Quite a few years ago, when I was cantor of Beth Emet Synagogue in Evanston, IL, Debbie Friedman came to sing at my shul one Friday night. It was Shabbat Shirah, January 29, 1988. Debbie had concerts in the area on Saturday and Sunday, and somehow I had learned that she was free on Friday.

I can’t even count the number of times I’ve heard a performer introduce a “mashup” and then proceed to sing two unrelated songs in succession. That, my friends, is a medley, not a mashup. A true mashup is when you sing or play two different songs at the same time. Medlies are ubiquitous. True mashups are rare…

ARE (Alternatives in Religious Education) commissioned Jeff to compose these songs to aquaint religious school students with some basic Jewish ritual objects and practices.