Velvel Pasternak: A Farewell Symphony

A daughter's tribute: Velvel Pasternak: A farewell symphony

Beatle Zman!

אוקי, פארווערטס

מוזיק־ווידעאָ אויף ייִדיש צילעוועט צו העלפֿן די גײַסטיק קראַנקע 

The Lenny Solomon Show - Webisode #1

More Wedding Rules

Meant to poast this when I first saw it... NEW WEDDING RULES: Rabbonim Sign Letter About “Goyish Music” at Weddings



Should really be titled "Rabbonim let askanim take the lead again".  It's shameful that they seem not to recognize that they need to talk to people in the business before signing on to and/or promulgating these. [See Bechoros 21b]



V'ein kan makom lha'arich. Vedok.

BD'E - Velvel Pasternak Z"L

I'm saddened to hear of the passing of Velvel Pasternak, Z"L. His company, Tara Publications, was a gamechanger in the Jewish music world, publishing all sorts of sheet music collections from Chasidic, Israeli, Klezmer, Sephardic and more. Velvel was a teacher and ethnomusicologist who lectured widely about Jewish music. Here's a clip from one such lecture. Yehei zichro baruch.

Spitting Into the Wind

NEW WEDDING RULES: Rabbonim Sign Letter About “Goyish Music” At Weddings 

It's A Bird, It's A Plane...

Nigun Bobov - A Capella

Well Played, El Al!

Iceland pro-Palestinian band may sue El Al over bad plane seats

Nem Di "Monroe Bus"

My Zaidy - Repost

This cover by Tali Yess of his late father's song should have many more views. Simply a beautiful tribute to his dad ob'm and so appropriate for Yom Hashoah today, so I'm reposting it.

You'd Think They'd Have Learned Something From The Lipa Ban...

... but you'd be wrong, apparently. The Lakewood Scoop - Opinion: Getting Real About The Cancelled Kumzitz And Protests.

Fun Times in Lakewood

Harry Maryles's blog post on Chaos and Lakewood’s Leadership

This is awesome! Yerakrak!

Gershon Veroba sings Sherwood Goffin Z"L's "Chasal – חֲסַל סִדּוּר פֶּסַח"

BDE - Chazzan Sherwood Goffin Z"L

A reader emailed on Thursday that "No tribute in your blog today. Surprised me." Truthfully, I had started to write a quick post when I realized that I didn't have the time do write a proper appreciation and given multiple gigs between then and now, including two last Tursday, it's taken till now to complete this post. As you've probably heard by now, Chazzan Sherwood Goffin was niftar this past week. I first came to know Chazzan Goffin Z"L through the wedding circuit, where I had the opportunity to accompany him at wedding ceremonies a number of times. He was a wonderful singer, but what stood out most to me was his "mentchlichkeit". The Chaz (as he was affecionately known) was a man of impeccable midos and grace. Our interactions -- whether via phone or email before the event, during, or afterwards when he always came over to thank me -- were always positive. The last wedding I accompanied him at fairly recently was one that my band had been hired to play. My clients told me that Sherwood Z"L had said wonderful things about me and my music when they talked to him before hiring me. I believe that every time a client reached out to tell me that Chazzan Goffin would be singing at an upcoming affair, they'd mention that he'd said nice things about me. It certainly happened often. He was a real mentch. I work with a lot of professional singers. Most are nice. But there are (now were) only two who I can say have always been unfailingly polite to every member of the band every single time. I get it. It's easy to get up, sing your feature, perhaps thank the bandleader, and move on. And there's often a lot going on at these events. The musicians, especially the sidemen often get overlooked. Chazan Goffin always made a point of coming over to greet me beforehand and again afterwards to thank me and each of the musicians in the band after the ceremony. Similarly, every request was made in a respectful manner. He asked. Politely. Never demanded. At one of the last affairs I accompanied him at, he was asked to sing Carlebach's Im Eshkacheich. In his email before the dinner to discuss the details, he asked expressed his preference for the entire band to accompany him, but went out of his way to say that he'd be ok if they couldn't for some reason and it was just keyboard alone for that song. In addition to working with Chazzan Goffin at weddings and dinners over the years, I also attended some classes he gave on Nusach and read his articles on the importance of mesorah in Nusach, the responsibilities of the Shaliach Tzibur and more. The Chazzan had a very strong sense of tradition and reverence for mesorah that underlay his teaching about how to daven. This is something that's often overlooked by musicians and singers who want to be fresh and innovative, but it's super important. Chazzan Goffin was a true gentleman. Unfailingly polite, warm and friendly. A true ahuv el habriyos. It was beautiful to see the love and respect that people had for him at events we were both at. His passing is a real loss for Am Yisrael. Yehei zichro baruch. P.S. There is much to be said about Chazzan Goffin's activism on behalf of Russian Jews, his performing career, and his work at the Belz School of Jewish Music, as well as his work with decades of bnei mitzvah students at LSS. Also, his prioritazation of family over career. I leave it to those with firsthand knowledge to talk about all of those aspects of his life.

Roger Waters, April Fool.

Roger Waters lashes out after April Fool's joke.

יאפצ׳יק כלייזמר - פורים כלייזמר | Yaptzik Klezmer - Purim Klezmer

This is amazingly well-done!

Shabbos Yid(den)

Finally, Sabbath-Observant Musicians Find A Home Off Broadway — In Yiddish ‘Fiddler’

What A Mazal!

in Which Israel Will Lose The Eurovision This Year...

Fantastic singer, but this song won't go anywhere.

Female Drummers Verboten!

Over at Life in Israel... kalla drummer raises the ire of the Eida.

Gemara with Neta

(Gimme Some of That) Ol' Atonal Music!

Update: Shalva's Shabbat Observance Is Accommodated

Shalva special-needs musical group to appear in second half of Eurovision 

Kol Hakavod, Shalva Band!

Shalva Band to pull out of Eurovision contention 



This is a beautiful story and if you haven't seen the band's videos from throughout the competition, they are well worth looking for. The Eurovision people ought to have made an exception/accomodation here.

A Sheyne Valekhel

Joey Newcomb - To Be a Jew - Album Sampler

This looks to be a refreshing album!

Shabbos Hayom Lashem

Pop sensation won't perform at Shabbat-desecrating Eurovision

רק מוזיק

שאלה – האם מותר ורצוי לבעל תשובה לשמוע מוסיקה חילונית?