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The Genesis: Conversations About Jewish Arts and CultureAuthor: Joshua Rose
We are right at the beginning of what some have called "The 21st Century Jewish Cultural Renaissance," and The Genesis is the podcast watching it unfold, in real time and up close. Each week Rabbi Josh Rose has a conversation with a different Jewish artist or cultural figure to explore questions of artistic creativity, individual Jewish identity, Jewish expression and how Jewish arts are reshaping what it means to be Jewish. Our main focus in on the artists from Art/Lab: Innovating Jewish Arts and Culture, and Jewish artists in the Pacific Northwest. Rabbi Josh also engages national leaders (Rabbi Shai Held of Hadar, Seth Pinksy of New York's 92nd Street Y) about the broader world of Jewish culture. So, if you're interested in 21st century Jewish life, Jewish ideas, Jewish arts or just good conversation, you're in the right place. *The Genesis was originally a podcast of Co/Lab, founded by Rabbi Josh. Today the Genesis is a production of Art/Lab where Rabbi Josh continues to shape its unfolding. Language: en-us Genres: Religion, Religion & Spirituality Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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S3E41 Is Music the Purest form of Spirituality? (Michelle Alany)
Episode 41
Wednesday, 8 April, 2026
Welcome to the genesis. In this episode, I talk with violinist, vocalist, and composer Michelle Elani, who was part of the first art lab cohort way back when. She is a musician who weaves together different musical and cultural universes into a totally unique and beautiful fabric. Michelle has lit up a great many venues with her music. She's toured internationally with both her own music. And is a supporting artist in various capacities around Europe. She's toured with a fusion rock driven Viking blues band. She's played with the Trans Siberian Orchestra and then sold out theaters performing silent movie film scores in Texas, and she's brought music to packed jazz and blues Listening rooms in Austria led raucous jams and Chilean bars, as well as other international dives and halls. Not to mention an ongoing gig that she has at her current hometown of Portland, Oregon, where she plays regularly at the Laurelthirst. Flowing into her musical soul, into her sound is her background in classical music. Traditional and original Sephardic. That is Judeo Spanish music, Balkan in Israeli song, klezmer, jazz, blues, rock. It's all in there. Michelle and I talk about family musical calling and the search for a sound that feels rooted and free. We discussed the role that music played in her upbringing, how her Jewish identity finds its way into her work and her projects, and what it takes to find one's unique voice. As an artist, but for me, the core and the most delightful part of this conversation is our discussion about the spiritual quest that is part of musical expression. Take a listen. See what the show notes contain so you can find her recorded music and take in a performance of hers here in Portland or wherever you might be listening here and beyond. Thanks so much for listening to the genesis. The Genesis: Conversations About Jewish Arts and Culture is conceived of and created by Rabbi Josh Rose, and is a program of Art/Lab: Jewish Arts and Culture. Theme music by Rabbi Josh Rose. Links Art/Lab: artlabpdx.org Michelle Alany: michellealany.com, @michellealanymusic, facebook.com/michellealany, youtu.be/JHoX4USW_zE. , www.youtube.com/live/yzXBAX9tFdk?si=Zr89g-QzBlGLup0N, www.youtube.com/live/HVX3vjceVZ0?si=Hviveui1eOfKRtHa Michelle's Allbums: michellealany.bandcamp.com/ Barbès Brooklyn: barbesbrooklyn.com LaurelThirst Public House: laurelthirst.com
