Rabbi Daniel Brenner

Alt-Neu Jewish Music Clarinet pointed at the ceiling as if to send a blow dart of klezmer tranquilizer into the heart of the Holy Blessed OneThe beret wearing drummer tzit-zitzes his hi-hatsThe accordionist crying through his palmsBass man just thumps thump thump thump thump thump thumpAnd now the squeal of the mad violinist, curly hair aloft, high on heavenly crank,A bow-stroked eulogy for eighty thousand lost souls, the murdered violinists. Behind the concert hall in Chestocowa, in the back lot,…

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Hebrew readers can check out this interview in Maariv which covers the global hannukah event. The one line that I cracked up about was “the idea was born from the feverish mind of Rabbi Daniel Brennerfor some odd reason they put my photo in as an inset with Mattisyahu …

Here is a photo from last night’s 8 Hannukah Worldwide event at Webster Hall in NYC. We had around 1,000 folks cramming the dancefloor – a great turnout. The other highlight of the weekend was seeing my beloved’s play produced at Montclair State University. Katrina: The K Word was a tour de force — it captured the intensity, heartbreak and bravery of Katrina survivors. Kudos to Lisa, Sue, and the entire cast and crew!

Click here for a marvelous dance video featuring heavy machinery.

Over the last few months I’ve been working with the good people over at JDUB records on “The 8” which is a worldwide Hanukkah event this coming December 8th. We are starting to get somenice press on it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLatWKvAkHQ

Clergy are not supposed to endorse political candidates and I certainly am not about to do so on a blog, but I’m watching the Democratic candidates debate right now and I have to say that while the front runners are all smooth talking – and Richardson is winning a few points for comic edge – Senator Biden is coming across as the strongest of the lot. He is rude at times, I admit, but he speaks from experience and has…

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A newly hired vice president who is leading the new outreach effort, Rabbi Daniel Brenner, estimated the portion of Birthright Israel alumni who do not now engage in Jewish life at 60%.But he said his new program presents an “amazing window of opportunity” — both for the Jewish community and for the many who have lost touch with it.So far, he said, the new initiative has enough funding to support a $3.3 million annual budget, which it hopes to double…

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Loyal readers of Reb Blog, Please forgive me for taking so much time in between posts! The reality is that taking on a new job has been both wonderful and exhausting and spending time managing an international project and crafting a three year plan for a major educational effort has given me little time to write and reflect on the blog. There have been many moments that I wanted to post in the last few months — great audio highlights…

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