Unexpected Traces in Jewish Places: The Gat Brothers Cover the Beatles Song "Two of Us" in a Beit Shemesh Forest

Aryeh and Gil Gat, known as The Gat Brothers and The Breslov Brothers and to some, The Amazing Rabbis, made a big hit on the Israeli TV talent show Rising Star in 2013 when they performed Simon and Garfunkel's hit Sounds of Silence before a cheering audience. 

When we posted the video here we got some of the highest ratings from our readers since we started Jewish Humor Central. We've been keeping an eye on Aryeh and Gil, looking for their performances on stage or in the streets of Jerusalem, where they sometimes take up residence on Jaffa Road and in the Mamilla Mall.

Last year they found a new location for their jam sessions -- a forest near Beit Shemesh, a city 19 miles west of Jerusalem.

In this video, they cover the Beatles' song Two of Us, from the Let it Be movie.

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.

 

Unexpected Traces in Jewish Places: The Gat Brothers Sing Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind" in a Beit Shemesh Forest

Aryeh and Gil Gat, known as The Gat Brothers and The Breslov Brothers and to some, The Amazing Rabbis, made a big hit on the Israeli TV talent show Rising Star in 2013 when they performed Simon and Garfunkel's hit Sounds of Silence before a cheering audience. 

When we posted the video here we got some of the highest ratings from our readers since we started Jewish Humor Central. We've been keeping an eye on Aryeh and Gil, looking for their performances on stage or in the streets of Jerusalem, where they sometimes take up residence on Jaffa Road and in the Mamilla Mall.

Last year they found a new location for their jam sessions -- a forest near Beit Shemesh, a city 19 miles west of Jerusalem.

In this video, they play Bob Dylan's Blowin' in the Wind, complete with harmonica accompaniment.

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.

The Gat Brothers, Breslov Hasidim, Sing Simon and Garfunkel's "The Boxer"

The Gat Brothers have come a long way from jamming on Jaffa Road in Jerusalem and playing in the Mamilla Mall, and achieving high scores and fame on Israel TV's Kochav haBa (Rising Star) talent show. 

Their story and their musical expression started long before their Jerusalem street appearances. They grew up in the largely secular resort city of Eilat and became observant 17 years ago.

As Dalit Halevi and Tova Dvorin wrote in Arutz Sheva earlier this year,

Aryeh told a Toronto daily that he and his brother, prior to becoming observant, spent their days dancing and singing on the streets of Eilat. Impressed passersby took video footage of them and uploaded in onto YouTube.

The staff of The Next Star found the videos and were impressed, and the rest is history. The brothers came on stage with guitars in hand and shocked the judges with a rendition of Paul Simon's "Sounds of Silence." Instead of becoming a gimmick - an act on a music competition television show by brothers who do not own a television themselves - audiences were hooked to the brothers' heartfelt connection to their music and easygoing manner.

Aryeh stressed during the interview that participation in the program was approved by the brothers' rabbis, and there was no mission to deliver a message to the public. Rather, the two performed on the show from a desire to express themselves artistically and use their talents to make a livelihood.

We found a video clip of the Gat Brothers rehearsing their renditon of Simon and Garfunkel's hit The Boxer and thought you'd like to see them in action again.

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.)

The Gat Brothers Perform Neil Young's "Heart of Gold" in Coconut Grove, Florida

In 1972, Canadian singer Neil Young composed and sang the song Heart of Gold. It's been covered by many singers in the ensuing 42 years, but one of the more interesting renditions is the one performed by the new Israeli singing sensations Gil and Arie Gat, variously known as the Gat Brothers and the Breslov Brothers. 

In the last year the two Breslov Hasidim have gone from street musicians on Jaffa Street in Jerusalem to second place winners in the Israeli popular TV show Rising Star, where they performed works by Simon and Garfunkel, The Beatles, Pink Floyd, and The Eagles.

Last month they made their first appearance in the USA, performing at the Avenue J Music Festival in Coconut Grove, Florida, on January 14. Here's a video of their performance.

Enjoy!

(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.)

