Abbie Silber

Jewish Music: Inside Out
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WUJS Press Release
December 9, 2010

WUJS ARTS PROGRAM BRINGS CEDAR RAPIDS MUSICIAN TO ISRAEL
One young woman describes how a trip to Israel changed her life

NEW YORK – At 27, Abbie Silber of Cedar Rapids was already a musician. She had visited Israel with her mentor, Rick Recht, in 2008, and she was a fourth-year teacher at a school in St. Louis as well as music director at a large synagogue.  Her life was busy, but something was still missing.  She needed more time in Israel to mature as a Jewish musician.
 
Then, she discovered WUJS Jerusalem Arts, a program of Young Judaea, the Zionist youth movement of Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America.  The program for Jewish artists, writers, musicians and performers, ages 21-35, allows participants to study Hebrew language and Israeli art, while focusing on their own personal medium.  The five-month program supplements classroom time with weekly field trips, overnight hikes, opportunities to meet Israeli peers and artists, and volunteer activities.  At the end of the program, artists and musicians present their work in an exhibition.
 
Having completed an undergraduate degree in secondary English education and a minor in music from Indiana University, and a master’s degree in education, as well as having already significantly developed herself as a musician, Silber says she “just needed a program that would give me time to live in Israel and give me the support and push when needed.  WUJS was perfect.”
 
While in Israel, Silber recorded and wrote the majority of her album, and then chose to remain in Jerusalem upon completion of the program.  She took an Ulpan course last spring and is now studying at Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, while performing across Israel.
 
“I enjoyed the learning so much that I realized more time was needed,” Silber says.  “Because I had a great program like WUJS, I was able to find a home here in Jerusalem.”
 
Silber, now 28, feels so inspired by her time spent in Israel that when she returns to the United States, she intends to pursue her music career professionally.  Her goal is to find a permanent role as a cantorial soloist or music teacher in a congregation or Jewish school.  “I look forward to sharing my spark and passion for Israel and Judaism that would not have been fostered without my experience on the WUJS Arts track,” she says.
 
With 40 years of programming and 8,000 graduates, WUJS Israel continues to lead the way in post-college programs.  Silber is just one young person whose life will be impacted forever by studying in Israel.
 
Founded in 1912, Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America, is the largest women’s, largest Zionist, and largest Jewish membership organization in the United States. In Israel, it supports medical care and research, education and youth programs, and reforestation and parks projects.  In the United States, Hadassah promotes health education, social action and advocacy, volunteerism, Jewish education and research, Young Judaea and connections with Israel. For more information on the organization, its projects and how to become a member or donate, please visit www.hadassah.org.  For more information on WUJS Israel Hadassah, please visit www.wujsisrael.org.



 Iowa City Weekend: December 16-18

Cedar Rapids native studies, finds a home in Jerusalem

Molly Rossiter/SourceMedia Group News, 16 December 2010, No comments
Categories: lifestyle and leisure
Tags: Abbie Silber, Cedar Rapids, Israel, Jerusalem, Jewish, Judaism, Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, WUJS

Cedar Rapids native Abbie Silber has spent the past year and a half studying in Israel, something she says has helped her learn more about herself both as a musician and a Jewish woman. (Submitted photo)
CEDAR RAPIDS – Abbie Silber made a “crazy” decision last year that she says now has changed her life.

A 2000 graduate of Washington High School in Cedar Rapids, Silber, now 29, received her bachelor’s degree from Indiana University and her master’s degree in education from Southwest Baptist University, she taught English for five years and was the music director of United Hebrew Congregation in St. Louis.
A visit to Israel in 2008 with her parents and musical mentor Rich Recht made her realize she wanted and needed to spend more time there, studying and focusing on her music.
“Leaving seemed crazy, but I couldn’t resist my pull toward Israel,” she said. “I knew if I didn’t act immediately I might never have the opportunity again.”
After almost 18 months in Israel, Silber said she’s still not quite ready to leave.

While studying in Israel, Cedar Rapids native Abbie Silber wrote most of the songs and produced her own CD, "Inside Out."

“Personally, the past year and a half studying in Israel has helped me learn more about myself as a musician and a Jewish woman,” she said. “Living in the heart of Jerusalem and learning and speaking the language of my ancestors in an incredible opportunity for any person, let alone someone who left a career in search of more in a time when quitting your job was insane.”
When she returned from that 2008 visit, Silber started searching for a program that would allow her to focus on her music while at the same time let her learn about the Hebrew language and culture. There seemed to be very few options, she said, because of her age and her focus.

