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Louisa Rachel Solomon

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Performing at the Stone Pony on tour with Against Me! in 2014

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[edit]

Solomon grew up in a Jewish home in upstate New York.[6] She attended the Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts at The New School in New York City, graduating in 2005.[7][8] Following the September 11 attacks, she was involved in activism against Islamophobia.[7]

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.[9][8] Since 2023, she has served as the on-campus rabbi at The New School.[9][8]

Career[edit]

Vocalist and bassist Solomon formed the band The Shondes with violinist Elijah Oberman in 2006.[6][10][7] In 2008 and 2009, they played in tiny venues in Queens, New York.[6] The quartet has promoted its inclusion of "queers and trannies" as well as one non-Jewish member.[10]

In 2014, Solomon's rejection of Zionism led to cancellation of The Shondes' scheduled performance at a DCJCC event.[11][7] 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[edit]

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[edit]

Solomon self-identifies as queer.[16] She has a tattoo of a Hebrew letter on her wrist,[6][11] and has described herself as "a proud Jew, a committed Jew".[11] 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.[1]

Notes and references[edit]

  1. ^ a b Stack, Liam (October 13, 2023). "Passion but No Violence at 2 N.Y.C. Protests Over Mideast War". New York Times. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  2. ^ "Salon.com Politics | over my dead body". Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved September 4, 2009.
  3. ^ "Voices of protest". Archived from the original on August 2, 2010. Retrieved August 31, 2009.
  4. ^ "Nyc: Anti-Zionist Jews Tell Party-Goers "It's Not Our Birthright"". May 15, 2008.
  5. ^ "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. ^ a b c d Marcus, Lilit (January 14, 2014). "Mainstream Dreams for Jewish Rockers; The Shondes to Open for the Punk Group Against Me!". Wall Street Journal (Online). ProQuest 1477321587. Retrieved June 2, 2024 – via ProQuest.
  7. ^ a b c d Grossman, David Meir (April 7, 2014). "The Shondes Defend Pro-BDS Stance". Tablet Magazine. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  8. ^ a b c Applegate, Agnes (October 20, 2023). "Eugene Lang alumni joins The New School community as first ever rabbi for students". New School Free Press. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Hajdenberg, Jackie (May 9, 2024). "At The New School, an anti-Zionist campus rabbi is 'not so radical,' students say". NY Jewish Week. Retrieved June 10, 2024.
  10. ^ a b Anderson-Minshall, Jacob (2008). "The Shondes: Nothing to Be Ashamed Of". Just Out. Vol. 25, no. 21. Retrieved June 2, 2024 – via EBSCOHost.
  11. ^ a b c 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". The Washington Post (Online). ProQuest 1530520097. Retrieved June 2, 2024 – via ProQuest.
  12. ^ Seltzer, Sarah (April 7, 2014). "Louisa Solomon of The Shondes Talks Censorship". Forward. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  13. ^ "Sound Check: March 2008 | AfterEllen.com". www.afterellen.com. Archived from the original on July 16, 2012. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
  14. ^ "Album Reviews: Luscious Jackson, The Shondes, Mike Doughty". Depth of Field Magazine. December 5, 2013. Retrieved June 29, 2016.
  15. ^ "PerformerMag : Northeast Performer : Recorded Reviews : April 2008". Archived from the original on October 12, 2009. Retrieved September 1, 2009.
  16. ^ "Lesbian Bands Hear Them Roar". www.advocate.com. May 23, 2012. Retrieved December 15, 2021.
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