13 New York City Cantors Sing Hinei Ma Tov to Oklahoma's Opening Song

Last week Park Avenue Synagogue's Cantor Azi Schwartz led a group of New York City cantors in singing Hinei Ma Tov to the melody of "Oh what a beautiful mornin'", the opening song in Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma!

It was quite fitting for an event taking place at the site of Oklahoma's original premiere.

For the first time ever, a Shabbat service was brought to the Broadway stage. Featuring leading Broadway stars at the St. James Theatre for Shabbat Shira last week, Shabbat on Broadway was an inclusive experience that blended prayer and inspirational showtunes. Produced by Amanda Lipitz and Henry Tisch, this event fostered a sense of togetherness during a challenging time for Jews worldwide.

Cantors in this video (in order of appearance): Azi Schwartz, Mira Davis (Park Avenue Synagogue); Jenna Pearsall (Central Synagogue); Irena Altschul (Temple Israel); Daniel Singer (Stephen Wise Free Synagogue); Mo Glazman (Temple Emanuel); Shiree Kidron (Or Olam); Shimon Smith (Romemu); Shayna De Lowe (Congregation Rodeph Sholom); Todd Kipnis (Temple Shaaray Tefila); Olivia Brodsky (East End Temple); Natasha Hirschorn (Ansche Chesed); Luis Cattan (Sutton Place Synagogue) 

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. 

Remembering Harry Belafonte - Singing Hinei Ma Tov with the Israeli Army Choir

Singer Harry Belafonte, who died on April 25 at the age of 96, had many Jewish connections.

As Lisa Keys wrote for the Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA),

A New York City native, Belafonte, an acolyte of singers Paul Robeson and Josh White, was the one of the first Black artists to achieve widespread commercial success in the United States. While he was raised a Catholic, his life frequently dovetailed with Jewish causes, values and individuals.

Among Belafonte’s many Jewish connections — which included brokering a meeting between Nelson Mandela and Jewish leaders in 1989 — was his marriage to his Jewish second wife, dancer Julie Robinson. The couple, who were married from 1958 to 2004, raised two children, Gina and David.

In 2011, Belafonte revealed in his autobiography, “My Song: A Memoir,” that his paternal grandfather was Jewish. Belafonte’s parents were both Jamaican immigrants: his mother, Melvine, was the child of a white mother from Scotland and a Black father, and his father, Harold George Bellanfanti, who later changed the family surname, was the son of a Black mother and white Dutch-Jewish father.

In England in 1995, Belafonte sang Hinei Ma Tov with the Israeli Army Choir.

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.

Jewish Traces in Unexpected Places: Hinei Ma Tov with a Brazilian/Argentinian Twist

Yzreel and Fanny are from Brazil and Argentina. They have lived in Israel since June 2021 and have created a YouTube channel on which they share their family Aliya experience and content related to Israel. 

They upload videos every week about the weekly Torah portion and Biblical and Modern Hebrew classes. They do not seem to be affiliated with any organization.

Here is their version of Hinei Ma Tov. 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.  

Jewish Traces in Unexpected Places: Shtrudl Band Sings a New Version of Hevenu Shalom Aleichem in Ukraine

In Lviv, the largest city in Ukraine, a band of musicians originally called Varnitshkes renamed themselves Shtrudl Band.

Last week they created a music video of a new version of Hevenu Shalom Aleichem composed by Parisian composer Itai Daniel. The recording was inspired by the "Teyva" Progressive Judaism Community, and all-out support of the "Dialog" program by "Libertas" Interfaith and Interreligious Center.

The musical piece is based on David's Psalm No.133 Hinei ma tov u'ma naim ("Look how good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity") and the lyrics of the Hebrew folk song Hevenu Shalom Aleichem which says "we brought you peace". 

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.  

Valley Beth Shalom Sings Hinei Ma Tov to Honor its Teachers

Valley Beth Shalom is a Conservative synagogue in Encino, Los Angeles, California. With approximately 1,500 member families it is one of the largest synagogues in Los Angeles and one of the largest Conservative synagogues in the United States.

The synagogue leadership, faculty, and students recently celebrated their return to regular school after a year of pandemic by singing Hinei Ma Tov with music by Eric Lindberg and Doni Zasloff of Nefesh Mountain.

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.

A Coronavirus Chorus: Columbus Jewish Community Unites to Sing Hinei Ma Tov

One of the silver linings in the coronavirus cloud has been the emergence of videoconferencing via Zoom and other interactive media to bring together members of synagogues and other Jewish organizations to participate in group singing and learning together.

Members of Temple Israel in Columbus, Ohio, led by Rabbi Sharon Mars, joined together in harmony from their homes to sing Hinei Ma Tov to express the hope that soon they will be able to sing together in one location.

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.

Hinei Ma Tov Around the World - Israeli Dance at the Las Vegas Line Dance Explosion

Every fall, 1500 line dance enthusiasts know where the action will be -- Las Vegas, of course. It's the home of the annual Line Dance Explosion, where hundreds of dancers from countries all over the world congregate for the world's greatest line dance event.

Israel and Israeli music is well represented, and Israeli dances are very popular. At the 2019 event, one of the most popular dances was to the song Hinei Ma Tov, which has found a following in many countries.

