From age four through her graduation from high school, Madeleine took every opportunity to be engaged with Jewish life, from singing in multiple choirs to performing in Purim Shpiels to taking on leadership opportunities in her synagogue community. Through these experiences, Madeleine began to appreciate how building community – a true sense of connection and belonging – is essential to sustaining Judaism.
In this video, Madeleine leads the congregation in singing Yismechu.
Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!
Her focus is on technique and expression, and she is known for her professionalism and ability to adapt to diverse performance environments. She also collaborates with other musicians and artists.
Today we welcome Shabbat with Rivka Arki-Amar playing Uzi Hitman's version of Adon Olam on her harp as filmed in Jerusalem's City of David.
Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!
Led by Rabbi Steven Rein and based in Alexandria, Virginia, the congregation describes itself as a community built on covenantal relationships, generating the connections that bind one individual to another and one generation to the next.
Today we're welcoming Shabbat with Hazzan Dienstfrey and the band easing into the Kabbalat Shabbat service with a touch of country and bluegrass sound.
Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!
Kol Kinor is a small mixed voice choir of singers who perform, enjoy and enthuse about Jewish music. It has a rich and diverse repertoire covering many aspects of Jewish culture including liturgical and synagogue pieces set to modern, traditional and folk arrangements. It has Jewish and non-Jewish members.
The choir sings in Yiddish, Hebrew, English and Ladino, and complement this with commentaries on the history and significance of each piece in relation to musical development and religious emphasis within individual festivals and services.
Over the years, the choir has performed all over the UK in many varied venues including cathedrals, churches, synagogues, music festivals, City of Birmingham events; the choir has also sung in the USA.
In this video, Kol Kinor sings Lecha Dodi, a traditional part of the Kabbalat Shabbat service.
Shabbat shalom!
Today we're sharing a version in the spirit of Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville, as interpreted by Cantor Danny Mendelson of Congregation Kol Ami, a Reform synagogue in White Plains, New York.
Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!
In this video, a trio from the Maccabeats sing an excerpt from Lecha Dodi, a major liturgical piece from the Kabbalat Shabbat service sung on Friday night.
Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!
Itay Benda, also known as Itay Ben David, was born in Jerusalem with music in his soul. Enthralled by music
from a young age, he convinced his friends to take music lessons to form
his first band. He’s since gone on to tour around the globe with some
of the most prominent Israeli and European acts as both a singer and
musician.
Currently based in Los Angeles and performing around
the world, Itay brings new meaning and life to audiences as he shares
the songs inside his soul. As a solo act or alongside a band of up to
twelve, Itay incorporates nuances and flavors from his time spent
touring the world.
Join us in welcoming Shabbat tonight with Shalom Aleichem, as sung by Itay Benda.
Shabbat shalom!
The congregation is located in Ridgefield, Connecticut approximately one mile from South Salem, New York. It is a union of Jewish Family Congregation of South Salem, NY and Temple Shearith Israel of Ridgefield, CT. Though a Reform congregation, its congregants come from Reform, Conservative and Orthodox backgrounds or no religious background at all.
This version was recorded at the installation of Cantor Megdal in March 2025.
Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!
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!
Founded in 2023, ApiChorus is a coed group comprised of current students at Harvard University. They sing a diverse repertoire of Hebrew and English classics, represent a broad range of Jewish backgrounds, and perform at venues locally in Cambridge as well as in concerts across the country.
Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!
The purpose of the choir is to encourage musical children and to give them a good feeling and to instill in them confidence in the talent that God has blessed them with. Also to create a situation in which they will strengthen their studies at school.
The choir publishes songs and music videos, as well as occasional performances that give a lot of satisfaction and confidence to the children.
As we welcome Shabbat, Pirchei Shamayim sings Anim Zemirot, a liturgical poem that most synagogues sing toward the conclusion of the Shabbat morning service.
Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!
Since July 2020, the religious leader of the CIM has been Rabbi Lucca Myara.
In this video, Rabbi Myara sings Shalom Aleichem, which is usuallly sung at the beginning of the Shabbat meal.
Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!
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!
Enjoy and Shabbat shalom!
Today we welcome Shabbat with BerKalit a cappella singing Shalom Aleichem.
Founded in 2022 at Berklee College of Music, BerKalit's name cleverly nods to its origins; in Hebrew, 'Kalit' (קליט) means 'catchy,' capturing the spirit of BerKalit's music, while sounding like 'Berklee.' BerKalit are the proud winners of Jewish Star Season 5 and the singers behind ASMAC critically acclaimed arrangement, "Lecha Dodi."
Alongside facilitating Shabbat services and vocal harmony workshops nationwide, the group is thrilled to have released their debut EP in 2025, featuring a collection of innovative liturgical arrangements. Comprising members from diverse religious backgrounds united by their love for Jewish music, BerKalit aims to bridge the gap between Jewish music and contemporary a cappella, foster community through vocal harmony, and use their voices to uplift the Greater Boston Area and beyond.
Shabbat shalom!
This rendition has roots in Egyptian music, which is part of the tradition of Jenni Asher's family. This is the tenth version of the song that we've posted, and it's the first to use an Egyptian tune.
The song is a musical expression of Rabbi Moshe ben Maimon (Maimonides)’s Thirteen Principles of Faith.
We will not be posting on Sunday because we'll be in our Florida shul observing the last day of Pesach. We'll be back on Monday with another Joke to Start the Week.
Enjoy, Shabbat shalom, and Chag Pesach sameach!
At the seder we will be singing many songs during the recitation of the Haggadah, and one of the most enduring and memorable ones is Vehi She'amda.
וְהִיא שֶׁעָמְדָה לַאֲבוֹתֵיֽנוּ וְלָנֽוּ. שֶׁלֹא אֶחָד בִּלְבָד, עָמַד עָלֵיֽנוּ לְכַלּוֹתֵנֽוּ. אֶלָּא שֶׁבְּכָל דּוֹר וָדוֹר, עוֹמְדִים עָלֵיֽנוּ לְכַלּוֹתֵנֽוּ. וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַצִּילֵנוּ מִיָּדָם
Vehi She’amda, La’avotainu Velanu Shelo Echad Bilvad, Amad Aleinu Lechaloteinu Ela Sheb’chol Dor VaDor Omdim Aleinu Lechaloteinu V’HaKadosh Baruch Hu Matzilenu Miyadam.
And this (Hashem’s blessings and the Torah) is what kept our fathers and what keeps us surviving. For, not only one arose and tried to destroy us, rather in every generation they try to destroy us, and Hashem saves us from their hands.
This verse has been set to many melodies, but this one is especially expressive of the message. Composed by Yonatan Razel in 2009, it is sung in this video by Israeli singers Shira Linshe and Noa Goren.
Jewish Humor Central will be taking a break on Sunday and Monday as we observe the first two days of Passover in Florida, but we'll be back with Chol Hamoed videos on Tuesday.
Shabbat shalom and Chag kasher v'sameach!
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