Growing up, my life was intertwined with Jewish music. In the Sunday school classrooms of my Reform synagogue, Debbie Friedman's songs and melodies echoed. In 2001, when Dan Nichols and E18hteen's "Be Strong" album came out, my family played it religiously. At Hanukkah, we listened to "Festival of Light," and sometimes we switched things up with "Honey Would You Be Meshuga Tonite" by Klingon Klezmer. Later, as a tween, when I joined the synagogue's children's choir, I was introduced to Rick Recht's music and listened to "Salaam/Ki Va Moed" on the bus to school throughout middle school.

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The Roots of Erez Zobary

"Erez," the Canadian R&B singer's fourth album, is her first to deeply explore her Yemenite Jewish roots. In tracks like "Saftah (סבתא)" and "Saadya (סעדיה)," she honors her Yemenite elders and linguistic heritage by integrating audio recordings of conversations about Yemeni-Judeo Arabic with family members into the music. "Henna (חינה)" is inspired by a Yemenite folk song her savta Bracha used to sing, reflecting the pride and strength she feels from her family. The versatile song combines smooth Western R&B with a Yemenite sound, anchored by images of Erez donning traditional henna garb. The thesis of the album is undoubtedly "Cedar Tree (ארז)," where Erez ruminates on her own name. She said, "I wanted to pay homage to my family, tell our story, and show my North American audience the diversity of Jewish people. This album was about standing proud in my identity."Erez grew up in the Toronto Jewish community, connected to Yemenite culture through her family and music. With the help of a Canadian government grant, she began working on "Erez" in August 2023. She traveled to Israel, where her grandparents emigrated, and learned from family and prominent Yemenite musicians. Collaborating with Yoni Kubani, Tamir Barzilay, Adam Eisen, and David Lipson, she took her time creating each song, resulting in an album that brings forth the heart and soul of herself and her family. She said, "Singing in the tongue of my ancestors has been healing. I understand myself and my roots better."

The Healing Power of Batya Levine's "Yivarechecha"

Batya Levine's long-awaited second album, "Yivarechecha," is a collection of songs to bless in a broken world. In the title track, Batya and backing vocalists tenderly recite the Birkat Kohahim with an original melody, like being blessed by parents on Shabbat. The album mixes Jewish liturgy and original English songs, evoking a deep sense of comfort. Throughout the nearly 50-minute album, the listener can dance in praise in "Hodu," collect their breath in "Breathe," and release pain in "Yashva Vadad (lullaby for the weary)."Batya admitted they don't write music for albums; they just create. With vocalists Anat Hochberg, Aly Halpert, Molly Bajgot, Yoshie Fruchter, Arielle Korman, Jessie Reagen, and Richie Barshay, and assorted strings, they recorded the album live in 2024. The process was healing but also challenging as they wrestled with their own standards. Batya said, "The spiritual lesson was to not resist the feelings but to sing from the depths. This album is to bring accompaniment and blessing."As I listen to Erez Zobary and Batya Levine in my Brooklyn apartment during a drought in New York City, I feel a closer connection to Jewish music than ever before. It's like a blessing for rain.