Singer/Songwriter of "Superman (It's Not Easy)" Rededicates Song to Gaza Hostages

Singer/Songwriter John Ondrasik released his hit song Superman (It's Not Easy) in 2001 and it quickly became an anthem for first responders, men and women in uniform, and the broken everyday people working to heal our country from the 9/11 attack.

Now, 24 years later, Ondrasik, who is better known by his stage name, Five for Fighting, has written an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal explaining how the song has found a second life dedicated to Alon Ohel and the other hostages being held in captivity in the tunnels of Gaza.

Ondrasik, who is not Jewish but is married to Jewish executive producer Carla Berkowitz – with whom he has two children, writes:

I turned to “Superman,” hoping to remind the world that the hostages are people, not statistics. They are brothers and sisters, sons and daughters, husbands and wives. Music would bring out this shared humanity after the Jewish people experienced their worst trauma since the Holocaust, just like music uplifted an America shattered by 9/11. 

In this video Ondrasik collaborates with current hostage Alon Ohel’s mother Idit, brother Ronen, and family and friends with this new version of Superman to support Alon and all hostages and their families. 

As Hostages Are Released, Cantor Shai Abramson Sings "Bring Them Home"

Shai Abramson was born in Jerusalem, and was exposed early on to the world of cantorial music. As a young teen, he participated in the choir of the Great Synagogue in Jerusalem (under the baton of conductor Elli Jaffe) during the High Holiday season. He gradually acquired more musical expertise and experience, studying with the best teachers in Israel, including Maestro Jaffe, Cantor Moshe Stern, Cantor Naftali Herstik & Dr. Mordechai Sobol.

In 2008, Shai Abramson was appointed Chief Cantor of the Israel Defense Forces. Abramson serves as the representative cantor of the State of Israel, and participates in this capacity in formal state occasions and ceremonies. Abramson also accompanies various government representatives to ceremonies and events in Israel and abroad. He has performed as cantor and singer under the auspices of the Knesset, the IDF, the Ministry of Defense, and various other government ministries and agencies.

During the past few years, Abramson has presented his cantorial repertoire in numerous Jewish communities in the U.S., Canada, South America, Australia and Europe, with the intention of developing and strengthening ties with Jewish communities around the world, and intensifying connections with Israel and with the IDF.

This performance by Abramson was recorded at the 30th anniversary dinner of the Sage Nursing Home in London in July 2024.

Bring them home!

Comedian and Actor Michael Rapaport Skewers Hollywood and Oscars in Eretz Nehederet Skit

Last month comedian and actor Michael Rapaport appeared on Israeli TV in Eretz Nehederet (sometimes known as Israel's Saturday Night Live) in an English language skit satirizing the hypocrisy of Hollywood stars and their silence regarding the Hamas attacks of October 7.

As Jessica Steinberg wrote in The Times of Israel,

As he cracks jokes at the celebrities for not denouncing the Hamas-led onslaught in which Palestinian terrorists killed some 1,200 people and took 253 hostages, the camera pans the audience, showing the familiar actors, directors and faces of the Oscars ceremony crowd, using footage from previous awards shows.

He introduced several new categories to the awards show, starting with “best actor who has made millions playing a stereotypical neurotic Jew with back hair yet still won’t show some solidarity.” The nominees were Seth Rogen, Adam Sandler and Larry David.

He also took a shot at female actors who were vocal supporters of the MeToo and Time’s Up movements against sexual assault but don’t advocate for female hostages abused by Hamas terrorists.

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.

On Day 108 of Gaza Hostage Crisis, Shulem Lemmer Performs at Anshei Emuna in Delray Beach

We've become big fans of Shulem Lemmer after spending a Shabbat with him in Delray Beach a couple of years ago when he was the star of a concert at Anshei Emuna Congregation.

Shulem Lemmer is the most recent rising star of the Jewish musical tradition that has been intertwined in the life, faith, and culture of the Jewish people throughout their history. Whether it's prayers, psalms, or contemporary classics, this youthful Brooklyn tenor finds in music something rich and affirming, an endeavor that makes the soul soar and the spirit rise and speaks to the human condition. 

Shulem is as comfortable with Broadway and Hollywood tunes as he is with Chassidic music. As we continue to focus on the challenges that Israel faces in Gaza, let's apply the sentiments expressed in When You Believe -- a hope that all soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces accomplish their mission and bring the hostages home safely.

Shulem will be performing live in concert again at Anshei Emuna Congregation in Delray Beach, Florida tonight. We'll be there and if you're planning to be in South Florida in January, we'll see you there. 

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.

1,000 Israeli Musicians in Caesaria Homeland Concert to Bring Hostages Home

When producer Talya Yarom thought about a giant production of musicians playing and singing for the hostages held captive in Gaza, she kept thinking about bringing 1,000 musicians and singers together.

As Jessica Steinberg wrote in The Times of Israel,

“One thousand sounds good,” said Yarom. “It’s a good place to get to, and 1,000 musicians in Caesarea, which to me is a symbol of the beautiful Israel.”

On December 18, Yarom brought together 1,000 musicians, old and young, rockers and classical players, amateurs and professionals, to the Caesarea amphitheater for a day of recording and filming.

The result is “Homeland Concert,” with a medley of lyrics from Ehud Manor’s classic song, “Home” and part of “Hatikva,” Israel’s national anthem, composed by Yair Klinger and melded into one work arranged by Eran Mitelman, with the orchestral arrangement by Ron Klein and directed by Shilo Gallay and Danny Casson.

But the concept was Yarom’s, a veteran of outdoor productions who felt that she had to bring something big and beautiful “to warm everyone’s frozen hearts” after the vicious Hamas terrorist attacks of October 7, when some 1,200 people were killed by gunmen in a widespread assault in the Gaza border communities, and another 240 people taken captive to Gaza.

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.