Louisa Solomon Explained

Louisa Rachel Solomon is the lead singer of The Shondes, an indie punk band from Brooklyn, NY. Solomon, a rabbi-in-training from Queens,[1] is known for being a Jewish musician who is outspoken about opposing the occupation of Palestine.[2] [3] [4] [5]

Early life and education

Solomon grew up in a Jewish home in upstate New York. She attended the Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts at The New School in New York City, graduating in 2005.[6] [7] Following the September 11 attacks, she was involved in activism against Islamophobia.

As of 2024, Solomon is studying to become a rabbi at the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and expects to be ordained when she completes her degree next year.[8] Since 2023, she has served as the on-campus student rabbi at The New School. Known by many as the "Intifada Rabbi," Solomon garnered significant criticism for calling for intifada against Israel during a campus protest. Solomon's husband, Miller Oberman, teaches at The New School and is also well known for calling for an end to the State of Israel. In June 2024 it was announced that Solomon was no longer employed by The New School[9]

Career

Vocalist and bassist Solomon formed the band The Shondes with violinist Elijah Oberman in 2006.[10]

In 2014, Solomon's rejection of Zionism led to cancellation of The Shondes' scheduled performance at a DCJCC event.[11] The JCC revoked its sponsorship due to her visit to the West Bank and public support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.[12]

Reviews

AfterEllen compared Solomon's vocals to Corin Tucker of Sleater-Kinney.[13] Depth of Field Magazine called her voice "nothing short of breathtaking...giving the impression that she’s speaking directly to each and every individual listener."[14] Performer Magazine's review of The Red Sea praised Solomon's vigorous vocals on the first half of the album, but criticized their monotony as the album progressed.[15]

Personal life

Solomon self-identifies as queer.[16] She has a tattoo of a Hebrew letter on her wrist,[17] and has described herself as "a proud Jew, a committed Jew". She has two children, whom she brought along to an October 2023 rally organized by the group Jewish Voice for Peace, calling for the U.S. government to push for a cease-fire in the Israel–Hamas War.

Notes and References

  1. News: Stack . Liam . October 13, 2023 . Passion but No Violence at 2 N.Y.C. Protests Over Mideast War . 2024-06-10 . New York Times.
  2. Web site: Salon.com Politics | over my dead body . 2009-09-04 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110607031941/http://dir.salon.com/story/mwt/feature/2003/01/15/shields/print.html . 2011-06-07 .
  3. Web site: Voices of protest . 2009-08-31 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100802200232/http://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/publish/article_868.shtml . 2010-08-02 .
  4. Web site: Nyc: Anti-Zionist Jews Tell Party-Goers "It's Not Our Birthright". 15 May 2008.
  5. Web site: Four Young Jewish Activists Interrupt a Speech by Former Israeli Prime Minster Ehud Barak at the Pierre Hotel in New York, While in Ramallah the Israeli Military Has Destroyed Every Building in Arafat. Democracy Now!.
  6. News: Grossman . David Meir . April 7, 2014 . The Shondes Defend Pro-BDS Stance . 2024-06-02 . Tablet Magazine.
  7. News: Applegate . Agnes . October 20, 2023 . Eugene Lang alumni joins The New School community as first ever rabbi for students . 2024-06-10 . New School Free Press.
  8. News: Hajdenberg . Jackie . May 9, 2024 . At The New School, an anti-Zionist campus rabbi is 'not so radical,' students say . 2024-06-10 . NY Jewish Week.
  9. https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/2024-06-21/ty-article/.premium/the-new-school-is-laying-off-its-anti-zionist-student-rabbi-faculty-are-up-in-arms/00000190-3c20-d768-adf8-3cb26dac0000
  10. News: Anderson-Minshall . Jacob . 2008 . The Shondes: Nothing to Be Ashamed Of . 2024-06-02 . Just Out . . 25 . 21.
  11. News: Fisher . Marc . May 30, 2014 . For Jewish groups, a stand-off between open debate and support of Israel: The JCC's awkward about-faces reflect the explosive power of Middle East politics, the especially sensitive terrain on which Washington's Jewish institutions operate, and increasing polarization within American Jewry . 2024-06-02 . The Washington Post (Online) . . ProQuest.
  12. News: Seltzer . Sarah . April 7, 2014 . Louisa Solomon of The Shondes Talks Censorship . 2024-06-02 . Forward.
  13. Web site: Sound Check: March 2008 | AfterEllen.com . dead . https://archive.today/20120716122805/http://www.afterellen.com/music/2008/3/soundcheck . 16 July 2012 . 2 February 2022 . www.afterellen.com.
  14. Web site: Album Reviews: Luscious Jackson, The Shondes, Mike Doughty. 2013-12-05. Depth of Field Magazine. 2016-06-29.
  15. Web site: PerformerMag : Northeast Performer : Recorded Reviews : April 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20091012165436/http://www.performermag.com/nep.recordedreviews.0804.php . 2009-10-12 . 2009-09-01.
  16. Web site: 2012-05-23 . Lesbian Bands Hear Them Roar . 2021-12-15 . www.advocate.com . en.
  17. News: Marcus . Lilit . January 14, 2014 . Mainstream Dreams for Jewish Rockers; The Shondes to Open for the Punk Group Against Me! . 2024-06-02 . Wall Street Journal (Online) . . ProQuest.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Louisa Solomon".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.