Hava Nagila Around the World: Ukrainian Band Kommuna Lux Performs Rousing Version of Hava Nagila

One of the joys of posting videos on Jewish Humor Central is discovering new versions of traditional Jewish and Hebrew songs as they are performed around the world, often in unexpected places.

Since we started Jewish Humor Central in 2009 we have posted 129 different versions of Hava Nagila. The song has shown up in many countries, including some unexpected ones (Scroll down the left column on this page and click on Hava Nagila in the Keywords list and you'll see what we mean.)

Today we're posting a version of Hava Nagila that was performed by the Ukrainian band Kommuna Lux.

Enjoy!

Welcoming Shabbat with Mizmor Shir L'Yom HaShabbat by Ori Yavor and Friends

Mizmor Shir L'yom HaShabbat, based on Psalm 92, is a prayer recited during the Shabbat morning service. It praises and expresses gratitude to God for the gift of Shabbat and its significance in Jewish tradition. This soul-stirring rendition of the classic Shabbat tune is performed by Ori Yavor and friends.

Ori is a musician, therapist and host of diverse and special musical content.

Ori leads singing circles, Shabbat and Kirtan receptions, leading healing journeys with sounds – sound healing, accompanying yoga classes with a wide variety of instruments from all over the world.

Ori drums and sings in various ensembles (curamundo, HaQawwaliya), guides educational and experiential workshops/lectures – a musical journey around the world for all ages (3 months to 100), accompanies couples to the hupa, leads cocoa ceremonies, and more… everything is dynamic, adjusted and attentive to the audience and the atmosphere.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

Musical Showcase: A Swinging Version of Tumbalalaika by Lea Kalisch and Jewbalaya

The Yiddish folk love song Tumbalalaika originated in Eastern Europe in the 19th century, but its exact origin is hard to pinpoint. That hasn't prevented it from being sung and played over and over, not only in places where Yiddish songs are sung, but just about everywhere in the world, in vocal and instrumental versions, in cabarets and in the movies.

Just as we have followed the songs Hava Nagila, Adon Olam, Hevenu Shalom Aleichem, and Abanibi as they took different forms as interpreted by a wide variety of singers, musicians, and dancers, we're continuing the series today that we started back in 2012, sharing our 27th version of this universal courting and love song.

It's played by Jewbalaya and sung by its principal singer, Lea Kalisch. From Rap to Rumba, Folk to Feminism, Lea blends styles and languages like a smoothie. Lea is a Swiss Jewish international entertainer who gives tradition a facelift. Yiddish Theater, forgotten melodies, original songs, and mashups—all delivered with young, zestful energy. 

Jewbalaya plays a good-time mixture of Klezmer and Traditional New Orleans Jazz. With a horn section, drums, banjo, accordion and vocals, Jewbalaya offers a shmaltzy stew of funky beats and Yiddish treats. Jewbalaya has performed recently at the Lake Harriet Bandshell, Mall of America, The Slavic Experience Festival, and more.

In this video, Lea and Jewbalaya sing and play a swinging version of the Yiddish folk song Tumbalalaika. It was recorded at Temple Israel in Minneapolis. 

Enjoy! 

Welcoming Shabbat with Yah Ribon Olam by Kedmah

Kedmah is an ensemble of musicians and prayer leaders excavating the power and beauty of Mizrahi Jewish expression through ancient poetry and song. Today's video, Yah Ribon Olam, one of the zemirot for Shabbat, is on their debut album, Simu Lev.

Led by Rabbi Yosef Goldman and Yoni Avi Battat, Kedmah honors the artists’ Iraqi, Syrian, and Yemenite ancestry in conversation with their intersecting musical influences. Their interactive performances, workshops, and recordings allow listeners to experience the spiritual and emotional depth of Middle Eastern piyyut (liturgical poetry) and the ages-old tradition of Arab melodies that adorn them. Part educational initiative, part performance group, the social and pedagogical impact of this project is strengthened by a commitment to musical creativity, historical accuracy, spirituality, and public performance at the highest level.  

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

Musical Showcase: Lea Kalisch and Jewbalaya Sing Az Der Rebbe Zingt and Bim Bam

Jewbalaya plays a good-time mixture of Klezmer and Traditional New Orleans Jazz. With a horn section, drums, banjo, accordion and vocals, Jewbalaya offers a shmaltzy stew of funky beats and Yiddish treats. Jewbalaya has performed recently at the Lake Harriet Bandshell, Mall of America, The Slavic Experience Festival, and more.

