Welcoming Shabbat with Lecha Dodi by Julia and Amalia, a New Singing Duo

Julia Sabra and Amalia Kelter Zeitlin are two musicians deeply committed to building and inspiring Jewish community through song. They met briefly in December of 2023, but did not become friends until September of 2024, when they were both living in Jerusalem.

 

One day, a mutual friend told them that they really needed to make music together. They took her advice, and started compiling songs for an album of Jewish music. Some written by Amalia, some by Julia, and some an organic collaboration of their musical minds. 

 

The album is in development, and the duo is looking for sources of funding. In the meantime they are performing in various locations, including this session in a private home in Baka, Jerusalem, where they sing Lecha Dodi for a group of friends.

 

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

 

Throwback Thursday Musical Showcase: Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme Sing a Big Medley on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1967

Today we're turning the clock back 58 years to 1967 when Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme sang a medley of songs too many to count on The Ed Sullivan Show.

Gormé was born in the Bronx to Sephardic Jewish parents Nessim Hasdai Gormezano and Fortuna "Fortunee" Gormezano. Both her parents were born in Turkey. The Gormezanos spoke several languages at home, including Ladino (also referred to as Judaeo-Spanish). Due to its close relationship with Castilian Spanish, Gormé was able to speak and sing in Spanish. She was distantly related (by marriage) to Neil Sedaka.

Eydie and her husband and singing partner Steve Lawrence (born Sidney Liebowitz) have been among our favorite singers for many decades. Eydie died in 2013 and Steve in 2024. We miss them both but we still enjoy their duets and solos thanks to YouTube.

Enjoy the flashback!

 

   #Throwback Thursday     #TBT

Israeli Singer Shiri Maimon and Italian Tenor Andrea Bocelli Sing "The Prayer" in Tel Aviv Concert

We are in the midst of Aseret Yemei Teshuva (The Ten Days of Repentance), a period when we turn to prayer.

Prayer takes many forms and many languages. Today we're sharing a version of The Prayer, a song written by David Foster and Carole Bayer Sager. Originally recorded by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli and Canadian singer Celine Dion, this version was sung in English and Italian by Bocelli with Israeli singer Shiri Maimon at a concert in Tel Aviv in 2022.

Maimon rose to fame as the runner-up in the inaugural season of the singing reality competition Kokhav Nolad. She represented her native Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest 2005.

Enjoy!