Welcoming Shabbat with Lecha Dodi by the Maccabeats

Originally formed in 2007 as Yeshiva University's student vocal group, the Maccabeats have emerged as both Jewish music and a cappella phenomena, with a large fan base, more than 50 million views on YouTube, numerous TV appearances, and proven success with four albums.

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!

Yeshiva University Maccabees Extend Undefeated Basketball Winning Streak to 47 Games

Yeshiva University has the most dominant team in College Basketball, having not lost a game since before the Covid pandemic. 

In this TV report on CNBC on the fourth night of Hanukkah, the Maccabees were getting ready for their 45th straight win. They made it, and since have stretched their winning streak to 47 games.

the undefeated Yeshiva University Maccabees have the longest active win streak in the NCAA. So who says Jews can't play basketball?

Another reason to celebrate the victory of the Maccabees and to say Al HaNissim on Hanukkah.  

Kvell!

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 tip of the kippa to Mannie Young for bringing this story to our attention.

"Hamilton" Creator Lin-Manuel Miranda Stars in New Video for Yeshiva University

Lin-Manuel Miranda, creator and star of the hit Broadway musical Hamilton, is lending his narrating talents to a new fundraising video produced by Yeshiva University. 

As Gabe Friedman wrote yesterday for JTA,

Miranda, who is Puerto Rican and not Jewish, has connections to the school, too. He grew up in Washington Heights — where the main Y.U. campus is located, and which served as the setting for his first hit, “In the Heights” — and his mother is an assistant professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine (which was, until earlier this year, part of Y.U.).

Miranda has given guest lectures there and was given an honorary doctorate from the school in 2009, when he was 29  — making him the youngest ever to receive that honor from the university.

Of course, growing up in Washington Heights left him with plenty of Jewish connections outside of Y.U. He has previously said that all of his elementary school friends were Jewish and that he paid his rent before making it big by performing at bar mitzvahs. Then there’s his love for “Fiddler on the Roof,” which he has said heavily influenced “In the Heights.” He even surprised his wife at their wedding by singing “To Life (L’Chaim),” an upbeat tune from “Fiddler.”

In September 2013 we posted the complete To Life production number from Miranda's wedding which he surreptitiously rehearsed with his entire wedding party to surprise his bride.

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.)