Lisi and I had toyed with the idea of starting a business—something that would enable her to work from home and spend more time with David. I had gotten a few ideas, but was always self-critical about the ideas’ chances for success. After all, so many new businesses fail, and they’re often expensive to launch. Besides, what idea could Lisi and I possibly have that someone hasn’t had before? What were we uniquely qualified to do that all of other aspiring work from home moms couldn’t do too?

Then it hit me, albeit in cascading stages of inspiration. David was watching a baby video—one of the many designed to stimulate young minds with bright colors, classical music, and frequent scene changes. I thought, “I do some video editing…why not do something like that?” Then my self-critical side kicked in: “There are lots of baby videos out there. Videos by big scary companies with marketing muscle and theme parks in Orlando!” I needed a hook.

What could I do that was different enough to have not been tried, but marketable enough that people would want it? Then I thought…”I wonder if someone had ever made a Jewish baby video?” After a few searches on Google and Amazon.com, I had my answer…nope. No one had created a video just for Jewish babies. There were lots of Jewish videos, but all of them were targeted at older kids. There was the Shalom Sesame, the Rugrats stuff, and some others that taught Hebrew and Holidays. They all seemed to be for children that had passed the wise old age of 3.

Ok, a good idea, I must admit. I was relatively intrigued by the idea and couldn’t immediately come up with a reason why it wouldn’t work. So I decided to wake Lisi and bounce the idea off of her. Though I was expecting to hear “you woke me up for THAT?” I got a much different response. “That’s it!” she said. “We’re totally doing it. And you know what else? I have two words for you…Stephanie Schneiderman.”

Stephanie had been a longtime friend of ours, and someone Lisi knew from her days at B’nai Brith camp in Lincoln City, Oregon. At camp, Stephanie’s beautiful voice made for magical Shabbat services and lasting Jewish memories for Lisi and her friends. Now, she’s a professional musician with several CDs to her credit. Her songs are played on radio stations throughout the Northwest and she was selected as an opening act for the Lilith Fair concert tour.

When we told Stephanie about our idea for a Jewish video and CD for babies, she loved the idea—and added a twist.

Stephanie suggested that her sisters join in the creation of OyBaby. You see, Stephanie is just one third of a talented trio of Schneiderman Sisters. Lisa, Kim, and Stephanie had sung together for years in synagogue, nursing homes, and just for fun. We had heard all three of them sing together before, and knew that they could create the exact sound we wanted for the OyBaby products.

Stephanie spent the next few weeks furiously researching Jewish music and creating new arrangements to suit her and her sisters’ voices.

The next thing we know, we’re in Portland at the deliciously named Kung Fu Bakery recording studio. Lisi and I walked into the control room the first day and couldn’t believe our ears. Even when they were just warming up their voices, the Schneiderman Sisters sounded like a chorus of angels.

As the recording session went on, Lisi and I grew increasingly thrilled with the music being created before us. Guest musicians came by to lay down some extra instrument tracks, the children’s chorus sang their little hearts out on Dayenu and David Melech Yisrael, and Doug Blauer brought the house down with his rousing rendition of Cheri Bim Bam.

After the recording session, it was time to turn our focus to the visuals. We collected the items featured in the video over several (expensive) weeks of visiting Judaica stores, toy stores, and craft fairs. We spent many weekends testing out the products, including one afternoon entirely devoted to finding the right consistency of paint to create paint splats!

We booked a studio in which to record the video, and enlisted our friends’ help to assemble the cast of OyBabies. Part of the day was devoted to filming the toys, puppets, and Judaica items you see on the video. The other part of the day was devoted to the utter mayhem of filming 16 babies at once! One can not believe how much was going on just beyond the view of the camera. There was lots of great footage of babies wandering off the set that ended up on the cutting room floor.

The most time consuming aspect of creating the video was the editing. I had about 8 hours of footage that eventually got whittled down to the 30 minute video. There were many nights when Lisi came upstairs at 2 am to remind me I had to go to work the next day. In those wee hours of the morning, I often noticed that my mouth started hurting, and eventually realized that it was from the constant ear-to-ear smile I had while watching the footage of those kids.

Growing up, our parents taught us to celebrate our Judaism, and music was always a central part of that experience. Now, as parents, we hope to do the same for our son. OyBaby will be one of the first steps in his Jewish discovery. We wish the same for the children in your life, too.

