NOTE FOR DISCUSSION: The phrase, "people of the book" was actually coined by Islamic scripture referring to other religions based on scripture (divinely revealed or inspired writings), including Judaism. However, when Jews adopted use of the term, they were referring only to themselves and Torah.
CONVERSATION STARTERS:
What is your favorite book?
What are some ways that you like to read? (book, newspaper, magazine, kindle/ipad/nook e-reader, app, siddur, parchment)
Do you know the Torah portion for your Bar/Bat Mitzvah? If so, what is it about?
Why are books important?
lyrics
"AM HASEFER" (by Jay Rapoport)
At first there was nothing but thoughts and ideas
Tales of our people, passed down through the centuries
Parents taught their children, that’s how it got around
Until we had the bright idea to write all this stuff down
CHORUS:
That is why they call us the people of the book
Our stories made us strong, some words was all it took
If you think you’ve heard it all before, take another look
We are Am Hasefer, people of the book
Carved on two stone tablets we got the first ten rules
The rest came with the Torah wrapped in an animal skin scroll
Today we can surf the web or read it on a screen
Now it’s up to you to fill the spaces in between
CHORUS 3x
credits
from They Tried To Get Us, We Won, Let's Rock!,
released December 2, 2014
Written & composed by Jay Rapoport,
copyright 2014 Maxfun Music (ASCAP), all rights reserved
Lead vocals, piano & keyboards: Jay Rapoport
Drums & percussion: Steve Purcell
Bass guitar: Shawn Setaro
Guitars & additional keyboards: Toby Singer
Backing vocals: Lucy Batterman & Shanna Zell
Handclaps: Jay Rapoport, Toby Singer & Steve Purcell
Tenor Sax & Clarinet: Mark Dover
Trombone: Jimmy O'Connell
Trumpet: Evan Honse
Produced, arranged & recorded by Toby Singer
Drums recorded by Drew Guido at Let 'Em In Studios in Brooklyn, NYC
Mixed by Toby Singer at Atlas Hugged in Brooklyn, NYC
Mastered by Jonathan Jetter at Right Angle Recording in Manhattan, NYC
Jay Rapoport, RJE takes Jewish values and texts and transforms them into “Ruach Rock”, a catchy piano-pounding style
influenced by Ben Folds and Billy Joel. Jay has appeared on the Disney Holiday Singalong and received a Covenant Foundation grant to compose the theme song for the Jewish Education Center of Cleveland’s “La-bri’ut” curriculum. Jay is Director of URJ 6 Points Creative Arts Academy....more
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