Welcoming Shabbat with Ein Keloheinu Sung by Hungarian Cantor Greg Nogradi

Greg Nogradi is a most highly appraised cantor of his generation, both by experts and audiences. At the same time, Cantor Nogradi boasts one of the most significant voices ever introduced in Jewish Music. 

Born into an Ashkenazi family, Cantor Greg Nogradi was already recognized for his compelling dramatic tenor voice and passionate performance style during his university years both in Jerusalem and in Budapest. Therefore, all roads led to the vocal class of Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Budapest and Music Academy Stuttgart for the young graduate in cultural management. 

After winning three major international competitions, Cantor Nogradi found himself in the Verona Arena from one day to another, and subsequently sang five new leading roles annually at various opera theaters of the world until the turn of the millennium. 

After serving six years as the cantor of the Frankel Synagogue in Budapest, Cantor Nogradi was elected Europe’s Number one cantorial voice at the European Cantors Convention.

In this video Cantor Nogradi sings Ein Keloheinu in a concert in the Dohany Street Synagogue, the largest synagogue in Europe, seating 3,000 people. 

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

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.

Hava Nagila Around the World: A Klezmer Concert in Budapest, Hungary

Hava Nagila continues to be a favorite all over the world. Today we're posting our 116th version of this popular song, performed at a Klezmer festival last month in Budapest, Hungary.

Because the it got such an enthusiastic reception, there will be a repeat concert in the FMH Cultural Center in Budapest on April 16.

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.

Lighting the 8th Chanukah Candle with the SabbathSong Klezmer Band

Tonight we light the 8th Chanukah candle to the accompaniment of the Sabbathsong Klezmer Band of Budapest, Hungary singing and playing Maoz Tzur and Hanerot Halalu. 

As Tamas Masa, founder of the group, explains,

Our band started in 1998 at the closing ceremony of Chief Rabbi László Deutsch in a small synagogue in Budapest, where we performed our beloved Israeli songs in gratitude. The chief rabbi then said a prophecy in the book of Isaiah (Isaiah) that "comfort, comfort my people ...", which has been accompanying our actions ever since, is said to be the foundation of our work.

In our repertoire, besides the Eastern European klezmer, Yiddish and Israeli traditional and. modern songs and dances also play an important role. Our aim, beyond a high-level interpretation of the melodies of Judaism, is to return to the spiritual root and source of these songs, the reality of the Bible. That's why we got the slogan: "More than klezmer."

Enjoy, and Chag Chanukah 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.

Welcoming Shabbat with Adon Olam by the Sabbathsong Klezmer Band of Budapest

Today we say farewell to Chanukah and welcome another Shabbat by sharing our 63rd post of an Adon Olam  version. This one is by the Sabbathsong Klezmer Band of Budapest, Hungary.

As Tamas Masa, founder of the group, explains,

Our band started in 1998 at the closing ceremony of Chief Rabbi László Deutsch in a small synagogue in Budapest, where we performed our beloved Israeli songs in gratitude. The chief rabbi then said a prophecy in the book of Isaiah (Isaiah) that "comfort, comfort my people ...", which has been accompanying our actions ever since, is said to be the foundation of our work.

In our repertoire, besides the Eastern European klezmer, Yiddish and Israeli traditional and. modern songs and dances also play an important role. Our aim, beyond a high-level interpretation of the melodies of Judaism, is to return to the spiritual root and source of these songs, the reality of the Bible. That's why we got the slogan: "More than klezmer."

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

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.

 b

Welcoming Shabbat with Yedid Nefesh by the Dina and Zucker Project

Tonight we welcome Shabbat with two versions of the Kabbalat Shabbat song Yedid Nefesh combined into one. It's sung by the two principal singers of the Dina and Zucker Project.

The Dina & Zucker Project's aim is to show Ashkenazi and Sephardic dimensions of Jewish musical culture in one song. The two vocalists are, Dina Pandzarisz, world-famous singer, ambassador of Sephardic music, and Immanuel Zucker, chief cantor from Budapest.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

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 Yom Kippur with Avinu Malkeinu by the Budapest Sabbathsong Klezmer Band

Yes, we know it's another Monday, and that usually means it's time for another Joke to Start the Week. But we're in the midst of a month of Jewish holidays that started with Rosh Hashanah and continues with Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah.

So we're holding off with the weekly jokes until the Monday after the holidays, and instead bringing you content that's more appropriate for this month.

Yesterday we posted a beautiful rendition of Hava Nagila by the Budapest-based Sabbathsong Klezmer Band. Today we're posting their version of Avinu Malkeinu as we prepare for Yom Kippur.

Wishing you an easy and meaningful day of prayer and fasting.

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. 

Hava Nagila Around the World: Gypsy Philharmonic Orchestra in Budapest, Hungary

You'd think that with the 48 versions of Hava Nagila that we've posted here, we would be satisfied and stop looking for more. 

But then we surfed some more and found a version by the Gypsy Philharmonic Orchestra, which mixes the traditional gypsy violin and the airs of the Hungarian and Yiddish repertoire  with the great classical composers works such as Johannes Brahms, Jacques Offenbach, Pablo de Sarasate, Johann Strauss Father & Son, Pyotr Illyich Tchaikovsky and contemporary composers such as John Williams.

So we just had to share it with you, and here it is, as recorded last December in Budapest, Hungary.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

(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.)