A Salute to Israeli Films on Yom Yerushalayim - Jerusalem Day

Tonight at sundown Israel starts celebrating Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day, a national holiday.

Fifty-eight years ago, in 1967, the Israel Defense Forces broke through the Jordanian defenses and captured the Old City of Jerusalem, marking the reunification of the city under Israeli control.

 

To share this joyous holiday, we're posting a medley of songs from classic Israeli films from the unforgettable face of Chaim Topol to lesser-known cinematic gems.

 

Featured films include The Policeman, Sallah Shabati, Kazablan, and The Band. They are sung by Azi Schwartz, cantor of New York City's Park Avenue Synagogue.

 

Chag sameach! 

 

Today is Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day). Jews and Christians Ascended the Temple Mount in Solidarity for Peace

Fifty-seven years ago, in 1967, the Israel Defense Forces broke through the Jordanian defenses and captured the Old City of Jerusalem, marking the reunification of the city under Israeli control.

Today we celebrate the day as Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day). Israel TV’s editor in chief Maayan Hoffman accompanied a tour of both Christian and Jews to the Temple Mount - the holiest site in Judaism.  

Wishing all our readers a happy Jerusalem Day!

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.

Jerusalem Day (Yom Yerushalayim) Starts Tonight in Israel

 

Tonight at sundown Israel starts celebrating Yom Yerushalayim, Jerusalem Day, a national holiday.

Fifty-six years ago, in 1967, the Israel Defense Forces broke through the Jordanian defenses and captured the Old City of Jerusalem, marking the reunification of the city under Israeli control.

Last year on this day, people from all around the world came together to talk about what they love most about the magnificent city of Jerusalem. 

Wishing all our readers a happy Jerusalem Day!

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.

Today is Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day) Celebrating Jerusalem's Unification

Today is Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day), a commemoration of the reunification of Jerusalem after the Six-Day War in 1967. It is celebrated on the 28th of the Hebrew month of Iyar. 

After two years of restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year the festivities will be held as usual to mark the 55th anniversary of this historic event.

Special events, concerts, tours, live music, exhibitions, workshops, and many more surprises are taking place throughout Israel during May.

Last night the celebration began with the unveiling of a huge Israeli flag at the Kotel (Western Wall).

Enjoy, and Chag Sameach!

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.

Celebrating Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day) on the Mount of Olives with Yonina and "Jerusalem of Gold"

Today is Yom Yerushalayim - Jerusalem Day — the most recent addition to the Hebrew calendar. It is celebrated on the 28th day of Iyar (six weeks after the Passover seder, one week before the eve of Shavuot). 

Although Jerusalem has been considered the capital city of the Jewish people since the time of King David — who conquered it and built it as the seat of his monarchy in approximately 1000 B.C.E.–there has never been a special day in honor of the city until the Israeli army took over the ancient, eastern part of the city on the third day of the Six-Day War in June 1967.

Shortly after the Six-Day War, “a municipal unification” of the two sections of the city took place, ending 19 years of separation between predominantly Arab and Jewish suburbs of Jerusalem, following the War of Independence in 1948.

Today we celebrate Yom Yerushalayim with Jerusalem of Gold sung by the duo of Yoni and Nina Tokayer, who perform as Yonina, a combination of both their first names.

The married musical duo live in the small town of Pardes Chana, Israel. They have been uploading home videos to Facebook and Youtube and reaching millions. They have both been singing and writing since they can remember, and have been making music together ever since they met.

The song was written in 1967 by Naomi Shemer and first performed by Shuly Natan, who was then a soldier in the Israel Defense Forces teaching Hebrew to new immigrants from Morocco in Israel's Negev desert.

Most people think the song was written to commemorate Israel's victory in the Six Day War, but it actually was written shortly before war broke out. It was commissioned by Teddy Kollek, mayor of Jerusalem at the time, as a background song to be sung while the votes were counted for a radio song competition, similar to today's American Idol. It has grown in popularity over the years and is now second only to Hatikvah as Israel's national anthem.

