Folk Rock Rabbi: Recent Episodes
Gedalya Folk Rock Rabbi
NYC Folk Rock Singer Songwriter Gedalya also known as Folk Rock Rabbi speaks about some of the thoughts, ideas and inspiration behind the songs he writes.
Gedalya shares stories from recent prison concerts and reflects on the spiritual pulse of America in this kickoff to his new series, “On the Heels of the Messiah.” Hear how music opens hearts behind bars, discover what’s next on the journey, and learn about joining the new Patreon community for exclusive content and deeper connections.Gedalya Folk Rock Rabbi on Patreon
A New Song USA on Patreon
Holding On to a Vision
Why Inspiration Alone Is Never Enough
Sometimes, 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 Lows
In 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 Time
Holding 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 You
What 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.
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.
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.
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.
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
"A person who wants to take charge of his life doesn't have to wait to be told what to do!"
We can learn this from Joseph in the Bible.
In the book of Genesis, chapter 41, verse 41, it says when the king of Egypt appointed Joseph to be in charge of the entire land of Egypt, the king simply said to him, "See I have placed you in charge of the entire land of Egypt." Notably, he did not explain to Joseph what he was to do, rather he simply told him to "see.” Because telling him to "see," as the commentaries explain was tantamount to telling him to contemplate, appreciate and to do the right thing with what he was being given.
Every one of us has gifts we've been given. Our spouses, our children, our jobs and our possessions are all things we've been put in charge of, and taking time to recognize this is the beginning of taking charge of our lives.
Sometimes we are held back from accomplishing what we can achieve just because our focus is in the wrong place. We're looking outside of our lives for the things we want and neglecting to recognize the things we have. When our perspective changes to appreciating what we have we will automatically begin to work on making these things better.
To change direction in life is not an easy thing. The first step is simple awareness, to seewhat we've been given.
Wishing you all only good things.