Jewbalaya's vocalist is Lea Kalisch. From Rap to Rumba, Folk to Feminism, Lea blends styles and languages like a smoothie. Lea is a Swiss Jewish international entertainer who gives tradition a facelift. Yiddish Theater, forgotten melodies, original songs, and mashups—all delivered with young, zestful energy. She slips into different characters to make you laugh with one eye and cry with the other. 

In this video, Lea and Jewbalaya sing and play the Yiddish classics Az Der Rebbe Zingt and Bim Bam.

Enjoy! 

Welcoming Shabbat with a Shabbat Medley by Israeli Singer Bat Ella and Cantor Azi Schwartz

Today we welcome Shabbat with a medley of Shabbat songs by Israeli singer Bat Ella and Cantor Azi Schwartz of New York's Park Avenue Synagogue.

The medley includes Shalom Aleichem, Lecha Dodi, V'Shamru, a Hebrew version of Sabbath Prayer from Fiddler on the Roof, and Havdalah.

Nusach America was a World Premiere Tribute concert in Tel Aviv dedicated to the rich and varied musical culture world of North American Jewry.

Bat Ella said she learns Talmud and Tanach (Hebrew Bible), says Modeh Ani (the prayer upon arising) in the morning and the Shema prayer when she goes to sleep. She also attends a Conservative synagogue near her home. She said she is incredibly proud of her Judaism, and believes it’s a source of wisdom that makes her a better human being. 

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

Jewish Traces in Unexpected Places: Pennfield Middle School Starts Winter Concert with Hava Nagila

We never stop being amazed at the popularity and resiliency of Hava Nagila, probably the most played Hebrew song of all time, and how often it appears in non-Jewish venues around the world.

Since we started posting on Jewish Humor Central in 2009, we have shared 126 renditions of this song with you. So here comes number 127.

Just yesterday, the 9th Grade Chorus of the Pennfield Middle School in a Pennsylvania suburb started off its winter concert with a performance of Hava Nagila. 

Enjoy!

Here Come the Chanukah Videos: Six13 Sings a Wicked a Cappella Chanukah Medley

The a Cappella group Six13 is bringing some much-needed light into the world with a fun medley of songs from the hit movie Wicked, with Chanukah lyrics replacing the Wicked originals.

Six13 is a six-man vocal band that brings an unprecedented style of Jewish music to the stage, with songs ranging from hip-hop dance tracks to rock anthems. The members of the New York City-based group sound like a full band – while using nothing but their voices.

Enjoy, and Chag Chanukah Sameach!

Jewish Traces in Unexpected Places: Hava Nagila by Street Musician Karolina Protsenko

16-Year-Old Karolina Protsenko moved to California with her family from Ukraine a few years ago and established herself as a street musician playing the violin. Her style is to start playing in the street and let passers-by ask her to play their favorite songs. 

The Protsenkos now live in California but we're not sure where this version of Hava Nagila was played because they have traveled the world and Karolina plays in many cities.

In this video a little girl asks her if she can play Hava Nagila and when she says yes, her father picks up the microphone and gets into the act.

Enjoy!

Throwback Thursday Yom Kippur Special: Cantor Yossele Rosenblaltt Sings Kol Nidrei in 1930

Josef "Yossele" Rosenblatt (May 9, 1882 – June 19, 1933) was an Ashkenazi chazzan and composer. He was regarded as the greatest cantor of his time. 

Rosenblatt was born on May 9, 1882, in the Russian Empire. The scion of a long line of cantors, Rosenblatt's devoutly religious upbringing prevented him from receiving formal musical training at any of the great academies of his day. He began his career as a member of the local synagogue choir. Quickly lauded as a "wunderkind", or child prodigy, Rosenblatt's solo career was launched. At the age of 7, he moved with his family to Austria.

Rosenblatt's fame extended beyond the Jewish world earning him large concert fees, a singing role in the 1927 film The Jazz Singer, and the sobriquet "The Jewish Caruso".

