Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Shai Abramson, IDF Chief Cantor, Sings Unetaneh Tokef and Central Synagogue's Angela Buchdahl Sings B'Rosh Hashana


Tonight Jews all around the world will gather in synagogues to usher in Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year with the Kol Nidrei prayer.

Tomorrow synagogues will be filled for most of the day with congregants saying the traditional prayers in the Yom Kippur liturgy. The focal point of the day's service is Unetaneh Tokef, a two-part liturgical poem, said to have been composed either in the 11th century or the 8th century.

This video clip of the opening prayer was produced especially for the Jewish High Holidays. It shows IDF chief cantor Shai Abramson and IDF soldiers singing it in the Great Synagogue in Tel Aviv. 

The video features footage of the Yom Kippur War and one of its heroes, Brig. Gen. (res.) Avigdor Kahalani, who was a battalion commander in the Armored Brigade, fought in the battle of the Valley of Tears and was awarded a Medal of Valor.

The second part of the prayer, B'rosh Hashana, is sung in the video below by Angela Warnick Buchdahl, the rabbi and cantor of the Central Synagogue in New York.

We'll be at services all day tomorrow and back with more Jewish humor on Thursday. 

May we all be inscribed and sealed for a happy and healthy Year.

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  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.)




4 comments:

  1. Rabbi/Cantor Buchdahl's face is as meaningful as her voice when she chants this ancient prayer.

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  2. When I was a youngster, I remember seeing my Grandma Rose, sitting in Shul, weeping as this was sung. Now, in my 73rd year, I finally understand.

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