Then she discovered the World Union of Jewish Students (WUJS) Arts program in Jerusalem. The five-month program for Jewish artists, writers, musicians and performers between the ages of 21 and 35 provides an opportunity for participants to study the Hebrew language and Israeli art as well as focus on their own works and meet Israeli and other Jewish peers.
Silber joined the program in August 2009 and completed it in February of this year. Though the program had ended, she said, her time in Jerusalem wasn’t over. She is now a student at Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies and is involved in intense studies of the Torah and other Jewish texts.

“There is nothing like learning and writing music in Israel,” Silber said. “WUJS opened many doors for me, but also left me realizing how much more I needed to learn.”

Participating in the Pardes program is an extension of what she started, she said.

“The intensity has enabled me to learn more about Judaism as a whole and as a means to become a leader and teacher in a synagogue as well as continue writing intentional melodies to important prayers,” she said.

http://easterniowalife.com/2010/12/16/cedar-rapids-native-studies-finds-a-home-in-jerusalem/
The Singing Hoosiers Alumni Newlsetter
SPRING 2011

The Spotlight’s on
Abbie Silber

Singer-songwriter shares IU memories and
thoughts on her new album, ‘Inside Out’

http://alumni.indiana.edu/singinghoosiers/docs/sh-spring11.pdf

______________________________________
Sounds Wright Productions Newsletter Release
Volume 10, Number 4 • December 22, 2010
 JEWISH ROCK RADIO IS HERE!

     New technologies are empowering Jews to engage, educate, explore, and inspire in ways that were unimaginable just a few years ago. Increasingly, young Jews are turning to digital media in search of entertainment, education, inspiration, and connection --Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, podcasts, and Internet radio that can be accessed anywhere and at any time on an iPod or smartphone. Sounds Write Productions is pleased to announce our affiliation with Jewish Rock Radio (JRR), a high-caliber internet radio station streaming contemporary Jewish rock music 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

     The music is clearly the foundation of Jewish Rock Radio, and listeners will hear an incredible range of performers in the rotation. Top North American Jewish rock artists like Dan Nichols & E18hteen, Chana Rothman, Josh Nelson, and Matisyahu are featured, along with big-name Israeli music stars such as Mosh Ben Ari, Idan Raichel, and Hadag Nachash. JRR also prominently features new, up-and-coming Jewish artists who are not yet established in the Jewish world. Newcomers like Abbie Silber, Jay Rapoport, Alan Goodis, Hannah Spiro, and Mikey Pauker can have their music heard by new listeners around the world.
But Jewish Rock Radio is far more than just a rock radio station. JRR is a global communications channel designed to connect, strengthen, and unite Jewish youth and young adults. Each programming block features interviews with young Jews from communities around the country, speaking about exciting experiences they have had engaging in Jewish life: Israel trips, tikkun olam projects, religious school programs, and other fantastic global opportunities. Links, resources, and opportunities for young people to "plug-in" to the Jewish community are provided.

     Listeners can tune in to Jewish Rock Radio any time and anywhere that Internet access is available. Whether on a computer (JewishRockRadio.com) or a mobile device (apps for iPhone and Android are available for download), JRR can be heard in cars, homes, camps, synagogues, offices, Hillels, JCCs -- anywhere and everywhere!
Sounds Write Productions is proud to be a major sponsor of Jewish Rock Radio. Links from many artist profiles at the JRR site will lead listeners directly to the Sounds Write Web site, where they can purchase CDs and digital downloads of the music they're hearing. JRR bills itself as "The Voice of a New Generation," and it is definitely an awesome new tool for empowering a new generation of young Jews to connect with Judaism in exciting new ways.

Tune in and listen online at JewishRockRadio.com. When you hear some great new Jewish music
that moves or inspires you, visit SoundsWrite.com to add a new CD or a digital download to your collection.

Happy listening!
January 7, 2011 issue of Live at IU
Indiana University Arts Newsletter
http://newsinfo.iu.edu/web/page/normal/16834.html

Singer-songwriter Abbie Silber shares IU memories and thoughts on her new album, ‘Inside Out’

Growing up in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Abbie Silber was uplifted and inspired by the Jewish song leaders at the synagogue her family attended. That early musical interest led Silber to study guitar, piano, voice and saxophone. She enrolled at Indiana University for undergraduate school, earning a degree in secondary English education and a minor in music from the Jacobs School of Music. At IU, Silber was a member of the Singing Hoosiers and the Varsity Singers (she later earned a master’s degree in education from Southwest Baptist University). After grad school, she became a teacher and music director in St. Louis. A 2008 trip to Israel with her parents and mentor, Rick Recht, led to participation her recent in WUJS Arts in Jerusalem, which in turned open the doors to a recording career, further studies at PARDES Institute of Jewish Studies, being featured as an emerging artist on Jewish Rock Radio and a new career goal: becoming a cantor. Here, Silber shares her Iowa-IU-Israel journey with Live at IU.