Rosenblatt corresponded with many of the great tenors of his day. It is told that upon hearing Rosenblatt sing "Elli Elli", Enrico Caruso was so moved that he ascended the stage and kissed him.

We searched the internet for a video of Cantor Rosenblatt singing Kol Nidrei, but only could find audio recordings with accompanying photos. So that's what we're posting today.

Enjoy!

 

   #Throwback Thursday       #TBT   

Cantor Azi Schwartz Sings Hatikvah to Mark October 7 Anniversary

As we mark the one-year anniversary of October 7th, we reflect on the enduring strength of our friends and family in Israel, who continue to live through the ripple effects of war. 

Today, we remember the hostages still waiting for freedom, and we stand with their families in their suffering. We pray for peace.

Cantor Azi Schwartz of the Park Avenue Synagogue in New York City, accompanied by a choir and a full orchestra, sings Hatikvah.

Am Yisrael Chai!

Welcoming Shabbat with Adon Olam by Trio Mandili, Georgian Folk Group

Tonight we welcome Shabbat with Adon Olam, as sung by Georgia (the country, not the state) folk group Trio Mandili. The trio have been very supportive of Israel during this difficult year.

As reported by The Times of Israel,

A few weeks after the October 7 Hamas rampage into southern Israel, Trio Mandili, a folkloric music group sometimes called “Georgia’s ambassadors to the world,” released a video covering a traditional Jewish prayer, in quite good Hebrew, while wearing blue and white.

“We could not stand aside after the tragic events in Israel on October 7. After what happened, we recorded a video for the song ‘Adon Olam’ and posted it on our pages on social networks. Many users wrote us very offensive things and even unfollowed us,” the group wrote in an email exchange with The Times of Israel.

Trio Mandili, three women who sing in the traditional polyphonic Georgian style and language, became international and social media stars several years ago after some of their early videos went viral, garnering many millions of views on YouTube.

After a tour through several European countries, the trio performed five concerts around Israel in June. 

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

Welcoming Shabbat With Adon Olam (to the Main Theme from Star Wars) by Cantor Marcus Feldman

The songs we sing in the synagogue on Shabbat can be set to many different tunes and there have been many adaptations of Adon Olam, Lecha Dodi, and Ein Keiloheinu that reflect popular songs from Broadway, Hollywood, and the Great American Songbook.

On May 4 (May the fourth be with you) Cantor Marcus Feldman of Temple Sinai in Los Angeles sang Adon Olam to the main theme from Star Wars, in an arrangement by Benjamin Fingerhut. This is the 95th version Adon Olam that we have posted. To see the other 94 versions, scroll down to Keywords in the left column on this page.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

Welcoming Shabbat with Eishet Chayil by The Shvesters

The Shvesters (Chava Levi and Polina Fradkin) are a Yiddish vocal duo hailing originally from Detroit, Michigan. They gained a reputation on social media for their perfectly synchronized voices (and signature matching outfits) — and have won the hearts of audiences from all backgrounds. The Shvesters transform classic Yiddish melodies into sophisticated, contemporary harmonic jazz arrangements.

The Shvesters, accompanied by Omri Bar Giora on guitar, performed "Eishet Chayil" at the Museum of Jewish Heritage in Battery Park, NYC, on August 22, 2024. 

"Eishet Chayil" is a cherished Jewish hymn traditionally sung on Friday nights to honor and celebrate a wife or woman of valor. Based on verses from the Book of Proverbs, this heartfelt song is a central part of the Shabbat dinner, highlighting the virtues and contributions of women in Jewish life.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

Hava Nagila Around the World - A New Performance in Jaroslaw, Poland

One of the joys of posting videos on Jewish Humor Central is discovering new versions of traditional Jewish and Hebrew songs as they are performed around the world, often in unexpected places.

Since we started Jewish Humor Central in 2009 we have posted 123 different versions of Hava Nagila. The song has shown up in many countries, including some unexpected ones (Scroll down the left column on this page and click on Hava Nagila in the Keywords list and you'll see what we mean.)

Today we're posting a version of Hava Nagila that was performed last month at Jarmark Jarosławski, an end of summer music and arts festival in Jaroslaw, a town in Eastern Poland.

Enjoy!

