Timeless Tuesday Passover Nostalgia: Rare 1964 Recordings by Geula Gill and Yehoram Gaon

As we get ready for the last days of this Passover holiday, let's travel back in time 62 years to Israel in 1964 where Israeli singers Geula Gill and Yehoram Gaon recorded some Pesach songs which are now rare recordings.

They sing Betzet Yisrael Mimitzrayim, Yatzanu Mimitzrayim, Be'egozim, and Adir Hu.

We hope you enjoyed our Pesach postings. Jewish Humor Central will not be posting on Wednesday and Thursday. We'll be observing the last two days of this Chag and we'll be back with our usual mix on Friday.

Enjoy, and Chag Kasher v'Sameach!

Here Comes Another Passover Video: A "Matzah Balls" Parody of Miley Cyrus "Wrecking Ball"

It seems like matzah balls are the perfect parody subject this year. After posting a Matzah Ball parody of Popular from Wicked last Thursday we came across an entirely different parody of Miley Cyrus' 2013 hit song Wrecking Ball with the same name that was posted on Kveller.

This one is performed by Rabbi Jaclyn Cohen of Temple Isaiah in Los Angeles with lyrics by Gordon Lustig.

Enjoy!

Here Come the Passover Videos: Matzah Balls: A Passover Parody of "Popular" from Wicked

With only two days until the Passover seder, we're sharing yet another video parody created for the holiday. This one is a takeoff on the song Popular from the Broadway show and film Wicked.

It was created and sung by Cantor Laura Phillips Fogelman of Temple Beth Abraham in Tarrytown, New York. In this rendition she is joined by Stessa Peers.

Enjoy, and Chag kasher v'sameach!

Moses Isn't in the Haggadah: A New Song for Passover

In six days, Jews all over the world will get together with their families and friends and open their Haggadot for the Passover seder. 

Is it really true that Moses isn't in the Haggadah? Well, not exactly. His name appears explicitly in the section of the Haggadah in which Rabbi Yossi the Galilean argues that since the “finger of God” was used to inflict 10 plagues, now that the “hand of God” (five fingers) was raised against the Egyptians, they actually suffered fifty plagues at the Red Sea.

Here is the verse: “And when Israel saw the great hand which the Lord had wielded against the Egyptians, the people feared the Lord; they had faith in the Lord and His servant Moses” (Ex. 14:31).

But the tradition remains that Moses does not appear in the Haggadah to teach us that God deserves all the credit for taking us out of Egypt.

Eliana Light, a songwriter and performer of catchy, content-rich tunes for all ages, has just released a new YouTube video with the campers and staff of Camp Ramah Darom called Moses Isn't in the Haggadah. It's a worthy addition to the growing collection of popular tunes that get added to the seder every year.

Enjoy!

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Here Come the Passover Videos: Six 13 Pays a 25th Anniversary Tribute to "The Prince of Egypt"

No collection of Jewish holiday music videos would be complete without an entry from Six13, an a cappella group that has produced videos for Chanukah, Rosh Hashana, Purim, and Passover. In previous years we posted many of their Jewish music videos.

Six13 is a groundbreaking, six-man a cappella vocal band that is bringing an unprecedented style and energy to Jewish music, with nothing but the power of the human voice.

One of the great epic animated films and musicals of all time -- and possibly the greatest retelling of the Passover story -- is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. Six 13 is celebrating the occasion with a medley of songs from the beloved film, including When You Believe.

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.

 

Here Come the Passover Videos: The Y-Studs Sing "Don't Stop We're Leavin'"

With six days left in our countdown to the Pesach seder (one in Israel, two in the diaspora), we're posting another new Passover video just released by the Y-Studs.

Originally from Yeshiva University, the Y-Studs a Cappella group started as a club in 2010 and have since grown beyond the collegiate level to the professional stage. You may have seen some of their music videos, like the viral hit Evolution of Jewish Music and their cover Hashem Melech that have contributed to over 10 million views across social media channels - as well as over 36,000 YouTube subscribers.

Here's the latest Passover video by the Y-Studs, Don't Stop We're Leavin, a parody of Don't Stop Believin by Journey.

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.

Here Come the Passover Videos: The Maccabeats Take Us Through the Seder Finale

In 2010 The Maccabeats, an a cappella group from Yeshiva University, released their first Hanukkah music video, Candlelight, and every Hanukkah (and other holidays) since then we've seen many more videos by them and lots of other groups.

 Originally formed in 2007 as Yeshiva University’s student vocal group, the Maccabeats have recently emerged as both Jewish music and a cappella phenomena,  with a large fan base, more than 20 million views on YouTube, numerous TV appearances, and proven success with three albums, 2010′s Voices From The Heights, 2012′s Out Of The Box and 2014′s One Day More.

