Here Come the Chanukah Videos: Yonina Sings Hebrew Version "Be a Light" by Rabbi Neal Katz

We've been posting versions of Hebrew liturgical and popular songs by Yonina (Yoni and Nina Tokayer, a married musical duo who live in the small town of Pardes Chana, Israel.) They have been uploading home videos to Facebook and YouTube and reaching millions. 

Just in time for Chanukah, Yoni and Nina posted a Hebrew translation of the song Be a Light, written in English by Rabbi Neal Katz, rabbi of Congregation Beth El in Tyler, Texas.

Rabbi Katz has released three CDs of his original Jewish music. His songs have become popular in congregations, camps, and Religious Schools around the country. In 2009, Neal also released a folk-music CD, and in 2010, he was a finalist in the Kerrville Musical Festival's New Folk Contest. The website for his music can be found at KatzMusic.com. 

In addition to his musical travels in the States, when Neal travels abroad, he likes to share his music with member congregations in the World Union for Progressive Judaism. Neal has been honored to share his music and help lead Shabbat worship services at Progressive Jewish congregations in Warsaw, Paris, Prague, Budapest, London, St. Petersburg, and Copenhagen.

Enjoy! 

Yonina, Singers Separated by War, Sing of Hope for Better Days

We've been posting versions of Hebrew liturgical and popular songs by Yonina (Yoni and Nina Tokayer, a married musical duo who live in the small town of Pardes Chana, Israel.) They have been uploading home videos to Facebook and YouTube and reaching millions. 

Melaketet Kochavim (Gathering Stars) is a new original song, telling their story, from the morning of October 7th when everything changed, through the past months, with Yoni away in the reserves and Nina at home, the distance and challenges and the hope for better days. The Hebrew lyrics and English translation appear below the video.

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הייתי בדרך לבית כנסת כשעלית על מדים ובפינת הרחוב נפרדת ממני ומהילדים הסברתי שאבא עכשיו צריך לשמור, ולא רציתי שידעו ממה ובדרך אנשים שאלו מה אתם עושים בחוץ, פרצה מלחמה ועכשיו- אני אוספת את כל הכוחות של חסד ושל אמונה שעוד יבואו ימים של טוב שעוד תשוב אלינו הרינה ומחבקת חזק ת׳ילדים רק להגן מהסופות שבחוץ ובתוך הטירוף מול שמיים שחורים מלקטת כוכבים בלילות הראשונים לא ישנתי, דרוך על המשמר חתמתי על ציוד בעולם מקביל, נפרדתי מכל מה שמוכר יש כאן אחוות לוחמים וימים מתישים מבלי לדעת מה יהיה מחר שבועות כבר הפכו חודשים, ובכל זאת נשארים עד שהאופק יואר ועכשיו אני שולח לך ים של כוחות של חסד ושל אמונה שעוד יבואו ימים של טוב, שעוד תשוב אלינו הרינה אז תחבקי חזק ת׳ילדים רק להגן מהסופות שבחוץ ובתוך הטירוף מול שמיים שחורים מלקט לך כוכבים ולמרות הגעגוע אלייך ולמרות שקשה כאן לבד לפעמים כדי לנצח ביחד צריך לעמוד בנפרד כל אחד בחזית שלו עד הניצחון אז לעכשיו, אני אוספת את כל הכוחות… 

 

I was on my way to synagogue (Shul) when you put on your uniform 

and at the corner of the street you said goodbye to me and to the children 

I explained that daddy now needs to go protect 

and I didn’t want them to know from what 

and on the way, people asked us what are you doing outside 

a war has broken out 

So now I am gathering all of my strength of kindness, and of faith that good days are yet to come 

that the songs of joy will return to us and I hug the children tightly to protect from the storms outside and in all the craziness under black skies I gather stars 

The first few nights I didn’t sleep 

Cautious, on the guard I signed on to equipment in a parallel world 

I left everything that was familiar Here the is brotherhood of warriors and exhausting days 

without knowing what tomorrow will bring 

Weeks have turned to months And yet we still stay Until the horizon is lit up 

And although I miss you And although it’s hard here alone 

Sometimes in order to prevail together It’s necessary to stand separately 

Each on his/her own front Till we prevail 

Welcoming Shabbat with "Anim Zemirot" Sung by Yonina

We've been posting versions of Hebrew liturgical and popular songs by Yonina (Yoni and Nina Tokayer, a married musical duo who 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 name Yonina is a combination of both their first names, Yoni and Nina. 

