The more one can forget,
the greater the number of metamorphoses which a life can undergo,
the more one can remember,
the more divine a life becomes.

SØREN KIERKEGAARD

1978 Journey to the Holy Land

If I am not for myself, then who will be for me ?
But if I am only for myself, what am I ?
And if not now, when ?

~ HILLEL ~

Like many who prayed for peace, I was mesmerized by the image of the late Anwar Sadat's historic visit to Israel that was broadcast across the globe in the fall of 1977. Throughout my childhood, my head was filled with stories of conflict and passion about this ancient land. After seeing this event, I felt that I needed to get over to Israel and experience the place first hand. In the words of Rabbi Hillel, ‘If not now, when?’ In the Spring of 1978, I embarked on a 6-month ‘Pilgrimage to Israel’ where I traveled the length and breadth of this ancient and modern land. Kibbutz Ein Harod - Meuchad located in northern Israel’s Jezreel Valley was my home base during this sojourn. I participated in an Ulpan-Avodah (Hebrew study - work) program. My days and nights were full of all sorts of interesting people, activities and travels. Many seeds of inspiration were planted especially while sitting around the camp fire after a long day’s work.

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1982 Educator & Song Leader

We may all sing differently, but we can all sing together.

ODETTA

Shortly after returning to the states, I went back to college and in 1982 received a degree in Social Work from Florida International University. It was during this time that the seeds from Israel began to take root and blossom. I got involved in both secular and religious education and a few friends motivated me to pick up the guitar. As both an educator and youth director, I came to visualize the guitar as a tool to teach both Hebrew and Judaica as well as to motivate and inspire kids. Over 30 years and many students later, I’m still involved with afternoon religious school education which included over 20 years as a summer camp song leader. I have attended national conferences for CAJE - Coalition for Advancement of Jewish Education in 1984 (Palo Alto,CA), 1985 (Dekalb,IL), & 2007 (St. Louis, MO) I was a member of Jewish National Fund’s (JNF) - National Performing Artists' Troupe (1997-98) and twice attended Hava Nashira, (1999, 2004) the National Song Leaders’ Institute sponsored by the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ).  I am also a member of the Folk Club of South Florida (Miami-Dade) and Broward Folk Club.

As an outgrowth of my background in education and social work, I taught for over a decade with 'At Risk' teenagers at OMBUDSMAN - an alternative high school program in Miami. While the focus there was primarily on academics, I found a way to bring an occasional song into the mix helping to keep the students motivated.

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2003 Cantorial Soloist

If our prayers were music only,
we could surely sing our way into the world we desire.

RABBI RICHARD LEVY,
adapted by RABBI CHAIM STERN

After many years as an itinerant musician, Rabbi Jonathan Kaplan invited me to settle down and join him in forming a new congregation – Temple Beth Chai in Coral Springs, Florida. Currently, over 200 congregants attend our monthly Friday Evening Kabbalat Shabbat service with more than 700 observing Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, the Days of Awe. I consider myself to be more spiritual than religious. As an eclectic Jew, I glean from the spectrum of Jewish movements. A blend of ‘Old World’ , ‘New World’ , music, movement and narrative inspires congregants to comment that services are spiritually uplifting. They look forward with anticipation to attending each month. Musically, my repertoire includes a variety of traditional Hazzanut, pop, rock and folk ( Israeli / American ) melodies. I also provide vocal and guitar accompaniment at B’nai Mitzvah and other life-cycle events.

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2007 - 2011 Guitar Accompanist

Whether you are playing in a bar, [ house of worship ], … or the Himalayas,
the first duty of music is to complement and enhance life.

CARLOS SANTANA

After several years as a music teacher at Temple Beth Torah in Tamarac, Florida which began in 2001, Rabbi Michael Gold invited me to participate in an experiment. Rabbi Gold envisioned a more spirited Kabbalat Shabbat service that would embrace the best that tradition and contemporary innovations have to offer. We welcomed Shabbat HaKallah, the Shabbat Bride, with Cantor Cesar Beleniski as lead vocalist and myself providing guitar accompaniment and occasional vocals. Congregants regularly said that they loved to ‘LISTEN’ to the guitar as well as the variety of melodies from our ‘Jewish Songbook’ by composers Shlomo Carlebach, Craig Taubman, Jeff Klepper, Doug Cotler, Rick Recht, Dan Nichols and others. The children’s services were especially joyful and meaningful.

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2008 Hearts, Minds & Music, Inc.


I founded this company to help me communicate my belief that –

‘The WORLD is based on three things:
Hearts, Minds & Music
and each ONE is an integral part of the WHOLE.'

ANDREW DAVID SUSMAN

2009 Spiritual Mentor - ‘Wheel of ONE’

A teacher may open the door, but you must enter by yourself.
A path cannot be taught, it must be taken.

CHINESE PROVERB

While the world economy was seriously hurting and there seemed to be a more than usual amount of angst in the air, I began to pull together the many threads of inspiration over the course of my life, thus far. The ‘Wheel of ONE’ seeks to clarify the relationship between ‘the part and THE WHOLE’ incorporating teachings from both East and West.

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2010 First Album

Making music is one of our basic needs.
It is as necessary as food or drink or breath.

MICHAEL TILSON THOMAS

In 2010, I released my first full-length album,THE Megiddo PROJECT - A Prayer Journey - a contemporary ‘look and listen’ of Jewish liturgy. The album showcases the many sources of my Judaic and spiritual inspiration. The melodies and arrangements span a broad spectrum of genres including ROCK, POP, JAZZ, NEW AGE, FOLK, and WORLD BEAT. It is my hope that you will come to understand that we are all one with THE ONE as you listen to the music, view the graphics and read the liner notes. This project has been a lifetime in the making. Friends, family and colleagues have commented that the music touches their heart & soul.

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2011 Website - HeartsMindsandMusic.com

If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of Giants.

ISAAC NEWTON

This year marks the debut of this website. Please explore and share some your observations. Special thanks go to my team
of Giants - Gerry Robins (Graphic Designer), Mary Larrick (Editing & Testing), & Ken Davis (Site Design/Architect)

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2012 Facebook - Hearts, Minds & Music

When I reach out to you and you to me - we become 'B'Tzelehm Ehloheem'.