A Salute to Israeli Films on Yom Yerushalayim - Jerusalem Day

Tonight at sundown Israel starts celebrating Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day, a national holiday.

Fifty-eight years ago, in 1967, the Israel Defense Forces broke through the Jordanian defenses and captured the Old City of Jerusalem, marking the reunification of the city under Israeli control.

 

To share this joyous holiday, we're posting a medley of songs from classic Israeli films from the unforgettable face of Chaim Topol to lesser-known cinematic gems.

 

Featured films include The Policeman, Sallah Shabati, Kazablan, and The Band. They are sung by Azi Schwartz, cantor of New York City's Park Avenue Synagogue.

 

Chag sameach! 

 

Welcoming Shabbat With SupercalifragilisticexpialAdonOlam

The world of film and theatre music lost a great light recently when the songwriter Richard M. Sherman died. From Mary Poppins to The Jungle Book, music written by Sherman and his brother, Robert, has brought joy to millions over many decades. 

The Sherman Brothers were born to a father of Russian-Jewish origin, a composer of the prior generation on Tin Pan Alley. As a tribute to Richard Sherman, Cantor Azi Schwartz used the melody that the Shermans wrote for the Mary Poppins song Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious to sing Adon Olam on Shabbat -– joyful words of the liturgy combined with a bouncy tune made famous by Julie Andrews. 

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

Broadway Stars Light the Way With a Mash of "Tomorrow" and Hanukkah Candle Lighting

Tonight we light the first Chanukah candle as we welcome the annual Festival of Lights into our homes.

On February 13, stars of Broadway and the Jewish world gave us a preview of this hopeful season by combining the candle lighting with the song Tomorrow from the musical Annie.

The songs were performed in the New York theater district while walking on Broadway and in Times Square by Julie Benko (Broadway’s “Funny Girl” and “Harmony”) and Cantor Azi Schwartz of Park Avenue Synagogue with a chorus of Broadway talent.

It's a timely juxtaposition of two themes that combine to give us hope as we enter a new era of American optimism.

Enjoy, and Happy Chanukah!

Wishing All Our Readers a Meaningful Yom Kippur With a New Interpretation of Kol Nidrei

Yom Kippur begins at sundown tonight. Whether or not you fast, whether you attend services in a synagogue or via Zoom or live streaming, we wish you a meaningful Day of Atonement.

To get in the mood for the day, we're sharing a new version of Kol Nidrei by Cantor Azi Schwartz of New York's Park Avenue Synagogue.

In the spirit of renewed tradition, here is a new interpretation of Kol Nidrei. It blends the ancient melodic motifs with contemporary harmonies and orchestration, offering a modern reflection of this timeless Jewish prayer. 

Wishing you a G'mar Chatima Tova!

Cantor Azi Schwartz Sings Hatikvah to Mark October 7 Anniversary

As we mark the one-year anniversary of October 7th, we reflect on the enduring strength of our friends and family in Israel, who continue to live through the ripple effects of war. 

Today, we remember the hostages still waiting for freedom, and we stand with their families in their suffering. We pray for peace.

Cantor Azi Schwartz of the Park Avenue Synagogue in New York City, accompanied by a choir and a full orchestra, sings Hatikvah.

Am Yisrael Chai!

A Mother's Day Musical Special: Cantor Azi Schwartz Sings "My Yiddishe Momme"

Today is Mother's Day and we celebrate by posting a tribute to all mothers in the form of a new rendition of My Yiddishe Momme by Cantor Azi Schwartz of the Park Avenue Synagogue in New York.

My Yiddishe Momme is a song written by Jack Yellen (words and music) and Lew Pollack (music), first recorded by Willie Howard, and was made famous in Vaudeville by Belle Baker and by Sophie Tucker, and later by the Barry Sisters.

Tucker began singing "My Yiddishe Momme" in 1925, after the death of her own mother. She later dedicated her autobiography Some of These Days to Yellen, "A grand song writer, and a grander friend". Sophie Tucker made 'Mama' a top 5 U.S. hit in 1928, English on one side and Yiddish on the B-side. Leo Fuld combined both in one track and made it a hit in the rest of the world."

