Jewish Traces in Unexpected Places: Shiloh Choir Sings Hevenu Shalom Aleichem in Indonesia

Hevenu Shalom Aleichem is one of the most widely played and sung Hebrew songs around the world, probably second only to Hava Nagila. We have been sharing versions of this song as performed in India, Guatemala, Australia, Korea, Belarus, and in an Irish pub.

The Shiloh Choir is one of many choirs singing in Indonesia. Last month the Shiloh Choir recorded a version of Hevenu Shalom Aleichem in Parakan, Central Java.

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: Welcoming Shabbat with Adon Olam in Papua, Indonesia

There is a spark of Jewish life in some of the cities in Indonesia, the largest Muslim country in the world.

Indonesian Jews face the challenge of declaring a religion on their government ID cards. Every citizen over the age of 17 must carry a card, which includes the holder's religion. Indonesia only recognizes six religions: Islam, (non-Catholic) Christianity, Catholicism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Confucianism. It does not officially recognize Judaism and other religions.

An estimated 20,000 descendants of Jews still live in Indonesia, though many are losing their historical identity. Since most of Indonesian Jews are actually Jews from Southern Europe and Middle East Area, languages which are spoken by Indonesian Jews are Indonesian, Malay, Arabic, Hebrew, Portuguese and Spanish. 

There are few synagogues and few congregants, but Shabbat and Jewish holidays are celebrated in some Indonesian cities, such as this group singing Adon Olam to bring in the Shabbat in Papua (a city on the western side of the island, not to be confused with Papua New Guinea which occupies the eastern side.)

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.

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.)