Chag Sameach!

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.

16 Female Cantors From Around the World Sing "Jerusalem of Gold"

In honor of Jerusalem’s 53rd reunification anniversary this week, 16 female cantors from around the world united to sing Yerushalayim Shel Zahav (Jerusalem of Gold).

Naomi Shemer wrote the original song for the Israeli Song Festival held on 15 May 1967, the night after Israel's nineteenth Independence Day. She chose the then-unknown Shuli Natan to sing the song.

The cantors are from Israel, Germany, and 13 cities in the USA. Here is a list of the cantors, their synagogues, and their cities. 

Adi Arad, Petach Tikva, Israel 
Hazzan Alisa Pomerantz-Boro, Congregation Beth El, Voorhees, NJ, USA 
Atalya Lavi, Beit Tefilah Israeli, Tel Aviv, Israel 
Cantor Aviv Weinberg, Celle Synagogue, Berlin, Germany
Cantor Elizabeth Shammash, Tiferet Bet Israel, Philadelphia, PA, USA 
Cantor Julia Cadrain, Central Synagogue, New York, NY, USA 
Laurie Akers, Congregation Or Shalom, Vernon Hills, IL, USA 
Cantor Lisa Peicott, Wilshire Boulevard Temple, Los Angeles, CA, USA 
Cantor Lizzie Weiss, Temple Emanu-El, Beverly Hills, CA, USA 
Cantor Magda Fishman, B'nai Torah, Boca Raton, FL, USA 
Cantor Rachel Goldman, Congregation Ner Tamid of South Bay, Los Angeles, CA, USA 
Cantor Rebecca Garfein, Congregation Rodeph Shalom, New York, NY, USA 
Cantor Roslyn Barak, Congregation Emanu-El, San Francisco, CA, USA 
Cantor Sara Hass, Temple Israel, Long Beach, CA, USA 
Cantor Shira Lissek, Temple Israel, Charlotte, NC, USA 
Cantor Vicky Glikin, Temple Emanu-El, Dallas, TX, USA

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.

Today is Yom Yerushalayim - Put on Your Mask and Let's Visit Jerusalem

Today is Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day), the most recent addition to the Hebrew calendar. It is celebrated on the 28th day of Iyar (six weeks after the Passover seder, one week before the eve of Shavuot).

Although Jerusalem has been considered the capital city of the Jewish people since the time of King David — who conquered it and built it as the seat of his monarchy in approximately 1000 B.C.E.–there has never been a special day in honor of the city until the Israel Defense Forces took over the ancient, eastern part of the city on the third day of the Six-Day War in June 1967.

Shortly after the Six-Day War, “a municipal unification” of the two sections of the city took place, ending 19 years of separation between predominantly Arab and Jewish suburbs of Jerusalem, following the War of Independence in 1948.

Today we visit the city as it is today, led by a trio of masked tour guides. Our walking tour will take us to the Knesset, past a temperature checkpoint to the Mahane Yehuda market (shuk), Zion Square, Yafo Street, the Montefiore Windmill in Mishkenot Sha'ananim, and the Kotel HaMaaravi (Western Wall), where today social distancing is in effect.

The tour ends with video from the capture of the Old City in 1967 and scenes of joyful dancing in the streets when social closeness was the norm.

Enjoy Jerusalem's special day and Shabbat shalom!

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.

A Tribute to the City of Jerusalem on Yom Yerushalayim

Today is Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day), the 52nd anniversary of the unification of Jerusalem. To mark the occasion the students and faculty of the Fuchs Mizrachi School in Beachwood, a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, were asked what their favorite place in Yerushalayim is.

The answers include the Old City, the Western Wall, the Mahane Yehuda market (shuk), the City of David, and family residences. 

Do you have a favorite place in Jerusalem? Let's take a photo and musical tour of some of the most popular sites.

Happy Jerusalem Day!

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 THEPLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.  

Today is Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day) - Let's Celebrate!

