Creativity, in its various forms, is our humanistic abiltiy to emulate Hashem, the Master Creator, by actualizing a thought, an emotion, in physical form. For me, music is not merely a form of incredible creative expression, it is a powerful medium, a language that I love to harness to my other G-d-given creative quality: the gift of teaching. My life journey has brought me to many years in the world of kiruv rechokim, seminary, women's lectures, Shabbos shiurim, special programs and beyond, When appropriate, I loved to sprinkle my lessons with song, intuitively recognizing that musical messages would be retained long after the lesson was gone. 

Alongside my teaching career, I have been zoche to direct many performances in school and camp and compose for kiruv audiences. Year after year, my pile of original compositions  grew until I began to feel the frustration of not having a platform to share with others my wealth of music. But - I did not want to simply sing... I wanted to maintain my primary role as a mechaneches...

Around 15 years ago, I found a way to launch my passion for teachng Kodesh and composing music by offering free Shiur VaShir performances to ladies in Brooklyn, NY. For over 3 years (2009-2013), every 2 weeks, 2 women found me a host and then put the word out to the public. At each shiur, I presented a meaningful theme accompanied by 7 pieces of original music, some in Hebrew and others in English. Listeners followed a song booklet, learning, then singing and dancing to the music. The mixture of attendees from every age-group, background and level of Yiddishkeit fostered an electric, interactive audience. Some drank in the shiur, others tapped, danced and sang along, and everyone walked away feeling uplifted and esconsced by the comraderie.

Wiith incredible siyata dishmata, I was able to record and graphically design 27 of those original 35 Shiur Vashirs in CD format, which was sold privately or at such musical lectures.  That's over 200 pieces of music - and message!

A percent of the music are the original soundtracks oftheme songs etc. used in Nefesh Academy and Camp Shoroshim performances, but the bulk are songs that emereged on my life travels.

Nowadays, music still pours out of me and the pile of unshared songs contiuous to mount... wating to be recorded, polished, graphically desgned and shared...

So here we are - years later, in the digital age, with my first attempt to convert and share what I have formerly designed with others.. There's so much to come!

Please - dive in and  taste the reservoir of Hashem's Sha'ar HaNeginah, born on Earth in the form of Shiur Vashir.

I do hope that you can find the message and melody that you seek for this moment in your day.. Let others know. Share the wealth of meaningful music.

Look out for song sampes, free downloads, and new posts of fresh topics and series to enjoy!.

Rochel Leah (Rothman) Konigsberg