Tumbalalaika Around the World - As Sung by Singer/Actress Julie Benko

The Yiddish folk love song Tumbalalaika originated in Eastern Europe in the 19th century, but its exact origin is hard to pinpoint. That hasn't prevented it from being sung and played over and over, not only in places where Yiddish songs are sung, but just about everywhere in the world, in vocal and instrumental versions, in cabarets and in the movies.

Just as we have followed the songs Hava Nagila, Adon Olam, Hevenu Shalom Aleichem, and Abanibi as they took different forms as interpreted by a wide variety of singers, musicians, and dancers, we're continuing the series today that we started back in 2012, sharing our 25th version of this universal courting and love song.

The version of Tumbalalaika that we're sharing today is by singer/actress Julie Benko. Julie portrayed Fanny Brice in the Broadway revival of Funny Girl (2022) and originated the role of Ruth Stern in the Broadway musical Harmony (2023). Julie sings the song in Yiddish and English.

Enjoy!

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Welcoming Shabbat with Ein Keloheinu Sung by Hungarian Cantor Greg Nogradi

Greg Nogradi is a most highly appraised cantor of his generation, both by experts and audiences. At the same time, Cantor Nogradi boasts one of the most significant voices ever introduced in Jewish Music. 

Born into an Ashkenazi family, Cantor Greg Nogradi was already recognized for his compelling dramatic tenor voice and passionate performance style during his university years both in Jerusalem and in Budapest. Therefore, all roads led to the vocal class of Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Budapest and Music Academy Stuttgart for the young graduate in cultural management. 

After winning three major international competitions, Cantor Nogradi found himself in the Verona Arena from one day to another, and subsequently sang five new leading roles annually at various opera theaters of the world until the turn of the millennium. 

After serving six years as the cantor of the Frankel Synagogue in Budapest, Cantor Nogradi was elected Europe’s Number one cantorial voice at the European Cantors Convention.

In this video Cantor Nogradi sings Ein Keloheinu in a concert in the Dohany Street Synagogue, the largest synagogue in Europe, seating 3,000 people. 

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

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Welcoming Shabbat with Lechu Neranena at Mishkon Tephilo in Venice, California

Mishkon Tephilo's historic landmark building on Main Street in Venice, California houses a beautiful synagogue that warmly embraces interfaith families and converts to Judaism. People notice its relaxed and inclusive vibe and find it less formal than other synagogues — as one of its regulars put it, "Hawaiian shirt optional." 

Mishkon is participatory and many congregants engage in synagogue services, leading a section or reading from the Torah on Shabbat. Services are held Friday night (usually on Zoom or at the beach), Saturday morning and all holidays, with occasional family services and alternative learning services. 

In today's video, Mishkon's spiritual leader, Rabbi Joshua Katzan and Happie Hoffman, Musical Director for BBYO International, welcome Shabbat with Lechu Neranena, a major part of the Friday night service.

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 Ein Keloheinu by Eitan Kantor

Eitan Kantor is a musician, educator and composer based in Denver, CO. Eitan is the Music Director of the Hebrew Educational Alliance, a Conservative synagogue in South Denver. Through the creation of both religious and secular Jewish music, he works to inspire social action rooted in Jewish values. 

He channels music through his fiddle, his singing voice and the collective singing voice of the community. His music is rooted in musical traditions of Eastern Europe and sends branches skyward towards the potential of the present moment.

Eitan Kantor’s Ein Keloheinu challenges our concept of what Jewish music can be. The song was composed in a 7/8 rhythm and features neither guitar nor piano, but accordion. Clap along with Eitan and St. Louis-based Bosnian-American accordionist Mensur Hatic. 

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.

The Israel Philharmonic with the IDF Orchestra - Naomi Shemer's "Al Kol Eleh"

 

"Please do not uproot the planted, Do not forget the hope. 

Bring me back and I shall return to the good land." 

Today is Chol Hamoed, the intermediate day of Passover, but it's still a struggle to say "Happy Holidays". We found words of encouragement and comfort in the song "Al Kol Eleh”, (For All These), the words of encouragement that Naomi Shemer wrote to her widowed sister. 

Join us in watching and listening to the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra and the musicians of the IDF Orchestra conducted by Major Rom Shamir in this timeless entreaty to God. We hope the line "Hashiveni v'ashuva" (Bring me back and I shall return) is heard and that our hostages return soon. 

Moadim L'simcha!

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.