Today is Yom Yerushalayim - Jerusalem Day — is the most recent addition to the Hebrew calendar. It is celebrated on the 28th day of Iyar (six weeks after the Passover seder, one week before the eve of Shavuot). 

Although Jerusalem has been considered the capital city of the Jewish people since the time of King David — who conquered it and built it as the seat of his monarchy in approximately 1000 B.C.E.–there has never been a special day in honor of the city until the Israeli army took over the ancient, eastern part of the city on the third day of the Six-Day War in June 1967.

Shortly after the Six-Day War, “a municipal unification” of the two sections of the city took place, ending 19 years of separation between predominantly Arab and Jewish suburbs of Jerusalem, following the War of Independence in 1948.

Today we celebrate Yom Yerushalayim with a medley of songs of Jerusalem performed by a group of talented Israeli actors and singers led by producer and musical director Tomer Adaddi. This video clip is an excerpt from 70 Years in the Promised Land, an original production that was performed as part of the Spanish River Concerts in South Florida in February and March.

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.

Key Tov Orchestra Celebrates Yom Yerushalayim with Jerusalem Song Mashup

Elliot Dvorin and the Key Tov Orchestra are at it again.

We have featured the Chicago-based wedding band before, performing a flash mob version of Hashem Melech and and a mashup of Passover songs in downtown Chicago, with the Kol Ish a cappella singers in a bluegrass version of Yigdal, in an Israeli salsa number in Miami, and in a Chicago mashup of Chanukah songs old and new.

In March they released a new music video that was filmed in some of the most iconic locations in Tel Aviv. Now they're back just in time for Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day) wiith a talented team of dancers performing stunning choreography to a variety of musical styles in familiar sites around 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 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 songs included in the mashup are:

Yerushalayim Shel Zahav - Naomi Shemer
Im Eshkachech Yerushalayim - Yaakov Shwekey
Jerusalem, If I Forget You - Matisyahu
Al Chomotayich Yerushalayim
Sisu Et Yerushalayim - Akiva Nof
Lach Yerushalayim - A. Rubinstein & Amos Etinger
Yerushalayim Oro Shel Olam - Avraham Fried
L'Shana Habah B'Yerushalayim - Reb Shlomo Carlebach

משאפ שירי ירושלים:

ירושלים של זהב - נעמי שמר
אים אשכחך ירושלים - יעקב שוואקי
מתיסיהו - Jerusalem, If I Forget You
על חומותיך ירושלים
שישו את ירושלים - עקיבא נוף
לך ירושלים - א. רובינשטיין & עמוס אטינגר
ירושלים אורו של עולם - אברהם פריד
לשנה הבאה בירושלים - ר׳ שלמה קרליבך

Israel Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Jerusalem's Unification

Jerusalem couldn't wait to celebrate the 50th anniversary of its unification. The week-long Jerusalem Day celebrations  started three days early on Sunday night with a fantastic light and sound show projected against the old city walls outside of the Jaffa Gate. 

The evening, which was attended by tens of thousands, including President Reuven Rivlin and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, told the story of the history of Jerusalem. Beginning with the binding of Isaac on Mount Moriah and continuing through Jacob's dream, the history of the city played out including King David, the Temple of Solomon, the Babylonian exile, the return to Zion and rebuilding of the Holy Temple, the Maccabees and the refurbished Temple of Herod and its destruction in the year 70 CE by the Romans.

The story resumed in the 16th century as entire Jewish communities began to resettle inside Jerusalem's walls, to the first Jewish settlements outside the walls, the division of the city during Israel's 1948 War of Independence, and climaxed with the liberation and reunification of Jerusalem during the 1967 Six Day War.

The presentation included the voice of Mota Gur, who commanded the Israeli paratroopers who stormed the Temple Mount, taken directly from the two-way radio with which he was commanding his troops.

Jerusalem's old city was liberated on the 28th day of the Hebrew month of Iyar, (tomorrow), which was on June 7, 1967. Israel will be celebrating 50 years since the liberation of Jerusalem throughout the entire week.

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