From a Child to a Soldier: IDF Chief Cantor Sings Prayer for New Soldiers Joining the Israel Defense Forces

The soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces were children a few short years ago and now these brave boys and girls are defending the state of Israel.

In November 2021 Shai Abramson, Chief Cantor of the IDF sang a prayer written by the Tzohar rabbinical organization, composed by Sol Zim, with musical arrangement, conducting and production by Ofir Sobol. The video shows the new soldiers boarding buses to their IDF bases.

Here are the lyrics, in English and Hebrew:

Master of All Worlds, the King to whom peace belongs, On this day on which we escort our child to serve the Jewish People and All Who Dwell In Israel through army service, we throw before You our pleas that You will spread Your canopy of peace upon him/ her and upon all soldiers of the IDF. 

Grant them the energy, agility, and joy to fulfill the commandment, “the help of Israel from the hands of enemies,” and give them courage, insight, and strength. Protect them from all danger or peril, injury or obstacle, and return them to their homes and families safe and whole, in body and in spirit, and through them may the verse be fulfilled: “It is G-d who girds me with valor, who makes my path perfect”. And may it be manifest through our son/daughter and through all of the IDF: ”G-d will protect you from all evil, He will protect your being; G-d will protect your comings and goings from now through eternity”. Amen.

רִבּוֹן כָּל הָעוֹלָמִים, מֶלֶךְ שֶׁהַשָּׁלוֹם שֶׁלּוֹ בְּיוֹם זֶה שֶׁאָנוּ מְלַוִּים אֶת בָּנֵינוּ ובנותינו לְשָׁרֵת אֶת עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל ומדינת יִשְׂרָאֵל ביבשה, באוויר ובים, אָנוּ מַפִּילִים תְּחִנָּתֵנוּ לְפָנֶיךָ, שֶׁתִּפְרֹשׁ סֻכַּת שְׁלוֹמְךָ עֲלֵיהֶם וְעַל כָּל חַיָּלֵי צְבָא הַהֲגָנָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל וְכוֹחוֹת הַבִּטָּחוֹן. תֵּן בָּהֶם כֹּחַ, זְרִיזוּת וְשִׂמְחָה, לְקַיֵּם מִצְּוַת "עֶזְרַת יִשְׂרָאֵל מִיָּד צַר", וְתֵן בָּהֶם אֹמֶץ, תְּבוּנָה וּגְבוּרָה. שְׁמֹר אוֹתָם מִכָּל צָרָה וְצוּקָה, פֶּגַע אוֹ מִכְשׁוֹל, וְהַחֲזִירָם לְבֵיתָם וּלְמִשְׁפַּחְתָּם שְׁלֵמִים בְּגוּפָם, בְּרוּחָם וּבְנַפְשָׁם, וִיקֻיַּם בָּהֶם מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב "הָאֵל הַמְאַזְּרֵנִי חָיִל וַיִּתֵּן תָּמִים דַּרְכִּי". וְקַיֵּם בָּהֶם וּבְכָל חַיָּלֵי צְבָא הַהֲגָנָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת הַפָּסוּק "יְיָ יִשְׁמָרְךָ מִכָּל רָע יִשְׁמֹר אֶת נַפְשֶׁךָ, יְיָ יִשְׁמָר צֵאתְךָ וּבוֹאֶךָ מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם" אָמֵן. סֶלָה

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.

Tisha B'Av Special - Shai Abramson and IDF Rabbinical Choir Sing "If I Forget Thee O Jerusalem"

There is no day during the year when we can't find an opportunity to laugh, chuckle, guffaw, grin, or maybe just crack a smile.  Without humor, the world would be a much grimmer place.  

Even during the High Holy Days and on fast days, most of us find a moment to share an anecdote or witty comment with friends.  

Today is no exception, but the overall mood is much more sorrowful than any other.  The reason, of course, is that today is Tisha B'Av, the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av.

Tisha B’Av is a fast day that commemorates the destruction of the two Temples. It also happens to be the day that many other calamities have befallen the Jewish people, some of which are listed below.

• 587 BCE (3338)- The First Temple is destroyed by the Babylonians, led by Nebuchadnezzar. The Jews are sent into what later became known as the Babylonian Exile.
• 70 CE (3830)- The Second Temple is destroyed by the Romans, led by Titus.
• 135 CE (3895) - The Romans defeat Bar Kochba's last fortress, Betar, and destroy his army. Bar Kochba himself is killed along with more than 100,000 other Jews. The Roman Emperor Hadrian turns Jerusalem into a Roman city.
• 1290 (5050) - King Edward I of England signs an edict expelling all Jews from England.
• 1492 (5252) - The Alhambra Decree takes effect, expelling the Jews from Spain and from all Spanish territories.
• 1914 (5674) - World War I begins when Germany declares war on Russia, setting the stage for World War II and the Holocaust.
• 1940 (5700) - Himmler presents his plan for the "Final Solution" to the Jewish problem to the Nazi Party.
• 1942 (5702) - Nazis begin deporting Jews from the Warsaw Ghetto. 

On Tisha B'Av, Jews gather in darkened synagogues to read Eicha (The Book of Lamentations) and reflect on the tragedies that befell our people through the millennia.

So we won't post any jokes or hilarity today, but instead we're sharing a performance by IDF Chief Cantor Shai Abramson and the IDF Rabbinical Choir of Im Eshkachech Yerushalayim (If I Forget Thee O Jerusalem), the words coming from Psalm 137.

If I forget you, O Yerushalayim, let my right hand wither;

im esh-ka-KHAYKH y’-ru-sha-LA-im tish-KAKH y’-mee-NEE

ה  אִם־אֶשְׁכָּחֵךְ יְרוּשָׁלִָם תִּשְׁכַּח יְמִינִי׃

Psalm 137 was written by the rivers of Babylon, where the exiled Jews wailed and lamented the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash. They wondered how they would continue to endure on foreign soil. How could they sing the songs of Hashem, which were supposed to be sung in the Temple, there? Their answer was an oath to never forget Yerushalayim. Today, this psalm is recited at Jewish weddings just before the groom breaks a glass, ensuring that Jerusalem is always at the forefront of our minds and reminding us that no joyous occasion is complete until Yerushalayim is restored to its former glory.

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 Eishet Chayil by Cantor Shai Abramson and the IDF Rabbinical Choir

Back in April we posted a rendition of Adon Olam sung by the IDF Rabbinical Choir led by Shai Abramson, Chief Cantor of the Israel Defense Forces.

The song was sung at a Shabbat dinner hosted by Laura Ben David, Director of Marketing for Shavei Israel, the non-profit organization dedicated to assisting descendants of Jews and the Lost Tribes of Israel to reclaim their roots.

Abramson and the choir were in a good singing mood, and saluted their hostess with the traditional Friday night song Eishet Chayil. We found a video of the event and are sharing it with you here.

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 Adon Olam by Cantor Shai Abramson and the IDF Rabbinical Choir

We've gotten into the routine of welcoming Shabbat in our Friday posts with a song from the Shabbat liturgy -- usually Shalom Aleichem, Lecha Dodi, or Adon Olam. We find versions sung in locations all around the world, and so far we have posted 24 of Adon Olam, the concluding hymn of most Shabbat services.

Today we're sharing a 25th version. This rendition is by Cantor Shai Abramson and the IDF Rabbinical Choir. Israel is the only country we know of that has a chief cantor in its armed forces.

The soldiers look like they are enjoying this Shabbat and the singing that goes with it. Let's join them.

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.