a new bullying session

Wow, a whirlwind weekend in Cleveland.

Highlights include a session with parents and educators on Addressing Evaded Issues in Jewish Education, an amazingly rocking Kabbalat Shabbat program with the whole Agnon School,

Sat night concert with Sacred Rights Sacred Songs and its creator Fran Immerman

and of course, the benefit concert on Sunday afternoon at Temple Emanuel for the Agnon School.

But what I was arguably most excited about was the session I had with THREE middle schools - two Jewish schools and one secular school, who came together to talk about a pretty serious issue. Built off of the wisdom of Dan Olewus's Bullying Circle and with the design help from my friend and colleague, Mara Yacobi, the group explored roles in a bullying situations and what their resources were.

This is a new session for me - and I was a bit nervous about how it would go - but the teachers were champs, serving as volunteer targets and bullies, and the kids asked real questions - and gave real answers and challenges - even with a group as large as 150 kids!

Thank you for the blessing of learning and exploring together.

I hope that we ARE able to obliterate the "Potential Witness Role" and all move into the HERO/WITNESS role to help reduce the power of the bully!

2010 Jewish Chicks Rock begins at Barney!

Welcome to the South!

Camp Barney Medintz is our first stop...

But first, allow me to introduce the band, pictured below:

You'll be seeing them all summer, so you should probably get to know their names and faces.

Hagar Ben Ari (bass), Glenn Grossman (drums), Me, Shahar Mintz (guitar)

These are not only some of the best musicians in NY, but the WORLD!

And here they are behind the scenes! Click Here

Our first stop was amazing.

Glenn and I worked with the Alufim'ers (8th grade) on songwriting, recording and drumming and were excited to rock out with the band for the teen campers at night. Here are some of the Alufim'ers hard at work on songs about their theme for the summer, Tikkun Olam (Repair the world). Here are a couple of examples!

So, we're ready to rock, and unfortunately, it seems mother nature had other plans. The heavens opened up on the newly repaired, freshly painted and sound-equipped "Chippy" (the ampitheater) and Jim Mittenthal and his amazing team, wisely made the decision to call the show after our second number. Glad to be away from the electronics in the middle of a LIGHTNING storm, but sad to disappoint everyone - especially such a high energy, rocking out group of teens.

Here's some video of the eeeeerie sky!

But that didn't stop Camp Barney - they know how to rock in ANY weather!

Thanks to Marissa, Udi, Steven, Matt, Bradley, Barry, Susan, Jim, ALUFIM and so many others for an awesome opening to the tour!

Next Stop: Camp wise!

Lights Ignited - hopefully towards Change!

This past sunday, in a minivan loaded with instruments, musicians and Trader Joe snacks, Sarah Aroeste (the Ladino songstress) and I headed down to Philly to meet up with our Roots Rocker friend Chana Rothman to perform in our self-produced show: "Lights Ignite Change".


This event was all about three things:
1. bringing the community together around Hanukkah to celebrate with music
2. showcasing FEMALE talent
3. most importantly, that this female talent is committed to social justice and social change.

We invited many organization in the philly are to sponsor by promoting the event and promoting their programming - anything from the "Collaborative" which programs events for 20-30s, to the Jewish Farm School to the Philadelphia Moishe House special thanks to Rebeccah Karp) to a Dialogue Group focusing on peace initiatives through dialogue.

But we, as women and as activists, wanted to also, in this dark month of December, shed some LIGHT on a very very important issue in the Philly community, the Jewish community and the whole country. DOMESTIC ABUSE AND VIOLENCE.

Jessica Schaffer from the Jewish Family and Childrens Services in Philly came and spoke to the sold out crowd about this issue - that 1 in 4 (that's right, ONE IN FOUR) women in their lifetime will experience some sort of abuse or violence in their relationships. Often women lack resources to get help or even to leave - and JFCS is working hard through programming, hotlines and even CASH support to help women regain control of their lives.

We were just thrilled that everyone took information with them about this issue so that maybe they can help someone they know (or themselves) regain control of their lives.

The CONCERT itself was an amazing program of music that relates to Hanukkah and Judaism and social change - Chana, Sarah and I all sang with each other on our material - harmonies were flowing. An example here is Chana and Sarah singing Elohai Neshama here!!!!!!!

Thanks, Philly, for a great night.
Thanks to our sponsors, including the Philadelphia Federation Renaissance Group for the support.
And if you'd like a community event like this, please do contact me.
We were thrilled to create this for Philly and would love to do the same for your community!
naomiless@gmail.com

JCC University (camp) Rocks with JCR!

This past week was VERY full in JCR-land.

All week I've been volunteering for an amazing program called Willie Mae Girls Rock Camp. It's a week-long camp for girls from 7 to 17 or maybe a little older. I served as a band coach and vocal instructor and worked with AMAZING volunteers and incredibly brave girls. The philosophy is that everyone rocks and that anyone can learn to be in a band. check it out: http://www.williemaerockcamp.org/

In the MIDDLE of the week - July 8th - my partner and honorary Jewish rock chick, Glenn Grossman worked with the talented staff at the JCC in Manhattan to produce a day of ROCK for the JCC Uninversity (camp) program.

Videos to come! Stay tuned!
(And to protect the identities of the kids, all faces have smiley faces on them! But trust me, they were smiling - we all were.)

The kids got a chance to:

- Write a song














-Record their song













- learn to play the drums AND perform live



Staff joined in the fun!

If you want to book Jewish Chick Rock programming in your community, be sure to contact me - naomiless@gmail.com