Here they are singing the first verses of Anim Zemirot, a liturgical poem that is sung toward the end of the Musaf service in most congregations on Shabbat. The melody is a Chabad nigun, and Yonina recorded this version in honor of  Yat Kislev, the 19th day of Kislev, a Chabad holiday celebrated as the Rosh Hashanah of Chassidism. It was on this date, in the year 1798, that the founder of Chabad Chassidism, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi (1745–1812), was freed from his imprisonment in czarist Russia.

Here are the lyrics, in Hebrew and English. 

אַנְעִים זְמִירוֹת וְשִׁירִים אֶאֱרוֹג, כִּי אֵלֶֽיךָ נַפְשִׁי תַעֲרוֹג.
נַפְשִׁי חָמְדָה בְּצֵל יָדֶֽךָ, לָדַֽעַת כָּל רָז סוֹדֶֽךָ   I will chant hymns and weave songs, for my soul pants after thee. My soul longs to be in the shadow of thy hand, to gain the knowledge of every secret of thy mysteries.   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 Hitna'ari (from Lecha Dodi) by Yonina

We've been posting versions of Hebrew liturgical and popular songs by Yonina (Yoni and Nina Tokayer, a married musical duo who 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 name Yonina is a combination of both their first names, Yoni and Nina.

Here they are  singing Hitna'ari and Hitor'ri, two verses from Lecha Dodi, the liturgical poem that is sung on Friday night as part of the Kabbalat Shabbat service.

Here are the lyrics, in Hebrew, English, and transliteration. Enjoy! 

הִתְנַעֲרִי מֵעָפָר קוּמִי. לִבְשִׁי בִּגְדֵי תִפְאַרְתֵּךְ עַמִּי:
עַל יַד בֶּן יִשַׁי בֵּית הַלַּחְמִי. קָרְבָה אֶל נַפְשִׁי גְאָלָהּ:

הִתְעוֹרְרִי הִתְעוֹרְרִי. כִּי בָא אוֹרֵךְ
קֽֽוּמִי אֽוֹרִי.
עֽוּרִי עֽוּרִי שִׁיר דַבֵּֽרִי. כְּבוֹד ה' עָלַֽיִךְ נִגְלָה. 

Hitna’ari me’afar kumi,
Livshi bigdei tifartech ami.
Al yad ben Yishai beit haLachmi;
Karva el nafshi g’ala.

Hit’oreri, hit’oreri,
Ki va orech, kumi uri.
Uri, uri, shir daberi;
K’vod Adonai alai’yich nigla.  

Shake​ off your dust, arise! Put on your glorious garments,​ my
peopl​e, and pray: “Be near to my soul, and redeem it through
the son of Jesse, the Bethlehem​ite.”

Besti​r yourself,​​ bestir yourself,​​ for your light has come; arise
and shine! Awake, awake, utter a song; the Lord’s glory is revealed
upon you. 

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

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Musical Showcase: Yonina Sings Al Kol Eleh

We've been posting versions of Hebrew liturgical and popular songs by Yonina (Yoni and Nina Tokayer, a married musical duo who 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 name Yonina is a combination of both their first names, Yoni and Nina.

Here they are  singing the song Al Kol Eleh. Naomi Shemer wrote Al Kol Eleh in 1980. Like many of her songs, at first glance this seems like a naïve prayer, hoping for the best. Taking a deeper look, one discovers how the personal and the national are woven together, expressing the sentiment that has been part of the Jewish experience for centuries: a deep desire to protect loved ones, understanding that terrible things may come, praying for God’s grace, alongside the ability to accept the good with the bad. 

