This recording was close to three years in the making. During that time, we opened our lives to ordinations, new homes, job changes and, most exciting, a new baby. We continue to meet weekly, doing that thing we do...gingerly entrusting our lives to each others' care, clearing the path for the music to emerge. And so, here it is - the latest merging of our hearts, so full of gratitude for these abundant blessings. With joyful song, we invite you to live each day as though you were Counting Angels in the Wilderness. WHO ARE WE? MIRAJ writes and sings a capella music for Shabbat, Rosh Hodesh and other sacred times MIRAJ is an acronym of our names: Margot, Rayzel, Juliet. MIRAJ is a blending of harmony and a weaving of friendship. MIRAJ offers songs for new liturgy, for meditation, for fun. WHAT DO THE CRITICS SAY? "MIRAJ belts, croons, warbles, and whispers. " " They sound like the Jewish Roches." "…a musical d'var torah…" "…a toe tapping, finger snapping tour de force!" For the MIRAJ story from the Orlando Jewish News, see notes from our CD "A Moon Note." INDIVIDUAL BIOGRAPHIES Rabbi Rayzel Raphael is an international award-winning singer-songwriter who specializes in women's spirituality and also works with interfaith families throughout Greater Philadelphia. She serves Congregation Beth Israel in Woodbury, NJ. In addition to her collaborative projects, she has two solo CDs, Bible Babes A Beltin' and Friday Night Revived. Visit her website at www.shechinah.com. Juliet I. Spitzer, M.Ed. is an international award-winning singer-songwriter and recording artist. She composes for, and performs with Theatre Ariel, Philadelphia's professional Jewish theater company. A member of Shabbat Unplugged/ Havdallah Live as well as Tof B'Yadah, Juliet is the guest cantor at Congregation Beth Israel in Media, PA, and is on the faculty of the Florence Melton Adult Mini-Schools in Wilmington, DE and Philadelphia, PA, teaching on a variety of topics in Judaism. Rabbi Margot L. Stein is an international award-winning singer/songwriter and has produced or co-produced 8 albums of original Jewish music. Her musical play, "Guarding the Garden," toured North America for four seasons, was seen by some 20,000 people, and was featured on the cover of Lilith magazine. She is on the faculty of the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School in Philadelphia, PA and has led spirituality retreats for such organizations as Ma'yan and the Institute for Jewish Spirituality.