Jewish Babies Cheer the Release of OyBaby 2

DVD and CD for Jewish Children Arrives Just in Time for Hanukkah

Mercer Island, WA – December 6, 2005 – OyBaby LLC is pleased to announce the immediate availability of OyBaby 2, the long-awaited follow-up to its hit DVD and CD for Jewish babies, OyBaby. Encouraged by the positive feedback of OyBaby fans around the world, company founders Rob and Lisi Wolf re-teamed with lead musicians The Schneiderman Sisters to create an all new musical and visual experience for Jewish children ages 0-5. OyBaby 2 includes an all-star lineup of guest musicians, including famed Jewish recording artists Craig Taubman and Rick Recht.

OyBaby 2 is available on the company’s web site, www.oybaby.com, and at Judaica retailers nationwide.

Upon previewing advance copies of the OyBaby 2 DVD and CD, Randee Friedman, President of Sounds Write Productions, Inc., a Jewish music distribution company said “Our customers love the OyBaby products – they are “must haves” for Jewish families with young children. The same excellence in production customers appreciated in the first edition is also found on OyBaby 2!”

The OyBaby 2 DVD is a colorful medley of Jewish imagery, children at play, puppets, and nature scenes, set to the soundtrack of 15 fun and familiar Hebrew songs. Between songs, short interlude scenes teach Hebrew letters, numbers, and vocabulary and show the joy of giving tzedakah (charity).

“We were humbled and gratified by all of the customers that wrote to us, telling us how OyBaby became part of their children’s lives, and asking us to make another” states company co-founder Rob Wolf. “So, we rounded up the same adorable kids that starred in the original, brought in their brothers and sisters, and many of our friends’ children. The result is a more ambitious, varied DVD that will appeal to babies, toddlers, and wise old kids alike!”

Wolf and his wife Lisi do all of the filming, editing, motion graphics, package design, website design, marketing, shipping, and even gift-wrapping of OyBaby products from their humble “World Headquarters” home office in Mercer Island, WA.

The Wolf’s teamed up again with singer/songwriter Stephanie Schneiderman to produce and arrange the music for OyBaby 2. Stephanie is joined on lead vocals by sisters Lisa Schneiderman and Kim Palumbis. Rounding out the musical talent are guest musicians Craig Taubman and Rick Recht, a chorus of youth singers, and spirited songleader Doug Blauer.

About The Company

OyBaby LLC was founded in 2003 with a mission to spark a lifetime of Jewish wonder through sight and sound. The company has sold over 10,000 of its products to Jewish families around the world.

Rob Wolf is the originator of the OyBaby concept and the videographer, editor, and designer of the product. When not working on OyBaby, Rob has a “day job” as a Product Manager for Microsoft Corporation. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Rob grew up with strong Jewish roots in that city’s large and close-knit Jewish community.

Lisi Mezistrano Wolf is the sales and operations arm of OyBaby. Born, raised, and now raising a family of her own in Mercer Island, Washington, Lisi also grew up with a strong Jewish identity as part of Seattle’s sizable Sephardic Jewish community.

Stephanie Schneiderman is an accomplished singer/songwriter that has recorded and toured extensively as a solo artist. She was selected as an opening act for the Lilith Fair concert tour and has warmed the stage for many national acts including Chris Isaak, Marc Cohn and Hall and Oates. Lisa Schneiderman is a public relations and marketing consultant with an international clientele. Kim Palumbis is a former schoolteacher and now a full time mom and music teacher.

For More Information

Rob Wolf, OyBaby LLC, rob@oybaby.com, 206-275-4191

Bryan Cohen, Colehour+Cohen, bcohen@colehourcohen.com, 206-262-0363

Company web site: www.oybaby.com

FIRST TIME EVER, FREE OYBABY™ CONCERT PERFORMED BY THE SCHNEIDERMAN SISTERS IN LOS ANGELES TO HONOR DANIEL PEARL

Performance held at The Jewish Public Library Sunday, October 17 from 3-4pm

OyBaby™ Creating Products for Jewish Babies(and the grownups who love them)

Songs from the hit video and CD to be performed live for the first time

(LOS ANGELES— October 5, 2004) The Schneiderman Sisters will perform the music from the popular video for Jewish babies, OyBaby™ (http://www.oybaby.com), in a first-ever live performance for the Daniel Pearl Music Day. The event will be held at the Jewish Public Library Sunday, October 17 from 3-4pm (corner of San Vicente and Wilshire, east of Beverly Hills). Daniel Pearl Music Day is a global network of performances that uses the language of music to promote Harmony for Humanity. From east to west and north to south, people on all continents and in dozens of countries will unite through music on the third annual Daniel Pearl Music Day – October 8-17, 2004 – to stand up to the hatred and intolerance that took Daniel’s life. Daniel Pearl was a talented classically trained violinist fiddler and mandolin player who used his passion for music to form friendships across cultural and verbal divides. Danny lived a life that knew no geographical boundaries, with a spirit that knew no prejudice.

