As a teenager, I would sit on my bedroom floor listening to old records of Belgian singer-songwriter, poet, and performer Jacques Brel. I didn’t need to keep a journal, because his lyrics wove together everything I felt at the time. Brel had a fire within, and his anger, longing, passion, and truth blazed through every word he sang. His music, raw and real, transformed and fed my soul; it informed and shaped who I am today.
This month marks the 45th anniversary of the release of singer-songwriter Carole King’s landmark album, Tapestry, which, along with her more than three dozen 1960s hits, is considered by many to be the soundtrack of their lives. With more than 25 million units sold, Tapestry was the bestselling album by a female artist for a quarter century. On February 19, PBS’s American Masters series will mark this milestone with Carole King: Natural Woman.
From his Ziggy Stardust alter ego to his latest album — a jazzy, avant-garde rock release called “Blackstar” released just two days before his death — Bowie racked up some interesting Jewish connections.
In a d’var Torah he gave on Shabbat Nitzavim-Vayeilech several years ago, Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, emeritus chief rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the British Commonwealth, had this to say:
Judaism is a religion of words, and yet whenever the language of Judaism aspires to the spiritual it breaks into song, as if the words themselves sought escape from the gravitational pull of finite meanings. There is something about music that intimates a reality beyond our grasp. Words are the language of the mind. Music is the language of the soul….The Torah is God’s libretto, and we, the Jewish people, are God’s choir, the performers of God’s choral symphony.Indeed, it is our choirs and the music they generate that help create many of our most uplifting and highly spiritual moments.
It’s that time of the year again – time for Hanukkah parody videos! We’ve gathered a few of the best new debuts from across the web. Leave us a comment and let us know: What’s your favorite?
Multi-instrumentalist singer songwriter Josh Nelson shares his passion for music and Judaism by organizing Shabbat happenings for unaffiliated young Jews, performing and recording albums with his band the Josh Nelson Project, presenting learning workshops
Hineh mah tov umah na'im shevet achim gam yachad!
Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for people to dwell together in unity! (Psalm 133:1)
In the Jewish world, countless services and lifecycle events open with this verse, attributed to King David.
The Mi Shebeirach, a Jewish prayer for healing, has been set to music by several contemporary Jewish musicians, including the late Debbie Friedman.
Perhaps more than any other holiday, Passover opens wide the doors between our past and our future, between our people and all people.
I’ve always loved music. I’ve never been one for performing, but raising my voice in joyful song – to build solidarity for a cause, to pray to God, or to join spiritually with a holy community – has always been one of my favorite things.
Together, we will champion the lessons of Passover by bringing greater wholeness, justice, and belonging to our world.