I finish my first semester of graduate school this week, and has it been a wild ride. As such I’ve had precious little time to write y’all, although I have been starting to compose some little poems as a fun exercise for myself. Stay tuned for more info about that.

On Friday I’ll be playing in Providence for Eli’s record release show, alongside a fantastic lineup from throughout the Northeast Corridor. In addition to performing a live rendition of our collaborative piece from the album, “But a storm is blowing from Paradise,” I’ll be giving my first solo saxophone performance in a couple years. I’m treating this as an invitation to re-immerse in this holy vessel and release my first solo album next year, inshallah!

I have started a new position as baal keriah, chanting the weekly Torah portion, on Shabbat at Kesher Israel Synagogue in Society Hill. If anyone in Philly would ever like to come join, the Torah service begins around 10am every Saturday, and I’ll be there weekly starting on the 20th for Parashat Miketz. Unfortunately they have flags on the bimah, but I’ll be working on them.

I’ll close with sharing some recommended animal content at Aliza’s request.

I know this newsletter reads more like a compilation than a unified whole. I’m going to try to write more during this upcoming winter break. May the coming solstice bring us the calm we need to come together in love and rage.