Unexpected Traces in Jewish Places: Gat Brothers Channel Eric Clapton in Jerusalem Mall

Ever since we discovered the YouTube posts by Igor Trubin of brothers Gil and Aryeh Gat singing in the streets of Jerusalem, we've been getting a lot of likes and requests for more. 

In the last few months the brothers became sensations on the Israeli TV show "Rising Star" and achieved a second place finish in the competition. On the TV show they played songs by Simon and Garfunkel and The Eagles to an appreciative audience.

Among the street performances that Trubin captured was the brothers in Jerusalem's Mamilla Mall singing a renditon of Eric Clapton's hit Tears From Heaven, a song that he composed about the pain and loss Clapton felt following the death of his four-year-old son, Conor.

(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.)





How does the Gat Brothers' rendition compare with the original? Below is a clip of Clapton performing the same song live in in Madison Square Garden in 1999.

 

Israeli Talent Show "Rising Star" Sets the Stage for Reality Shows Worldwide

Reality shows, especially those focused on showcasing new singing talent, have become very popular in Israel. The newest one, Rising Star (Kochav haBa) has become so successful that the format has been sold for use in France, Italy, Germany, and other countries.

In the US, ABC announced that they will start airing the American version of the show. 

The Chassidic duo, Aryeh and Gil Gat, are among the new performers who have become famous by appearing on the show. Their appearances singing songs by Simon and Garfunkel, Pink Floyd, The Beatles, The Eagles, and Kansas raised their profiles from Jerusalem street singers to international stars.

In this video from JN1, we go behind the scenes to take a look at the preparations for the show, some musical excerpts, and interviews with the host, producer, and judges.

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.)

Gat Brothers Sing For the Shabbat Project: Mizmor Shir L'Yom HaShabbat

Back in March we introduced a series of innovative musical arrangements by popular Israeli singers as part of The Shabbat Song Project -- an Israeli effort to spread the light of Shabbat using new and eclectic instruments.

The arrangers and singers deserve a lot of credit for their creativity and use of a wide range of instruments and musical styles to present in a new light songs that we usually hear only inside a synagogue.

We posted three videos in the series, but overlooked an important one, which we're sharing with you today. It features the Brothers Gat, the same duo that we gave lots of attention to in the past few months, featuring their unexpected renditions of songs by the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Simon and Garfunkel, and The Eagles. 

Now known as the Breslov Brothers, Aryeh and Gil Gat are already veterans of recorded music of both the traditional liturgical Hebrew melodies and the classic English pop and rock songs of the last few decades. Their music has a distinctive appeal to music lovers of many genres.

In this video, they play traditional and eclectic instruments in a variety of settings, both indoors and outdoors. The song is Mizmor Shir L'Yom HaShabbat, a Psalm for Shabbat.

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.)

The Brothers Gat (Amazing Rabbis, Breslov Brothers) Welcome Shabbat With Mi Ha'Ish

Hasidic guitarists and singers Gil and Aryeh Gat, recent favorites of ours and many of our readers, keep appearing on the Rising Star TV show in Israel. 

After turning in crowd-pleasing performances of songs by the Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, the Eagles, and Pink Floyd, their appearance last week gave them an opportunity to show their talent in performing songs from traditional Jewish sources.

Psalm 34, written by David while he was fleeing from King Saul, has become an integral part of the Shabbat morning service. It includes the paragraph:

Mi ha'ish he'chafetz chaim
ohev yamim, lir'ot tov

מִי-הָאִישׁ, הֶחָפֵץ חַיִּים אֹהֵב יָמִים לִרְאוֹת טוֹב
נְצֹר לְשׁוֹנְךָ מֵרָע וּשְׂפָתֶיך מִדַּבֵּר מִרְמָה
סוּר מֵרָע, וַעֲשֵׂה טוֹב;בַּקֵּשׁ שָׁלוֹם וְרָדְפֵהוּ

Who desires life, loving each day to see good?

Netzor leshoncha me'ra
u'sfatecha medaber mirma
sur me'ra va'ase tov
bakesh shalom vi'rodfehu

Then guard your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. 
Turn from evil and do good, see peace and pursue it.

As we prepare for Shabbat in Jerusalem, we wanted to share this Gat Brothers performance.

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.)