Here are the lyrics, in Hebrew and English. 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. 

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!

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Musical Showcase: Yonina Sings "A Million Dreams" from "The Great Showman"

We've been posting versions of Hebrew liturgical and popular songs by Yonina (Yoni and Nina Tokayer, a married musical duo who 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 name Yonina is a combination of both their first names, Yoni and Nina.

Here they are  singing the song A Million Dreams from the film The Greatest Showman.

Enjoy!

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Israel @ 70 Mashup With Yonina - 14 Israeli Hits From 7 Decades

Yonina is a husband and wife musical duo whose upbeat arrangements of Jewish music old and new we've featured lately. Yoni and Nina Tokayer have created a musical mashup of Israeli hits going back to the declaration of the state in 1948.

In celebration of 70 years of statehood and 70 years of music, the mashup includes Hava Nagila, Hevenu Shalom Aleichem, Mayim, Rak b'Yisrael, Lach Yerushalayim, Abanibi, Nolad'ti LaShalom, Od Yavo Shalom Aleinu and many others.

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.

"If Purim Were a Pop Song Medley" - Purim Parody by Yonina

If you're like us, you probably have had your fill of hamantashen and Purim is over. But if you live in Jerusalem, you're celebrating Purim today, the 15th of Adar.
 
The battles fought between the Jews and their enemies throughout the Persian empire took place on 13 Adar. Around the world, the Jews rested and celebrated on the following day—14 Adar. In the capital city of Shushan, however, where there were a greater number of Jew-haters, the fighting continued for two days, 13 and 14 Adar. The victory celebrations in Shushan were thus held on the 15th.
 
When the holiday of Purim was set for the 14th of Adar, the sages instituted that Shushan residents perpetually observe Purim on the 15th of Adar—the day when the Shushanite Jews celebrated. The 15th of Adar is hence known as Shushan Purim.
 
 Along with Shushan (which is located in modern-day southwestern Iran), all cities that were walled at the time when the Israelites, under the leadership of Joshua, entered Canaan, observe Purim on the 15th.
 
Today, the only city that we are certain had walls in Joshua’s times is Jerusalem. And indeed, in the holy city, Purim is festively celebrated one day after all other cities. There are a number of other ancient cities in Israel, such as Jaffa and Tiberias, regarding which there is a reasonable doubt whether they were walled in Joshua’s times. These cities observe two days of Purim.

This calendar confusion gives us one more opportunity to share a Purim video with you to celebrate Shushan Purim. We've been reviewing dozens of Purim videos and we picked one of the best to post today. It's by the singing couple Yonina, whose melodies we have shared before. 

Yoni and Nina Tokayer, a married musical duo who live in the small town of Pardes Chana, Israel, 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 name Yonina is a combination of both their first names, Yoni and Nina. 

In this video, they tell the Purim story through a medley of pop song parodies.

Enjoy, Happy Shushan Purim, and Shabbat shalom!

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Welcoming Shabbat with Shalom Aleichem by Yonina

Earlier this year we posted a version of Lecha Dodi by Yoni and Nina Tokayer, a married musical duo who live in the small town of Pardes Chana, Israel.

For the past half a year, 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 name Yonina is a combination of both their first names, Yoni and Nina.

The response to the Lecha Dodi video was so positive that we searched for and found another Shabbat song that they recorded. In this video, they sing the traditional erev Shabbat song, Shalom Aleichem from the Tel Aviv beach.

Enjoy!

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Welcoming Shabbat with Yonina Singing Lecha Dodi to "All of Me"

Yoni and Nina Tokayer are a married musical duo with a little baby girl. They're both involved in music and education, and live in the small town of Pardes Chana, Israel.

For the past half a year, 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 name Yonina is a combination of both their first names, Yoni and Nina.

In this video, they sing the beginning of Lecha Dodi, one of the traditional parts of the Kabbalat Shabbat service. The melody, however, is not traditional. It's set to the music of John Legend's hit All of Me, a song that has an incredible more than a billion hits on YouTube, so you must have heard it somewhere before.

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.