Shalom y'all!

I'm Eliana Light, a Jewish educator, podcast host, and singer-songwriter. It's been three years since my last album s*ngs ab-ut g?d, and I'm so excited that this year I'll be recording not one, but two music projects: Orah Hi, an album of Prayer-songs, liturgical melodies, and niggunim, and Eliana Rhymes (About Jewish Times!), featuring family-friendly holiday songs. Read on for more! 

Orah Hi

Singing with others is the most precious of gifts, a truth made even clearer over the past few years. Singing can connect us to each other, our spiritual heritage, our inner light, and our sacred source. When we raise our voices in song, we model the vulnerability, openness, and uniqueness that prayer itself requires. The ten pieces on this album were written to be vessels for sacred song, and for my own well-being, I needed them to be brought to life in community. I know it would have cost less and taken less time to have recorded them by myself at home, and while there is a time and place for that, this project was not that time or place. I am beyond grateful to be convening an incredible group of humans to bring these songs to life:

Drew Cohen- Keys & vocals

Coleen Dieker- Violin & vocals

Bonnie Levine- Harmonium & vocals

Chava Mirel- Guitar & vocals

Sammy Rosenbaum- Bass & vocals

Sam Rotenberg- Percussion & vocals

Ariel Root Wolpe- Vocals & vocals

(Notice how everybody is & vocals!)

Plus Michael Levine on sound engineering and Ori Salzberg on production. It's really a dream come true- recording was incredible! Can't wait to share some behind the scenes :)

The album title, Orah Hi, comes from Rabbi Jill Hammer's feminine reimagining of the traditional Passover prayer-poem Adir Hu. It literally means "She is Light," a beautiful nickname for g?d that is reflected in my own name. Other songs include Koli Ekra (from psalm 27), Shirat Nafshi (from yedid nefesh, written with Susan Glickman), and Keep Open the Gates (from the closing service of Yom Kippur). 

Eliana Rhymes (About Jewish Times!) 

Along with the power to touch the spirit, songs also have the power to teach. Music helps us remember, and is a great way to learn and store information. Reinforcing connection and making it fun is even better! The nine songs on this album each explore holidays in new ways, making learning meaningful and enjoyable. My dear friend Ori Salzberg is once again producing (and playing most of the instruments!) We share the goal of making simple, sweet music that is perfect for kids but good for grownups too. 

Topics covered include the apples and honey blessing for Rosh Hashanah, the Yom Kippur ashamnu prayer, the Ushpizin (guests) of Sukkot, the 4 Mitzvot 4 Purim, and of course, the twice-yearly greeting Moadim L'simcha [which was in the running for album title! Instead we went with a call back to my first kids-focused record, Eliana Sings (About Jewish Things!) which is all about ritual objects].

Where does the money go?

Your support is crucial for this project! Compensating artists for their energy, time, and talents, sound engineering, video production, mixing and mastering, album art... there are many pieces to this glorious puzzle and every bit helps. Your donations make it all possible. Plus (aside from the cost of any products,) they're tax deductible! You can also send in a donation by check- reach out to welcome@lightlab.co for details. 

Thanks for making it all the way down here, and for considering supporting these projects. No matter what, I am grateful to you and I'm beyond excited to share this music with you soon! 

With love and gratitude,

Eliana