Enjoy, and Happy Mother's Day!

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.

Celebrating Passover with "When You Believe" from "The Prince of Egypt"

Today we continue our week of Passover programming with a rendition of the song When You Believe from the animated film The Prince of Egypt. It's from the Shabbat Shira service at the Park Avenue Synagogue earlier this year. 

Cantor Azi Schwartz was joined by his children Daniel and Emmy and Cantor Mira Davis on the Bimah of the synagogue.

The first feature film from DreamWorks to be traditionally animated, The Prince of Egypt (1998) is an adaptation of the Book of Exodus and follows the life of Moses from being a prince of Egypt to his ultimate destiny to lead the Jews out of Egypt.

The song When You Believe, written by Stephen Schwartz, became a commercially successful single in a pop version performed by Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey, and went on to win Best Original Song at the 71st Academy Awards.

Enjoy! 

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.

Welcoming Passover and Shabbat with a Seder Medley by Cantor Azi Schwartz and His Children

Tonight Jews all over the world will sit down for the first of two seders and retell the story of the Exodus from Egypt about 3400 years ago. In Israel there will be one seder. 

This year the first day of Passover coincides with Shabbat, so instead of our weekly posting of a Shabbat melody, we are posting a medley of Pesach songs from the Haggadah.

Last year Cantor Azi Schwartz of the Park Avenue Synagogue in New York City joined with two of his children to sing a medley of the most popular seder songs, including Ma Nishtana, V'Hi She'amda, and Dayenu.

Tomorrow and Sunday we will be celebrating Pesach with our family at home and in the synagogue, so there will be no Jewish Humor Central posting until Monday.  

If you will be unable to attend Passover services this year, many congregations will be conducting services on Zoom and on TV. The Jewish Broadcasting Service will feature Orthodox services from The Hampton Synagogue and Reform services from the Central Synagogue. The Conservative Park Avenue Synagogue will be live streaming its Passover services on their website.

Shabbat shalom and Chag Pesach kasher v'sameach!

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.

Here Come the Hanukkah VIdeos - Cantor Azi Schwartz Sings "Light a Candle"

It's that time of year again. On Sunday night we will be lighting the first Chanukah candle. Once again we're expecting some new Chanukah music videos and we'll be bringing the best of the bunch to you. 

Today we're sharing a video by Cantor Azi Schwartz of the Park East Synagogue in Manhattan. Nadlik Beyahad Ner (Light a Candle) calls us to light a candle, banish darkness, say a blessing, and enjoy the miracle of light. 

As Cantor Schwartz writes in his notes accompanying the song,

While this song was written for the Eurovision Song Contest, not for Hanukkah, I couldn’t resist its imagery of fighting hopelessness by creating light together. And, it was originally sung by one of my favorite Israeli singers ever, Sarit Hadad. When the figurative light of happiness seems far away, let us look for light from our traditions and from each other. Wishing you a happy Thanksgiving, happy Hanukkah, and Shabbat shalom! 

Enjoy!

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.

Here Come the Hanukkah Videos: Chanukah Medley by Cantor Azi Schwartz of Park Avenue Synagogue

Azi Schwartz joined the Park Avenue Synagogue clergy in 2009. He follows distinguished predecessors, including Cantor David Putterman and Cantor David Lefkowitz, whose musical leadership established Park Avenue Synagogue as the flagship of Jewish liturgical music in the United States. 

Born and raised in Israel, Cantor Azi Schwartz has sung with prestigious orchestras and choirs around the world, including the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and the Berlin RIAS Kammerchor. He has performed in the United Nations’ General Assembly Hall, the United States Capitol Rotunda, and the Knesset, as well as in Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and the Mann Auditorium. 

In this video, Azi sings a medley of Chanukah songs created with Oran Eldor, and performs it with David Enlow and the Park Avenue Synagogue Ensemble.

Shabbat Shalom and Happy Chanukah!

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.