Here's a video of instructor Silvio Berlfein leading a group of line dancers in a version of Hinei Ma Tov with the recording by the Miami Boys Choir providing the musical 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.

Jewish Home Residents Celebrate 100 Years With New Version of Hinei Ma Tov

New Jersey's Jewish Home Family, now including The Jewish Home at Rockleigh, Jewish Home Assisted Living at River Vale, and Jewish Home at Home, recently celebrated its 100th anniversary of providing care to the community.

The organization, created in 1915 to take care of poor Jewish children whose families were stretched so thin that they relinquished them to an orphanage, the Hebrew Home in Jersey City, quickly became a refuge for the elderly as well.

To celebrate this achievement, the residents and staff of The Jewish Home facilities participated in a music video.

The song is a new version of the classic Hinei Ma Tov, (Behold, how good it is to be together) composed by Marc Rossio and produced by Uri Westrich.

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.)

Just Published - "Jewish Traces in Unexpected Places." Get the e-Book Edition Free Now Through Sunday!

Among the more than 1,800 video clips that we've shared with you on Jewish Humor Central, there are about 150 video examples of Jewish life and music that appear in places you wouldn't expect them to. 

This week we published the collection in a new book, Jewish Traces in Unexpected Places (and Unexpected Traces in Jewish Places). It's available now from Amazon.com in paperback and in a Kindle (e-book) version that you can read on any device with free Kindle reader software from Amazon.

The paperback version sells for $9.95, and when you buy it, Amazon will offer you a free Kindle download. So when you receive the paperback version you can give it as a gift and keep the Kindle version for yourself.

For the next 5 days (Wednesday, January 20 through Sunday, January 24) you can get the Kindle version free of charge directly from Amazon.com by clicking here. 

The book presents anecdotes and associated video clips that reveal the myriad ways that Jewish culture, religion, humor, music, song, and dance have found expression in parts of the world that, at first glance, might not seem supportive of Jewish Life. 

It includes 50 videos of Hava Nagila being performed from Texas to Thailand, from India to Iran, and from Buenos Aires to British Columbia. 

Also highlighted are 34 international versions of Hevenu Shalom Aleichem, Adon Olam, Abanibi, and Tumbalalaika. Whether you’re reading the print version and typing in the video URLs or reading the e-book version and clicking on the links, you’ll have access to 150 video clips totaling more than 10 hours of video.

Jewish Traces in Unexpected Places is also the title of a popular lecture that Al will be presenting in South Florida in February and in the Berkshires in July. If you're interested in information about Al's lectures and Jewish humor programs for your organization, you can reach him at akustan@gmail.com. 

Here are the videos shown on the cover. There are 146 more videos that you can link to in the book.

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.)

Adon Olam with Leaping Brazilian Dancers



Sh'ma Yisrael in Papua New Guinea


Chabad Wins World Cup Soccer in South Africa


Are the Japanese the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel?

Jewish Traces in Unexpected Places: Miami Boys Choir's "Hinei Ma Tov" Causes Flash Mobs to Erupt Worldwide

Who would have thought that a 1999 recording of a traditional Hebrew song by a bunch of Jewish choir boys would start a flash mob dance craze around the world?

But that's just what effect the Miami Boys Choir has had on dancers in the streets of cities in America, Canada, Europe, and even Saigon, South Vietnam.

The Miami Boys Choir, founded and directed by Yerachmiel Begun, has moved to Manhattan since releasing its first few recordings. 

They are now more popular than ever, and their rendition of Hinei Ma Tov on their album Stand Up! has struck a chord internationally.

Here is the dance being performed in the streets of Saigon, followed by the original video of the boys singing and dancing in Jerusalem.

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 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.)

Musical Flashback to 1960: Harry Belafonte Sings Hinei Ma Tov

Hinei Ma Tov is one of those songs, like Hava Nagila and Hevenu Shalom Aleichem, that has broken out of the world of Jewish music to achieve popularity in the general culture. 

Its lyrics are the first verse of Psalm 133, which reads, "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!"
הִנֵּה מַה טוֹב וּמַה נָּעִים שֶׁבֶת אָחִים גַּם יַחַד

We found versions of the song in some unexpected places including Indonesia, where a college choir gave a performance that we shared here a few months ago.

In the 1977 television film Raid on Entebbe, Yonathan Netanyahu and Sammy Berg lead the Israeli commandos in singing the refrain while the commandos' plane is en route to rescue the hostages. It is also played during the closing credits. 

In 1960 Harry Belafonte performed Hinei Ma Tov on a TV program in England that was captured and uploaded to YouTube. We hope you'll enjoy this version.

(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.) 

Jewish Traces in Unexpected Places: Indonesian Choir Sings "Hinei Ma Tov"

Indonesia is a country of 240 million people, 88% of whom are Muslim. Christian religions make up 9 percent of the population, and Hindu, Buddhist, and Animist about 1 per cent each. At last report there were 20 Jews in the country.

So you can imagine our surprise to find a collection of Hebrew songs performed by a chorus at Indonesia's Padjadjaran University.

Earlier this year we posted a video of the same choir singing Hava Nagila, a song that seems to have been adopted by just about every country on Earth, whether or not they know what the words mean. 

We hope that members of the choir know the meaning of the words of Hinei Ma Tov, which are "How good and how pleasant it is for brothers to sit together." 

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.)