Live at IU: What led you to study at IU?
Abbie Silber: My brother is three years older and decided to attend IU because of its incredible business school. I visited him many times and I felt completely at home -- it was the only school to which I applied. The Jacobs School of Music and the Jewish programming at IU stuck out to me, and the campus was undeniably beautiful. I knew I had found my home.

LIU: Any early memories from temple or school that contributed to your love of music?
A.S.: I remember seeing some Jewish singers playing the guitar and song leading while growing up in a small, yet vibrant community, Temple Judah. As a young kid I picked up the guitar (in addition to studying piano, voice and saxophone) and tried to begin song leading. Unfortunately, there weren’t many song leaders available to lead the way, so music study and Jewish music remained separate hobbies. I was very active in the North American Federation of Temple Youth movement (NFTY) and a huge fan of the new rising star at the time, Rick Recht.  This involvement pushed my choice to attend IU because I could do a bachelor’s in music and an outside studies degree in Jewish Studies in order to purse becoming a cantor. I ended up studying music and education, which later brought me to a similar place.  

LIU: What were some of the highlights of your IU education?
A.S.: Singing Hoosiers was by far the biggest highlight for me. {Singing Hoosiers Director} Michael Schwartzkopf was a huge mentor and leader throughout all four of my years at IU. I was also in the Varsity Singers group and really enjoyed traveling throughout the country, entertaining a variety of audiences. The people and caliber of performances were unlike anything I could imagine . . . those experiences turned me into a more confident and professional performer. My other highlights included traveling to England as part of Professor Glenn Gass’ in his “History of the Beatles” course. Glenn opened my eyes to a new passion for teaching music and turned me into a die-hard Beatles fan. This class also inspired me to study abroad in England my junior year. IU was very supportive in helping students find the best way to get the most out of their education. One of my greatest memories was a surprise my senior year, 2004, when my face was the advertisement for the Singing Hoosier's Spring Concert. Having my face plastered on busses and billboards around Indiana will always stand out in my mind.

LIU: Describe your experience living in Israel and why you decided to stay beyond the completion of the five-month WUJS program.
A.S.: I never dreamed that I would quit an amazing job -- a year before tenure -- in one of the best school districts in a suburb of St. Louis. I loved teaching full-time and being the music director at an incredible synagogue. Then I had the opportunity to travel to Israel with my mentor in December '08. On that trip, I felt an incredible pull to Israel and the need to get take time to learn more about my faith and history. I also knew there were aspects of my Judaism that needed to be explored further for me to succeed as a Jewish musician. After returning to the U.S., I stumbled upon WUJS, the only program that called for artists and a perfect fit. During WUJS, I was able to write the album Inside Out, which was inspired by the Jerusalem stone and my incredible learning opportunities during that year. Israel and the freedom I had through the WUJS-Arts program in Jerusalem empowered me to bring my “inside out” and write from a real place. While this was an incredible leap in my music, I knew that there was so much more to learn.

LIU: What are you working on now? What’s next?
A.S.: I’m now studying at PARDES Institute of Jewish Studies, a program that revolves around intense Torah study and the study of other Jewish text. The intensity has enabled me to learn more about Judaism as a whole -- learning what it means to become a leader and teacher in a synagogue and supporting my continued writing of intentional melodies to important prayers. After this year of learning, I am confident that my learning, added to my 4 1/2 years of teaching experience, master’s degree in education and the WUJS-Arts program will help me find a cantorial soloist and/or educator job in a Jewish synagogue or day school. Until then, I will continue writing, performing and learning taking advantage of my last few months in Jerusalem.  All updates and new music will be on my website: www.abbiesilber.com.  

About WUJS Arts in Jerusalem
WUJS is a program of Young Judea, the Zionist youth movement of Hadassah, the Women’s Zionist Organization of America. This five-month program for Jewish artists, writers, musicians and performers ages 21-35 allows participants to study the Hebrew language and Israeli art while focusing on their selected medium. Classroom time is supplemented by weekly field trips, overnight hikes, opportunities to meet Israeli peers and artists and volunteer activities, with a final exhibition of work at the culmination of the program. For more information, see http://www.wujsisrael.org/israel-programs/arts.html.