From the liner notes...

Not so long ago, two or three friends and I started a tradition of gathering together every Friday night after dinner in a small room and singing for a good portion of the night and into the wee hours of the morning. This small group of close friends soon grew into a community of about twenty people. We sang Shabbat Zemirot (songs for Shabbat), Jewish and American folk songs…and even an occasional round of Amazing Grace.

The most wonderful part of this weekly ritual is that we were Jews from every background: Reform, Orthodox, Conservative, Reconstructionist, secular, just plain confused…the list goes on and on. When we sand though, our voices were not traditional or liberal – they were simply an expression of the joy, which brought us together to celebrate our Judaism with its rich heritage and tradition – a joy, which linked us to Jews all around the world.

In a midrash based on the crossing of the Sea of Reeds, a man named Nachshon walks into the sea before the waters part. It was only after Nachshon took that First Step, that the sea split and the Jews were able to cross to freedom. Today, we are again at the edge of the sea. This time, we are escaping the slavery of division; the oppression of ignorance. This album grew out of a hope that our voices and songs might bind us together once more, to brave the waters as one people taking that First Step.

From the liner notes...

I guess the big joke about this album is its title. Since our first album was entitled First Step, all my friends thought this one should be, “Second Step” or “Steppin’ On” or how about “Still Steppin’” or possibly, “I’ve Fallen and I Can’t Get Up.” Well, as you can see we didn’t take their advice.

Give a Little Back is about stopping to recognize this awesome gift we’ve been given which we call home. We’re so busy trying to get ahead and make progress, we hardly ever stop to seen where we are, and how lucky we are to be here.

Give a Little Back is about seeing the “every-day” as holy. It’s about having an awareness of Sh’chinah, God’ presence in everyone and everything. And it’s about seeing the need to contribute back to the world for all of its benefits we reap.

Give a Little Back is our small contribution to the wealth of music, art, rituals, sancta, and sacred texts, which make up our culture and heritage.

But most of all, Give a Little Back is about just plain-old Jewish fun. It’s a collection of fun-loving, hopefully meaningful songs, rooted in Jewish life and tradition. I only hope that you receive as much enjoyment from listening to and singing along with this music as we did putting it all together.

From the liner notes...

I woke up this morning…I didn’t think twice about it. I just went about my daily routine: Showered, got dressed, gathered my books and papers for the day, grabbed a quick bite to eat and rushed out the door.

Most days are pretty much the same: Get to work, get as much done as I possibly can (which is never enough), come home, rush right back out to evening meetings or programs, eat dinner in the car, get back home in time for “Friends” or “ER,” return any phone messages, and fall into bed for a few hours of shluffing until it all begins again.

I rarely thing twice about any of it.

But perhaps I should. Perhaps we all should. Perhaps we should think of waking up in the morning and rushing around to meeting after meeting or class after class as significant as the creation of light on the first day of creation or as the crossing of the Sea of Reeds.

If we were to stop and think twice about what we consider “every day events,” we may be able to see them in a different light. We may be able to see them as MIRACLES!

But what is a miracle? The birth of a child? Recovering from a life-threatening injury? Many would categorize these as miracles, but what about breathing? What about walking and talking? Are these miracles too?

It all depends on how you look at it. Now a days we take most things for granted. We don’t stop to think that each little thing that we see, do and experience is miraculous. Whether it’s breathing, eating, walking, talking, sleeping, or singing, each aspect of our lives is a gift from God. And each is a miracle.