitive.  It can be expensive!  If you keep a minimum daily requirement in your lives, like morning tefilah, learning parsha shavua and kashrut, you'll know when you are losing it.  You have spent the past twelve years growing into a superstar YULA graduate.  Don't lose it!  If you can't find the motivation inside, do it for the wrong reasons.  Do it for your parents.  Do it for your rabbis and teachers.  Do it for your unborn children. Do it for the 6 million.  Even if you're not positive that God exists, do it just in case God does exist!  You've probably heard the Gemara, "lo lishma ba lishma" (not for it's own sake become for it's own sake.)  In other words, Just do it!

 

So, my friends, thanks for your attention.  Please continue to give your parents and teachers nachas.  Choose life.  Live to the fullest. Be true to yourself.  Learn to balance "you-ish" AND Jewish.  That is the unbeatable combination that will guarantee you success in every part of your life.  The YULA Class of 2015 is a stunning, shining group of remarkable young people that will make the world a better place.  This world needs your help in a big way.  Stand proudly, YULA graduates, and know that you carry with you the hope of your families, the hope of the Nation of Israel and a brighter future for all mankind.
Announcing the 2015  Rock Your Life Tour!


NOW BOOKING!
The Rock Your Life Tour will be rolling into over fifty cities around the world over 2015. Sam is featuring the music from his new CDs plus all his classics in feel good, rockin' concerts for all ages. Please join us for guaranteed peak experiences for your community from one of the veteran performers of Jewish music.  Event programmers: use our know-how to help you make a Sam SamJeans Glaser program a win-win, profitable smash hit! Save by taking advantage of add-on shows when Sam is in your area:

LA, CA
Sacramento, CA
Reno, NV
San Francisco, CA
Ashville, NC
Boston, MA
Hartford, CT

Click here for a list of Sam's performance and workshop options and here for the full schedule. Contact  Marcia to make your dream event a reality!
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Sam at the Piano
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June Videos
Born to Remember Live at the Alex
Born to Remember Live at the Alex
Sam Glaser on the Road
Sam Glaser on the Road 
2013-2014: A Three Minute Summary
Eicha by Sam Glaser
Eicha by Sam Glaser

This Month at 
Recording Studio 

 

Josh Warshawsky is a super talented LA based singer-songwriter who is recording his debut CD. We are about to start basic tracks on his songs inspired by Jewish liturgy and I'm confident that this album will be a Jewish smash hit.  Help fund his Jewcer campaign here!  Keep your eyes open for this up and coming Jewish performer.

 

Praise for The Promise!
Promise CD
Sam's The Promise CD is a hit! This all new release is a celebration of the connection of the Jewish People with the Israel. Nearly two years in the making, these moving, rocking, inspiring songs feature Sam's amazing band and an array of guest vocalists. Features the hits Dancing in Jerusalem, Mezuza, Simple Song for Israel, Im Eshkacheich and the title track. Now available online for $9.99 and CDs only $14.99.  Support the cause!  You'll love it!
 
"Sam, I have all of your albums and keep them in heavy rotation on my Sunday SImcha show.  I think The Promise is the best yet.  Cutting edge and so powerful."
Kevin Frye, WMNF-88.5 FM Tampa, FL
 
"Yashar koach on the album - it's amazing!"
-Miriam Van Raalte
 

"I'm not sure how you do it. The Promise is a work of art. Every song touches my deepest feelings about Israel. There is so much wisdom in your lyrics. I know this sounds clich� but I am getting chills every time I listen."

-Fred Warner

 
"The Promise is awesome (as usual!)  It will make a perfect gift to just about everyone I know."
-Cantor Risa Askin
 
"I can't begin to find the words to express how much I totally enjoy your work.  Your voice, songs and arrangements are all just amazing. What a gift."
-Laurette Katz
The Possible You
is for YOU!  
Presented by 
Sam Glaser 
in Los Angeles
June 15-18

 

The Possible You is a groundbreaking seminar that creates the space for participants to realize their unlimited potential. It is rapidly growing in popularity in Israel, the US, UK and Canada. There are now 2200 supercharged alumni worldwide that credit The Possible You with initiating brilliance in their lives.       

 

With an intensely paced delivery of profound insights coupled with music, visual aids and group sharing, a crucial set of life tools are communicated to the full spectrum of learners in all modalities. Originated by renown Jerusalem-based teacher Rabbi Yom Tov Glaser, The Possible You is an eighteen hour presentation of the wisdom of Kabbalah, Mussar and Tanach. While its message and mode of delivery is tailor-made for the Jewish soul, The Possible You is available for people of all backgrounds.

 

Sam Glaser has been working with his brother Yom Tov to customize the seminar for American students. He meticulously follows the established Possible You syllabus while giving the sessions his unique spin. Let us help you make arrangements in LA to attend. You can also bring The Possible You to your own city by signing up a minimum of only twenty paid participants. 

 Register today!    

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Living Inspired Weekly Email!
 
Need a great uplift from one of today's Torah giants?  How about some great fodder for conversation at your Shabbat table?  Sam sends out a weekly email with a compilation of his favorite words of Torah based on that week's Torah portion, culled from his favorite writers.  Simply send an email and say, "put me on the weekly list!"  
Tzedakah of the Month: 
The Friendship Circle's mission is (1) to provide Jewish children who have special needs with a full range of social, recreational, educational and Judaic experiences; (2) to provide their parents with respite and support; and (3) to enrich, inspire and motivate Jewish teenagers through sharing of themselves with others.  My own kids have been volunteers with this remarkable organization and I have had many opportunities to perform for them.  There are few more worthy and heartwarming programs to support.  Do it today!
Thank you!

Thank you for reading, for listening, for your support and friendship.

 

Glaser Musicworks
800-972-6694
Outside of the US 310-204-6111
[email protected]
1941 Livonia Av.
Los Angeles, California 90034

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