Welcoming Shabbat with Mizmor Shir by Congregation Shir Shalom of Westchester and Fairfield Counties

Today we welcome Shabbat with another version of Mizmor Shir L'Yom HaShabbat by Cantor Bryce Megdal and the Adult Choir of Congregation Shir Shalom of Westchester and Fairfield Counties.

The congregation is located in Ridgefield, Connecticut approximately one mile from South Salem, New York. It is a union of Jewish Family Congregation of South Salem, NY and Temple Shearith Israel of Ridgefield, CT. Though a Reform congregation, its congregants come from Reform, Conservative and Orthodox backgrounds or no religious background at all.

This version was recorded at the installation of Cantor Megdal in March 2025.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

Welcoming Shabbat with V'Shamru by Cantor Bryce Megdal

Last October Cantor Bryce Megdal and Rabbi Steve Engel led Central Florida's largest Reform congregation, the Congregation for Reform Judaism, in a fun version of Rabbi Moshe Rothblum's V'Shamru, a key part of the Friday night Kabbalat Shabbat service. 

While Cantor Megdal fully supports keeping traditional Jewish worship elements alive, such as nusach (the traditional mode of Jewish prayer chant) and older pieces of hazzanut (the traditional music of the Cantorate), and sincerely enjoys singing with a classical style, she also believes it is important to teach new and modern musical settings of Jewish liturgy. She is a Jewish music nerd through and through, always eager to learn new renditions of Jewish text.

Accompanying themselves with guitar and tambourine, they led the Orlando congregation in an ebullient welcome to Shabbat.

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.

Welcoming Shabbat with Lecha Dodi in Maui, Hawaii

On November 8, Cantor Bryce Megdal of Los Angeles visited the Jewish Congregation of Maui/Beit Shalom Synagogue in Hawaii to lead a special Shabbat service followed by dinner under the stars.

Since September 2013, Cantor Megdal has been one of two B’nai Mitzvah teachers at Kehillat Israel (KI) Reconstructionist Synagogue of the Pacific Palisades. In May 2015, she received a Master’s Degree in Jewish Studies with an Emphasis in Music in Jewish Life from ARJCA, and in August 2015, she transferred into the Cantorial Program.  

The Jewish Congregation of Maui maintains a warm, friendly environment for all Jews, regardless of personal affiliation or observance level. As the only synagogue on this beautiful island, it is non-affiliated. Its doors are open for any Jew who wants to have a place to worship and connect with other Jews.

Beit Shalom has a kosher dairy kitchen, and is also a Shomer Shabbat facility. The sanctuary has both mixed and separate seating areas, with a mechitza available. The congregation welcomes visitors with a spirit of Aloha and does its best to ensure that everyone is comfortable and feels at home.

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.