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Beyond the Bars-Spiritual insights from prisons and life

Gedalya AKA Folk Rock Rabbi
Beyond the Bars-Spiritual insights from prisons and life
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  • Holding on to a Vision
    Holding On to a VisionWhy Inspiration Alone Is Never EnoughSometimes, a melody holds more than just notes—it carries a vision. In this podcast, I reflect on a recent voice recording and share the lyrics to “Holding on to a Vision,” a song born out of moments of clarity, struggle, and hope. I invite you to read, listen, and maybe even find your own vision within the lines.When the Flame Flickers: Holding on to a Vision Through Highs and LowsIn life, it’s easy to let go of things — goals, dreams, even who we thought we were meant to be. But sometimes, the most powerful journey we take is the one that calls us to hold on a little longer. This idea lies at the heart of a song I wrote years ago called Holding on to a Vision. And just recently, I found myself reflecting again on where that song came from — and what it still teaches me.The Song That Spoke Before Its TimeHolding On to a Vision wasn’t born from triumph. It came from a moment of struggle — when I was uncertain about the direction I was heading, yet something inside told me not to give up. I didn’t write the song because I had everything figured out. I wrote it because I needed the reminder myself. It was as if the song spoke before I fully understood what it was trying to tell me.Back then, the mission of A New Song USA was just beginning to unfold. I had only started visiting prisons and performing for people society had pushed to the edges. I was searching for the right words and the right way to give something real. That search — and the resistance I felt at times, both internal and external — is what shaped the song. And now, all these years later, it feels more relevant than ever.Letting the Vision Grow with YouWhat I’ve come to realize is that a true vision isn’t something that stays locked in time. It grows with you. It challenges you. And it waits for you to catch up.Sometimes we’re quick to abandon our path the moment it doesn’t look the way we expected. We think the vision must have been wrong — or that we’re no longer capable of carrying it. But what if that vision was right, and it’s just waiting for us to grow into it?This is why I still sing Holding on to a Vision. Because even today, there are moments when I need that message again — to hold on, to believe, and to keep showing up with whatever strength I have in that moment. Whether I’m singing for a crowd or sharing a story in a small room, I try to remember the heart of it all: connection, truth, and the refusal to let hope fade.Sometimes the clearest truths come not when we’re standing on a mountaintop, but when we’re deep in the valley, trying to remember why we started climbing in the first place.So, if you're feeling like your vision has slipped away, I hope these words — and maybe the song — remind you that it’s still there. Maybe it’s just waiting for you to meet it again.“Holding on to a vision it gets clearer every day Don’t rely on inspiration because it fades away.”If this song resonates with you…Music is not only meant to be heard — it’s meant to be shared. If you feel a connection to “Holding on to a Vision” and see a way this song could take on a life beyond this page — in a project, a performance, or even your own personal soundtrack — feel free to reach out.
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  • Performing at Coal Township Correctional in PA
    As I stood in front of a room full of inmates, guitar in hand, I couldn't help but feel the weight of their expectations. Here I was, an Orthodox Jew, about to perform folk-rock music in a prison library for all faiths. To say that I looked a bit out of place might be an understatement. But as soon as I strummed the first chord and began to sing, something magical happened. The tension in the room melted away, and I felt a connection with the audience that transcended our different worlds.
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  • Performing at Rikers Island Correctional Facility in NYC
    In this episode Gedalya speaks about a question he was asked by an inmate at a recent performance at Rikers Island Correctional Facility in NYC. Gedalya is the director of A New Song USA a charity dedicated to using the power of music to bring hope to incarcerated individuals.
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  • About Gedalya
    In this interview of Gedalya, Yaakov W. asks him to speak about his past. They speak about Gedalya's Jewish upbringing, how and why he became more observant later in life. Gedalya recalls various moments in his life that had special significance to him as a man in search of his true self and as growing artist.
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  • Are you living to eat or eating to live?
    In this podcast Gedalya Folk Rock Rabbi speaks about his July 2022 release of his song Wake Up. For more about Gedalya or the song please visit GedalyaFolkRockRabbi
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About Beyond the Bars-Spiritual insights from prisons and life

Gedalya AKA Folk Rock Rabbi, a NYC-based singer-songwriter with music that combines folk-rock melodies with uplifting lyrics and also the director of A New Song USA, a nonprofit that performs concerts for incarcerated individuals speaks about his personal experiences travelling to correctional facilities around the country as well as some of the thoughts, ideas and inspiration behind the songs he writes.
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