Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Israel Defense Forces Choir Sings Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah - A Special Post for Ceasefire on Rosh Hodesh Elul


A few years ago the chorus of the Israel Defense Forces recorded a video performance of Leonard Cohen's signature song Hallelujah. Since we just came across it today we thought it would be an appropriate post on a few levels.

Yesterday and today we are celebrating the start of the Hebrew month of Elul, a day in which we say Hallel, ushering in a month of reflection, repentance, and prayers for forgiveness and mercy. It may be just a coincidence, but we noted that on Rosh Hodesh Elul a ceasefire without a time limit went into effect between Israel and Hamas. We only hope that this time it lasts.

During this coming month the song's composer, poet and singer Leonard Cohen will be celebrating his 80th birthday with the release of his 13th studio album, a collection of his latest songs called Popular Problems.

If you weren't a subscriber to Jewish Humor Central back in October 2009, the first month that we started blogging, you probably didn't see our post of Cohen singing to 50,000 people in the Ramat Gan Stadium in Israel, and it's something worth watching. As a bonus, he ended the concert by giving the crowd the Priestly Blessing, Birkat Kohanim. To see both videos, click here.

Enjoy!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO IS NOT VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.) 


14 comments:

  1. What a song! I did not know there was an IDF choir! I would like to see the Hebrew words.

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  2. What a great song to sing! I did not know the IDF has a choir. Let's see the words in Hebrew, bevakasha (please).

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  3. Very appropriate and very nice....

    Ph.

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  4. I wish the world could see THIS SIDE of Israel.

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  5. Beautiful. This should have a million hits.

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  6. Probably the nicest rendition of Hallelujah I've ever heard. Just another example of how much Jewish people contribute to society unlike those that would like to see them wiped off the earth.

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  7. An amazingly talented group of young people. Their voices are beautiful and they are as well.

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  8. I'm not Jewish but this song made me cry. Blessings to the choir that performed it. You are all
    my brothers and sisters.

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  9. I dont know what all the words mean but what an emotional rendition! the best i've heard.

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  10. Awesome. Can somebody please give the Hebrew transliteration of this song.

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  11. Please, Please make a CD/DVD of the IDF Choir with this version- the BEST version - of Hallelujah on it!!! A CD would be a very good ambassador of Israel!

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  12. where can I purchase a download of this most beautiful rendition of Hallelujah?

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  13. Who are the first two singers? Thank you.

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