“We are honored to be a part of this special day. Religion should never divide us. It should be a place where we accept one another and take pride in who we are and where we come from. OyBaby is a project that celebrates our cultural heritage. We share in the values that Daniel Pearl stood for and are so excited to be included in an event that is helping to bridge the gap of prejudice all over the world,” states vocalist Lisa Schneiderman.

The OyBaby family of products—a DVD, VHS videocassette, and audio CD made especially for Jewish babies has been grass-roots success with Jewish families across the US. From new moms’ groups to retirement communities of kibitzing “bubbes,” the word on OyBaby is out. Since its release in November of 2003, OyBaby has sold nearly 3,000 copies, mostly through positive word-of-mouth from the parents and grandparents who enjoy it with the babies in their lives.

Inspired by their sixth month old baby, company founders Rob and Lisi Wolf teamed with The Schneiderman Sisters to create an entirely new type of product for the Judaica market.

Its visuals are a colorful mix of Judaica, toys, puppets, nature, and children designed to be enjoyed by Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox Jews alike.

Sisters Stephanie Schneiderman, Lisa Schneiderman, and Kim Palumbis create soaring harmonies and soothing melodies to form the soundtrack of OyBaby. The music is a captivating journey of familiar Hebrew songs for both babies and any nearby adults to enjoy. From the jungle-drum infused rhythms of Zum Gali Gali to a swinging jazz rendition of Eitz Chayim, the music spans many styles but is consistently performed with beauty and love.

OyBaby marked the first time their beautiful voices were captured together in a recording studio. “We had heard the three of them sing together before, and knew that they could create the exact sound we wanted for the OyBaby products,” states Rob. “It’s the sound of ‘friendship circles’ and Friday night services in the woods on a muggy July night—but with better production values!”

On October 17, this acclaimed music will be performed live for the very first time as part of the global celebration of Daniel Pearl’s life. The number of concerts on behalf of the Daniel Pearl Music Day doubles every year thanks to the spirit and enthusiasm of musicians, music lovers and volunteers all over the world. Tens of thousands already have joined this global community celebrating the ideals for which Daniel Pearl stood—cross cultural understanding, mutual respect and tolerance.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Rob Wolf is the originator of the OyBaby concept and the editor/designer of the video. When not working on OyBaby, Rob has a “day job” as a Product Manager for a software company. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Rob grew up with strong Jewish roots in that city’s large and close-knit Jewish community.

Lisi Mezistrano Wolf is the sales and operations arm of OyBaby. Born, raised, and now raising a family of her own in Mercer Island, Washington, Lisi also grew up with a strong Jewish identity as part of Seattle’s sizable Sephardic Jewish community. She has recently left the world of telecommunications to become a stay at home mom to Rob and Lisi’s son and daughter.

Stephanie Schneiderman is a professional musician and the producer of the music on OyBaby. She has released a number of solo CD’s and tours extensively throughout the Northwest. Her music is played on Adult Contemporary radio stations in Portland and Seattle, and was selected as an opening act for the Lilith Fair music festival. More on Stephanie’s solo work can be found at www.stephanieschneiderman.com.

Lisa Schneiderman is a vocalist and is the Executive Vice President for Solters & Digney Public Relations firm in Los Angeles. Lisa also spends time volunteering for many cause related organizations and is an advocate for children, especially at-risk youth.

Kim Palumbis is a vocalist, teacher, and mother of two in Portland, Oregon. She recorded vocals for OyBaby just days before giving birth to her second child.

For more information:
Rob Wolf, 206-275-4191, rob@oybaby.com or
Lisa Schneiderman, 310-463-6361, lisa@solterspr.com

For more information on OyBaby: http://www.oybaby.com and www.danielpearl.org

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New Company—OyBaby™ Formed to Create Products for Jewish Babies
(and the grownups who love them)

OyBaby™ Products Designed to Spark a Lifetime of Jewish Wonderment Through Sight and Song

SEATTLE — November 17, 2003 — Today OyBaby LLC announced immediate availability of its OyBaby™ family of products—a DVD, VHS videocassette, and audio CD made especially for Jewish babies. Inspired by their sixth month old baby, company founders Rob and Lisi Wolf teamed with musicians (and sisters) Stephanie Schneiderman, Lisa Schneiderman, and Kim Palumbis to create an entirely new type of product for the Judaica market.

