EVENTS
Soul Journey will formally launch, most appropriately, on September 11th 2009 with a special Shabbat intensive at the Chisuk Emuna congregation in Harrisburg, PA. This vibrant synagogue met with calamity during Passover when the Sabbath candles caught fire and the synagogue was nearly destroyed.
Over the course of Shabbat, Neshama and her band will perform in an effort to heal and lift up the spirits of this Jewish community. From the haunting melodies of the a cappella Friday night service to the Saturday night concert that will feature her entire band, Soul Journey is honored to inaugurate its work at Chisuk Emuna. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO
The second endeavor of Soul Journey will be its high profile New Orleans benefit concert on October 15th at the historic Touro Synagogue. Trademarked Go You Forth, this large-scale concert is envisioned as an interfaith shot of spiritual adrenaline that will draw together a diverse audience in celebration -- and in support of -- this great American city, devastated four years ago by Hurricane Katrina and still in need of repair.
The two organizations that will be the beneficiaries of Go You Forth are the St. Bernard Project and Mazon: A Jewish Response to Hunger. As of July 2009. Neshama has already received commitments for enough funds to build ten homes.
The concert will feature jazz great Ellis Marsalis and the Green Pastures Baptist Choir performing with Neshama and her band. A comprehensive marketing and promotion plan has been in the works for months. CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO
The common denominator of both events is the theme of rebuilding through unity and healing. We couldn't hope for two more appropriate events to launch this important initiative.
Neshama has already been booking her own shows well into 2010 and hopes to slowly transition her Fundraising and Spiritual appearances into Soul Journey events.
HARRISBURG, PA 9/11-12/09
“Recently, our congregation, suffered a devastating fire that destroyed our sanctuary. Among the first calls of support we received were from David Morgan and Neshama Carlebach. Their friendship and support and their willingness to share their special souls with us gives us strength (chisuk) and faith (emuna) as our small congregation in Harrisburg strives to rebuild our building and strengthen our spirit. We are so grateful to Soul Journey for making possible this transformative Shabbat experience, concert and Selichot service. Neshama and David will light candles of hope that will continue to spread spirit and song long after their visit. May Hashem continue to bless them with strength to bring communities like ours higher and higher.”
Rabbi Ron Muroff, Chisuk Emuna Congregation, Harrisburg PA
http://www.chisukemuna.org
http://chisukemuna.blogspot.com
All events will be held at:
Jewish Community Center of Greater Harrisburg
3301 North Front Street
Harrisburg, PA 17110
For further information, please contact Leah Muroff at Lbmuroff@aol.com or 717-579-0010
Friday Night:
5:30 PM Neshama Meet and Greet
6:00 PM Neshama will lead Friday night services and speak
Dinner to follow
Shabbat:
10:15AM: Women's Study Group- Neshama Carlebach
Finding Relevance, Finding Connection
8:30 PM Concert and Selichot
NEW ORLEANS- GO YOU FORTH 10/15/09 (view the pdf flyer)
A concert will be held at the Touro Synagogue on Oct 15,2009, followed by an authentic New Orleans Shabbaton on Oct 16-17. The show will feature Neshama Carlebach and her band, the soulful Green Pastures Baptist Choir, the one and only Ellis Marsalis (http://www.ellismarsalis.com) and other local musicians and artists. We hope to raise significant funds at this event and also ignite a national consciousness campaign that focuses on the rebuilding of this great American city, devastated four years ago by Hurricane Katrina.
Go You Forth will benefit the St. Bernard Project, run by an incredible and tireless group of people who have dedicated their lives to bringing people back to their homes after the storm. It may shock you to know that there are still over 15,000 people homeless, living in trailers or in their own condemned properties, sometimes with several other families. Many of these people have contracted health problems from inhaling the formaldehyde of these FEMA trailers that were intended to be occupied for only 6 months. Through the St. Bernard Project, building one home only costs $12-15,000. Please click here and sign to be a part of this mission, no gift is too large or too small.
http://www.stbernardproject.org/v158/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=382&Itemid
Imagine what it means to a family to come home after four years of being displaced .But a home needs sustenance as well and so we’ve also engaged MAZON: a Jewish Response to Hunger, www.Mazon.org to help in the healing process. This incredible organization creates channels to feed people all over the world, not only physically but also spiritually and emotionally. Offering desperately needed relief to families still suffering in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, MAZON made joint grants totaling over $1 million. MAZON supports a wide variety of programs geared towards helping hurricane victims and their families pick up the pieces of their shattered lives and acquire the skills they needed to get back on their feet.
MAZON has funded nearly $500,000 to help support Katrina victims through non-profit organizations such as food banks, pantries, and advocacy groups that serve children, adults and seniors. Examples of specific organizations include the Acadiana Outreach Center, Food Net (for the purchase of food), Interfaith Federation of Greater Baton Rouge, the Houston Food Bank, and the Mississippi Immigrant Rights Alliance, among others.
Our goal is to fund the building of 30 houses, knowing that each completed house is a miracle, and to help MAZON continue in their mission to feed the hungry. Even after October 15th, we hope to continue our efforts until every person in New Orleans has a way to get home; until all those who are wandering can receive the stability, sustenance and peace of mind they need to truly heal from the trauma they've endured. It’s ambitious, but we know we can do it.
Another goal we hope to accomplish with this event: the revitalization of the local Jewish community. You may not know this, but one of the unfortunate effects of the hurricane was to drive out nearly half of the local Jews. Out of the 10,000 Jews who lived in New Orleans prior to 2006, only 6,000 remain. Spirits are high in this amazing City and it would be our greatest joy to bring back the diverse and beautiful Jewish community of New Orleans through Go You Forth, inspiring singles, couples and families to move to this awesome (and affordable) city.
Friends, we are asking you to become a part of Go You Forth. There are so many ways to help:
- Come down to New Orleans for the concert, Shabbaton and our special Sunday food delivery project
- Give a donation to The Saint Bernard Project and Mazon
- Mobilize your synagogue, school, community center or book group to sponsor the cost of building a house…or even a room. If you can gather a group of people to build a home, or even just a bathroom or a kitchen, you would be breathing life into a community that so desperately needs our support.
- Spread the word about our efforts
We thank you from the bottom of our hearts!