Many of the songs are parodies of pop hits, but this Pesach we're sharing their latest hit, a musical trip through the seder finale with traditional seder melodies. Starting with Chasal Siddur Pesach (Nirtzah) we revisit L'Shana Ha'Ba'ah BiYerushalayim, Ki Lo Naeh, Adir Hu, Echad Mi Yodeah and Chad Gadya.

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.

Here Come the Passover Videos: Aish HaTorah Breakdances into The Weeknd

No, we didn't leave out the letter "e" in Weekend. The Weeknd is the name of a Ethiopian-Canadian pop singer who has won many music awards. We had never heard of him until he showed up as the halftime act in the Superbowl last month.

But Aish HaTorah did hear his music, and adapted it into a Passover video released just yesterday.

Aish HaTorah, the Israel-based outreach organization, has been using breakdancing as a vehicle for spreading their message. Ten years ago they collaborated with a professional breakdance group to record a popular Rosh Hashanah video greeting. This year it looks like they've learned the moves as they create a new breakdance video set to music by The Weeknd.

Headquartered in Jerusalem near the Western Wall, Aish.com is a division of Aish HaTorah, an apolitical network of Jewish educational centers in 35 branches on five continents. This partnership enables Aish.com users to experience the richness of community at an Aish branch.
 
The name Aish HaTorah literally means "Fire of Torah." As Elie Weisel said: "Aish HaTorah means to me the passion of teaching, the passion of learning. The study of Torah, the source of Jewish values, is the way to Jewish survival."

Enjoy!

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Happy Passover! A musical greeting from the Israel Philharmonic

This Pesach, because each of us is celebrating separately, the members of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra prepared a special musical greeting, a medley of Passover songs. 

Playing individually in their own homes, the Philharmonic musicians unite in this video to wish all music lovers in Israel and around the world a happy Passover and good health.

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.    

'Twas the Night Before Pesach - A Benji Lovitt Passover Comedy Special

American-Israeli comedian Benji Lovitt, now living in Tel Aviv, has made a contribution to the growing collection of Passover videos. He recruited a bunch of his friends' children, and got them to recite his original version of a song usually played in December.

And what a night it was! Coronavirus, social distance, Zoom, modems, routers, internet cables, and a last minute miracle.

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.

California JCC Launches Broadway Singalong Passover Nosh with "Seder Prayer"

LABA East Bay: A Laboratory for New Jewish Culture launched at the JCC East Bay in January 2020.  LABA is a non-religious, Jewish house of study and culture laboratory which uses classic Jewish texts to inspire the creation of art, dialogue, and study. 

The Program began in New York City in 1997 at the 14th Street Y and expanded to Buenos Aires in 2015. Now it's in California's East Bay in Berkeley and Oakland.

In this video, LABA East Bay fellow Bruce Bierman and JCC East Bay Director of Public Programs Sarah Wolfman-Robichaud offer a new take on the classic Fiddler on the Roof tune, Sabbath Prayer from their Passover Nosh program. It's sure to become an earworm this year at your Passover Seder! 

Enjoy!

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Here Come the Pesach Videos - What Mek' Dis Night - A Reggae Ma Nishtana

Paper products may be scarce during this coronavirus crisis, but with Passover three weeks away, empty supermarket shelves are filling up with boxes of matzah, gefilte fish, and grape juice.

We're already searching for Pesach videos to share with you as we do each year, and we found a great one to start the season. It's What Mek' Dis Night, a Ma Nishtana Reggae produced by Izzy Kieffer and Heshy Rosenwasser (full credits below).

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.



WHAT MEK DIS NIGHT (Ma Nishtana Reggae) 
Produced by Izzy Kieffer and Heshy Rosenwasser 
Music by Frederick “Toots” Hibbert and H. Rosenwasser Chorus by Frederick “Toots” Hibbert and H. Rosenwasser 
Verses by H. Rosenwasser 
Musicians: Heshy “The Hesh Inc.” Rosenwasser—lead & backing vocals, piano, organ Izzy Kieffer—drums, vocals Steven Lopresto—bass Timothy “P-Dub” Boyce—guitar 
Video featuring: Bishop Alexander Miles Brown Gavriel Kieffer Izzy Kieffer Joseph Marciano Heshy Rosenwasser “Scratchie” the Barber 
Videography by Barry Brown/Brown Studios 
Editing by SR 
Scenes from the film “When Do We Eat?” courtesy of Salvador Litvak and Pictures From The Fringe. 
Copy of the Arthur Szyk Haggadah provided by Lester Katz, New York, NY. 
Special thanks to Stuart Wax and Allison Wright Clark. 
©2020 Reality Shock Music