Upon previewing an advance copy of OyBaby, acclaimed Jewish musician Craig Taubman praised “the production value soars, and the music touches your heart…this is a must have for every Jewish family. OyBaby celebrates the child in all of us. Mr. Rogers would kvell if he could see and hear OyBaby.”

“With a new baby at home, we wanted a way to introduce him to Jewish customs and music as we prepared for Shabbat,” states company co-founder Rob Wolf. “We looked around and couldn’t find a video made just for Jewish babies—so we invented one!”

The imagery on the video is a colorful mix of Judaica, toys, puppets, nature, and children designed to be enjoyed by Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox Jews alike. Between songs, short interlude scenes teach Hebrew letters, numbers, and vocabulary and show the joy of giving tzedakah. And because babies love watching other babies, sixteen “OyBabies” ranging in age from 3 months to 4 years are featured in the video.

The video was edited entirely by Rob Wolf, a product manager in the software industry whose hobby of video editing made OyBaby the perfect mix of something the Wolf’s wanted to create and something they knew how to create.

The Wolf’s turned to longtime friend and singer/songwriter Stephanie Schneiderman to produce the music for OyBaby. Stephanie is an accomplished recording artist whose music is played on Adult Contemporary radio stations in the Northwest and was selected as an opening act for the Lilith Fair music festival. Joining Stephanie in the recording studio were sisters and singers Lisa Schneiderman and Kim Palumbis. The Schneiderman sisters had sung together for years at synagogue, festivals, weddings, nursing homes, and just for fun.

OyBaby marks the first time their beautiful voices have been captured together in a recording studio. “We had heard the three of them sing together before, and knew that they could create the exact sound we wanted for the OyBaby products,” states Rob. “It’s the sound of ‘friendship circles’ and Friday night services in the woods on a muggy July night—but with better production values!”

The music is a captivating journey of familiar Hebrew songs for both babies and any nearby adults to enjoy. From the jungle-drum infused rhythms of Zum Gali Gali to a swinging jazz rendition of Eitz Chayim, this is one baby video parents won’t mind watching again and again.

The Schneiderman sisters always had a dream to sing together for a children’s project. “Since the time we were very small, we would put talent shows on for our entire family. We’d sell tickets and make tea sandwiches. Our Grandparents, Parents and Aunts and Uncles would all gather around to see us perform musicals, singing marathons, and dance routines,” states Lisa.

Rob and Lisi also had a dream to pass on the Jewish traditions they had learned from their parents. “Growing up, our parents taught us to celebrate our Judaism, and music was always a central part of that experience,” says Lisi. “Now, as parents, we hope to do the same for our son. OyBaby will be one of the first steps in his Jewish discovery, and we wish the same for other Jewish babies around the world.”

ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Rob Wolf is the originator of the OyBaby concept and the editor/designer of the video. When not working on OyBaby, Rob has a “day job” as a Product Manager for Microsoft Corporation. Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Rob grew up with strong Jewish roots in that city’s large and close-knit Jewish community.

Lisi Mezistrano Wolf is the sales and operations arm of OyBaby. Born, raised, and now raising a family of her own in Mercer Island, Washington, Lisi also grew up with a strong Jewish identity as part of Seattle’s sizable Sephardic Jewish community. She has recently left the world of telecommunications to become a stay at home mom to Rob and Lisi’s son.

Stephanie Schneiderman is a professional musician and the producer of the music on OyBaby. She has released a number of solo CD’s and tours extensively throughout the Northwest. Her music is played on Adult Contemporary radio stations in Portland and Seattle, and was selected as an opening act for the Lilith Fair music festival. More on Stephanie’s solo work can be found at www.stephanieschneiderman.com.

Lisa Schneiderman is a vocalist and the owner of Schneiderman Public Relations (www.schneidermanpr.com) in Los Angeles. Lisa also spends time volunteering for many cause related organizations and is a youth advocate for at-risk youth.

Kim Palumbis is a vocalist, teacher, and mother of two in Portland, Oregon. She recorded vocals for OyBaby just days before giving birth to her second child.

For more information:
Rob Wolf, 425-830-7526, rob@oybaby.com or
Lisa Schneiderman, 310-314-2213, lisa@schneidermanpr.com

For more information on OyBaby: http://www.oybaby.com