Press Releases
Jewels of Elul and Milken Archive Partner for Third Year
Be Inspired by This Year's Jewels of Elul: The Art of Welcoming Produced by Craig 'N Co., Pre-Order Your Copy Now
July 2, 2013
Now in its ninth year, published by Craig 'N Co., "Jewels of Elul" is a booklet filled with short, inspirational insights from famous and under-the-radar names influencing the global community. This year, find insights on "The Art of Welcoming" from eclectic contributors including political consultant Frank Luntz, music legend Quincy Jones, Mayor Eric Garcetti, Limmud founder Clive Lawton, LGBT advocate Idit Klein, CEO of the Ritz-Carlton Hotels Herve Humler, activist Anat Hoffman, storyteller Donald Davis, journalist Sally Quinn and 20 other inspired people.
"Jewels of Elul" is an anthology of 29 essays, or "Jewels," corresponding to the 29 days of Elul, the month prior to the Jewish High Holy Days, beginning this year on August 7. Each day will be associated with a Jewel from one of the contributors.
All proceeds from this year’s "Jewels of Elul" will benefit the new Pico Union. In a 105 year-old building in downtown Los Angeles, Craig N’ Co, in partnership with the Jewish Historical Society of Southern California, has spearheaded Pico Union, a multi-faith prayer space, kitchen and café, and performing arts center.
“It’s perfect,” says Taubman. “We have 29 incredible participants this year sharing inspirations about what it means to welcome. With the proceeds from the project, we will create one of the most welcoming multi-faith institutions in the country.”
"Jewels of Elul: The Art of Welcoming" will feature contributions from the following 29 individuals:
- Rick Lupert
- Frank Luntz
- Donald Davis
- Cantor Angela Buchdahl
- Quincy Jones
- Idit Klein
- Rabbi Stuart Kelman
- Rabbi David Saperstein
- Clive Lawton
- Rabbi B. Elka Abrahamson
- Raychel Kubby Adler
- Yael Unterman
- Rabbi Yehoshua Fass
- Rabbi Nathaniel Helfgot
- Carrie Bornstein
- Joan Glanz Rimmon
- Sally Quinn
- Herve Humler
- Reise Tanner
- Anat Hoffman
- Dr. Ron Wolfson
- Dr. Richard S. Vosko
- David Brenner
- Rabbi Simon Jacobson
- Mayor Eric Garcetti
- Noa Achinoam Nini
- Angela Sanbrano
- Andrew Lustig
- Rabbi Hayim Herring
In addition to the published booklets, as in past years, all of the Jewels will be available to read for free at the official Jewels of Elul website. In addition, readers can sign up for the Jewel-A-Day mailing list to be emailed each day's Jewel straight to their inbox. And for the first time, Jewels will be distributed through a mobile application for iOS and Android devices called "Daily JoE". In addition to Jewels of Elul updates during Elul, Craig 'N Co. will continue to update the "Daily JoE" app throughout the rest of the year for continuing inspiration and meditation.
To complement the Jewels, Craig 'N Co. has once again partnered with the Milken Archive of Jewish Music to give a free music download each Friday during Elul. Selections will amplify the theme of welcoming from the stranger in our midst to the Sabbath Queen.
To pre-order a copy of "Jewels of Elul: The Art of Welcoming," please go to the Craig 'N Co. website. Bulk quantities may also be ordered for synagogues and organizations wishing to hand them out to congregants and patrons. Booklets will be shipped in August, 2013.
To sign up for the Jewel-A-Day mailing list, please proceed to the Jewels of Elul website.
Watch the Jewels of Elul website to know when the app and music are available for downloading.
For more information about "Jewels of Elul: The Art of Welcoming," please contact Sam Rotenberg at sam(at)craignco(dot)com or 818.760.1077. To schedule an interview with Taubman, please contact Gwendolyn Dreyer at gwendolyn(at)craignco(dot)com or 818.760.1077.
ABOUT JEWELS OF ELUL
Jewels of Elul is a project that was conceived by musician, composer, and producer Craig Taubman. Eight years ago, Taubman was commissioned to write a song for the Hebrew month of Elul, the last month in the Hebrew calendar, in which Jews take time to reflect and meditate before the new year. Since then, the project has become a yearly tradition attracting writers, thinkers, politicians, and spiritual leaders from all walks of life. Past years have even seen essays – or “jewels” – from President Obama, Matisyahu, and Eli Weisel. In the past, Craig 'N Co. has partnered with the Huffington Post, Jewish Journal, and other publications around America to bring "Jewels of Elul" to the nation and world. In addition, approximately 50,000 books are sold and reach up to 500,000 readers yearly.
ABOUT CRAIG TAUBMAN
Craig Taubman began his career at the tender of age of 15 when he picked up a guitar and began to lead music at Camp Ramah in Ojai, California. His musical styling has made his recordings an integral part of the Jewish community including his top-selling release, Friday Night Live, composed for a special Shabbat service held once a month at Sinai Temple with Rabbi David Wolpe in Los Angeles. His extensive musical catalog consists of over 50 recordings featuring everything from Celebrate: Jewish Lullabies to Rock’n Toontown, featuring backup vocals with Mickey and Minnie. Craig has also enjoyed a successful career in television and film, composing and directing music for the Fox children’s series Rimba’s Island, the critically acclaimed HBO animated series Happily Ever After and Shari Lewis’ PBS series, Charley Horse Pizza. His music has been featured at the Coca Cola Olympic Pavilion in Atlanta as well as in the Paramount Pictures feature film Andre, New Line Cinema’s Pinocchio, and Disney’s animated short film, Recycle Rex. His songs have been recorded by such respected artists as Chita Rivera and Jennifer Holliday. Craig’s sell-out concerts draw thousands of fans at such respected venues as Ravinia in Chicago, Valley Forge in Pennsylvania, Westbury Music Fair in New York, the Greek Theater in Los Angeles and three special performances at the White House.
ABOUT PICO UNION
Originally built by Sinai Temple in 1909, the Pico Union is the oldest synagogue building in Los Angeles. For 88 years, it was lovingly preserved by the Welsh Presbyterian Church. Now, the building is embarking on a new beginning as an interfaith community center, fulfilling the ancient Jewish value of being “a light unto the nations.” Centrally located in the heart of Los Angeles, the Pico Union is ideally situated to be a center of culture, arts, social justice and learning. It is a place where people of all faiths and walks of life come together to celebrate Holy days, holidays, and the holy in the every day. Pico Union is about thriving, not just surviving, about respecting the rituals of the past while boldly imagining a more vibrant future. It will be a courageous place that opens its doors to people of all faiths and backgrounds, a place that honors each other's humanity and that works to spread a message of inclusion through music, dance, prayer and communal celebration.
ABOUT MILKEN ARCHIVE OF JEWISH MUSIC
Lauded by NPR for “covering every possible variety of music you can imagine,” the Milken Archive of Jewish Music chronicles over 350 years of American Jewish experience. From the liturgical traditions of America’s first Sephardi communities to adventurous chamber works of the 21st-century avant-garde, Archive recordings (more than 700 of them), videos, oral histories and analyses weave a rich tapestry of creativity, culture and faith in a land of hope and freedom.