Showmanship comes naturally to Fishel Bressler. After all, his hometown spawned another famous entertainer, P.T. Barnum, who served as mayor of Bridgeport, CT., and developed the "greatest show on earth." As an entertainer, musician, comedian and music therapist Fishel strives to build bridges between heaven and earth, to infuse Jewish joy and spirituality into his audiences.

Growing up in the fifties, Hebrew school education culminated at Bar Mitzvah. He attended Sabbath services for a few months, and kept Tefillin with his childhood memorabilia. In high school, his Jewish identity was a cultural enjoyment of Yiddish humor and theater. In college, Fishel had no time for drama, and focused on classical flute.

A musician's life followed- playing in clubs, concerts, bars, on the road, teaching music, festivals, and so on. Fifteen years ago Fishel was hired by the Providence, R.I. Parks and Recreation Department to develop a Jewish Folk Arts Festival. Fishel knew his background was insufficient and decided to research traditional Jewish culture and "the arts of Jewish living."

He visited Providence's temples and synagogues. A phrase from Hebrew school stuck in his head. "The holiest day of the Jewish calendar comes every week." Having once seen a traditional Shabbos table, he wanted to display one at the fair, so his research focused on observant families.

"Until then I had an Eastern spiritual orientation. I felt there was more to life than material existence, and I had a Taoist kind of outlook, living in harmony with the natural order of the universe. I remembered Judaism as stodgy words like hallowed, sanctified, magnified, and stuffy rituals, and didn't think it was spiritual.

Doing my research, I kept an open mind and just recorded the raw data, putting my liberal prejudices aside," Fishel recalls. "My initial reaction to many things was often negative. I tried not to make superficial judgements, to ask questions and get more information on what I saw.

One day I had a shocking realization - my concept of Judaism was a 13 year old's, - when my Jewish education ended. No one would tell an astrophysicist, 'I know all about it- I studied stars in 6th grade.' But most intelligent adults assume they know all about Judaism having formed our opinions with a childish comprehension!

I owed my heritage another open-minded look as an adult.

Raised as a liberal- to search for and honor truth, I felt compelled to give this an honest try. One Saturday night I was reading the text after Havdalah and had a sudden 'Ah-ha' moment- 'This describes a personal mystical experience of G-d, a connection to the truth of the universe," I realized.

Two special people made a great impact on me; artist David Sears and klezmer musician Andy Statman. These cool guys were doing all this Jewish stuff and said it was important! We formed deep and lasting friendships, and helped guide my growth.

I started reading the Siddur, putting on tefillin, and learning. I'm a creeper, not a jumper, and slowly worked into Shabbos, Kosher, and the rest; some things within months, and others over a few years.

As a musician Fishel was profoundly affected by the moving Chasidic melodies. " I was transported hearing them, my soul was moved, and I thought, 'This is great!'

Shabbos is tough for a musician, since so many gigs are on Friday and Saturday night. "It took me a while to extricate myself from Shabbos job commitments. Now I'm proud to say I am a full-time musician without working on the biggest day of the week in my field.

If someone offered me a Friday night appearance on the Tonight Show, I wouldn't even give it a second thought. I once had a conflict and asked a rabbi, 'How can I stop everything for Shabbos?' He replied, 'Keep Shabbos 3 times, and you'll wonder how you could live without it!' To play on Shabbos now would feel like trading a priceless treasure for some plastic trinkets!"

Fishel performs as artist-in-residence in schools and in public parks and festivals, for corporatefunctions, and hospitals. He has developed several vaudeville and Medicine Show routines and characters, including Sappy the Old Cowpoke. He has played with top klezmers Andy Statman and David Grisman on concert tours based on their "Songs of Our Fathers" recording, including Carnegie Hall.

Of course, Fishel's wry humor and lively tunes have enhanced many weddings, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs and life-cycle celebrations, and got most everyone to kick up their feet.

A unique audience is the recipient of Fishel's greatest musicial efforts. They generally don't respond with dancing, or even applause, yet their lives are very affected. These are adults and children with severe multiple handicaps.

For twenty years Fishel has brought music into their lives, using it as a vehicle of communication and expression and sometimes stimulating progress like no other therapy.

"Our sages say,' Music is the pen of the soul.' The Rebbes who composed holy 'nigunim' knew that music goes to the deepest part of the brain and speaks to our soul and core. I see children who are not verbal, have limited use of their hands, can't walk, many are autistic or semi- autistic, some are blind. Every human has his expression or language, we just have to find it.

Most readily respond to music. Engaging with music doesn't require intellectual skill, and each can react in their own way. People think such work must be depressing. Not at all. When you first enter a room of these children it is- but as you start to work you must find and relate to what's healthy, and connect to it with simcha- happiness. It's hard, it's exhausting, but a tremendous spiritual exercise. I totally focus on each person- the less ability they have, the more attention it takes to find the point of connection. I have to pick up any cue, what they like and what bothers them.

With a new group, I start by getting the room quiet - not an easy task with the nurses going in and out and suctioning the children. I go around, say hello to each person, in a simple tone used by children globally, the sound used in 'Rain, rain go away.' 'Hello Sylvia, it's music,' with gentle singing.

I use elemental sounds, like my ocean drum, which sounds like a surf, working up in complexity to a wooden flute and other instruments. Some of these kids put out more effort to participate than you or I put out for anything. One boy loves to strum the guitar. His muscles are so spastic that he breaks out into a complete sweat to accomplish this task, but his happiness is tremendous. A girl I see has turned her head, which is usually completely frozen, to see and hear the music. I play in her left ear to stimulate her.

I've learned so much. You have to open your heart, and use the Chabad approach of mind and heart together. You have to know whom you're working with, tune into them and adjust your expectations. You find out what's essential about a human being. It's not our jobs, status, possessions, looks, or what we can do. It's an ability to share a sense of love, affection and wonder.

How far can you pare down the externals, and come to the core we all share? If anyone feels sorry for himself, go and do this work. You'll come out saying, 'Hey, I can walk, talk, breath and digest without a g-tube.'

A natural joker, Fishel finds it hard NOT to generate puns and funny voices. " When you go to the store, the guy behind the counter is also a person. It's an opportunity for play and interchange."

Chasidism teaches to "Serve G-d with joy," that simcha breaks through all boundaries. "Clowning is not true inner spiritual simcha, but it helps us awaken from our sluggishness and sadness. I see my work as holy clowning, spreading rays of laughter and happiness."