Welcoming Shabbat with Shalom Aleichem by South Africa's Temple Israel Neshama Band

In 1944 a group of visionaries founded the first Progressive Jewish Congregation in Cape Town, South Africa.  77 years later, Temple Israel includes three beautiful synagogues, a professional team, a strong lay leadership and more than 3000 members crisscrossing the Cape Peninsula.  

In this socially distanced video, the members of the Temple Israel Neshama Band welcome Shabbat with Shalom Aleichem from the Friday night service.

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 Shabbat with Lecha Dodi by the Band Mizrach

With most synagogues closed because of the coronavirus, welcoming Shabbat has taken on a different tone as we try to find new ways to savor its joys.

Many synagogues are conducting services via Zoom and other video technologies, in some cases attracting more congregants on line than normally come to live services. 

Looking for silver linings in the coronavirus cloud, maybe it's a good idea to explore different versions of the Friday evening songs that we've become accustomed to. There are many melodies to chant Lecha Dodi. This one by the band called Mizrach may not be the one you're used to, but give it a try to enhance the ruach (spirit) of the day of rest.

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 Shabbat with Shalom Aleichem in Toronto's Temple Sinai

Today we welcome Shabbat with a choir from Temple Sinai in Toronto, Ontario. Their version of Shalom Aleichem is the 36th that we've posted in our welcoming Shabbat series.

It was recorded last November at the installation of Rabbi Jordan Shaner and Cantor Sharon Brown-Levy.

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 Shabbat with Shalom Aleichem by Avraham Fried and the Israel Symphony

We've been welcoming Shabbat each week with a song from the Kabbalat Shabbat liturgy. Shalom Aleichem has been the most frequently posted, and today we're adding a 35th version of this melody.

It's from a live performance this year by Avraham Fried and the Israel Symphony Orchestra at the Sultan's Pool in Jerusalem.

Enjoy, Shabbat Shalom, and Chag Chanukah Sameach to all.

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 a Motown Version of Shalom Aleichem

Every Friday we try to welcome Shabbat with a musical variation on the liturgical poems that comprise the Kabbalat Shabbat service. Over the years we've posted 30 versions of Shalom Aleichem, 28 versions of Lecha Dodi, 52 versions of Adon Olam, and many other renditions of familiar Shabbat melodies.

They represent all points on the Jewish spectrum, from Reform to Orthodox. But no one synagogue or group has given us more to post than the Los Angeles community known as Beit T'shuvah. In addition to regular weekly services, it's mission is to guide individuals and families towards a path of living well, so that wrestling souls can recover from addiction and learn how to properly heal.
 
The Beit T'Shuvah faith-based model, founded on authenticity and wholeness, integrates spirituality, psychotherapy, Jewish teachings, the 12 Steps, and the creative arts. They are a compassionate, supportive community, devoted to building an empowering sense of belonging and purpose to everyone who seeks it.
 
They also have a knack of fitting the familiar Shabbat tunes to different pop music genres, including, Rock and Roll, Country and Western, The Beatles, and most recently, the Motown Sound.
 
Here's an excerpt from last week's service with the shul band welcoming Shabbat with Lecha Dodi set to the 1961 Motown song Please Mr. Postman, the debut single by the Marvelettes and the first Motown song to reach the number-one position on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart. 

Please Mr. Postman became a number-one hit again in early 1975 when the Carpenters' cover of the song reached the top position of the Billboard Hot 100. It has been covered several times, including by The Beatles in 1963.
 
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.