Welcoming Shabbat with Beth Reinstein Singing V'Shamru at New York's Central Synagogue

Beth Reinstein is a Cantorial Intern at New York City's Central Synagogue with a mission to craft community through music. Born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Beth’s first introduction to music came through joining Temple Beth Emeth’s youth choir. It was there that she discovered and experienced how music can bring a community together. Through Temple Beth Emeth’s music program, Beth fostered a love and passion for music that blossomed into her work. 

While pursuing her secular music career, Beth began to serve the greater Chicago area as a Cantorial soloist and song leader. Beth has served as a Cantorial soloist and song leader at Beth Emet the Free Synagogue, Temple Sholom, Anshe Emet Synagogue, Sukkat Shalom, and several other Chicago communities. She also performs with Jewish Rock Radio’s group “Chicago Sings” and had the opportunity to debut her own liturgical compositions at URJ’s Biennial in 2019. It was through her work as a Cantorial soloist that Beth realized her heart lay in Jewish music, and it was time to pursue the Cantorate.  

In this video, Beth sings V'Shamru, a traditional part of the Kabbalat Shabbat service.

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 Shabbat with Lecha Dodi at New York's Central Synagogue

Tonight we welcome Shabbat with an energetic version of Lecha Dodi by the clergy of New York City's Central Synagogue.

The congregation began on Manhattan’s Lower East Side when its parent congregations Ahawath Chesed and Shaar Hashomayim were founded in 1846 and 1839, respectively, by German-speaking immigrants who hailed predominantly from the Czechoslovak area of Europe. By 1872, the membership of Ahawath Chesed had prospered and grown as the city’s population shifted uptown. When land became available at 55th Street and Lexington Avenue, the location was well suited to them.

With amazing courage and vision, the 140 families of Ahawath Chesed commissioned Henry Fernbach, a prominent New York Jewish architect, to design its synagogue to seat more than 1,400 persons. At its dedication in 1872, Rabbi Adolph Heubsch described the building as “a house of worship in evidence of the high degree of development only possible under a condition of freedom.”

In 1898, Ahawath Chesed agreed to merge with Shaar Hashomayim to become Ahawath Chesed Shaar Hashomayim. In 1918, the congregation renamed itself Central Synagogue.

Central Synagogue was designated a New York City Landmark in 1966 and a National Historic Landmark in 1975. It is the largest Reform synagogue in continuous use in New York City and one of the leading Reform congregations in the country.

Currently, Central Synagogue’s thriving community comprises 2,600 member families. 

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 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.

Welcoming Shabbat with Shalom Aleichem by Central Synagogue's Rabbi and Cantor

As we welcome the last Shabbat before Passover, we're interrupting our series of Pesach videos to make room for a new version of Shalom Aleichem, sung by Rabbi Angela Buchdahl and Cantor Julia Cadrain of New York City's Central Synagogue.

 This year in the Diaspora we are experiencing a three-day holiday weekend with Passover and its two sedarim coming right after Shabbat. We'll be with our family attending the sedarim Saturday night and Sunday night and remote services on Sunday and Monday. Jewish Humor Central will be back on Tuesday with more Passover videos.

Wishing you and your families a Chag Kasher v'Sameach!

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 Shabbat with Adon Olam by the Cantors of New York's Central Synagogue

It's 2021 and we wish a Happy New Year to all of our readers and viewers. It's also erev Shabbat and it's time to welcome another Shabbat with our 64th version of Adon Olam, the hymn that ends the Shacharit service.

To see all 64 versions scroll down the left column to Keywords and click on Adon Olam.

Today we're sharing a version by the cantors of New York City's Central Synagogue.

Senior Cantor Daniel Mutlu is a first-generation American born to Turkish Jewish parents. Raised in Worcester, Massachusetts, Cantor Mutlu attended the Yeshiva Academy Achei Tmimim where he forged a strong Jewish identity and a broad religious perspective.

Student Cantor Jenna McMillan is a fourth-year cantorial student from Wixom, Michigan. She graduated from University of Michigan with a bachelors in Judaic Studies and Anthropology. While at U of M, she worked at her home congregation, Temple Israel of West Bloomfield, lending her voice to their Kabbalat Shabbat and Shacharit services. 

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 "Mizmor Shir L'Yom HaShabbat" at New York's Central Synagogue

This erev Shabbat we're sharing a version of Mizmor Shir L'Yom HaShabbat, from the Kabbalat Shabbat liturgy. It was sung at New York City's Central Synagogue, where very Friday evening, more than 500 people attend Shabbat worship in the breathtaking Main Sanctuary (a National Landmark) and more than 1,000 virtual visitors join via live streaming.

It's sung by Cantor Julia Cadrain, who joined the Central Synagogue's clergy team in 2012, after being ordained by HUC-JIR’s Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music. She loves serving the congregation in numerous and varied capacities. Some highlights include co-producing a record of music from Central’s Friday night service called Sounds of Shabbat, overseeing Central’s adult bnei mitzvah program, and conducting the teen choir.

This version of Mizmor Shir is based on Makom Bina, a nigun composed by Deborah Sacks Mintz. In addition to composing new Jewish music, Deborah can be found regularly performing and recording with a myriad of musicians and ensembles. A Wexner Graduate Fellow, Deborah is pursuing rabbinical ordination at the Jewish Theological Seminary.

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.