Jewish Pride

Chaim Shlomo Mayesz is Proud! 

BD'E - Avi Piamenta Z"L

 Saddened to hear the news of flautist Avi Piamenta's passing over Shabbos. Avi and his brother Yossi on electric guitar, were foundational influences in modern Chassidic music and had a huge impact on generations of Jews worldwide, especially on musicians who followed in their footsteps.

 Moreso than for his music, though, I will remember him for his always cheerful affect. I can not recall a time when I saw him, live or on video, where he wasn't smiling and exuding joy. And what a musician!!! Yehei zichro baruch!

Update: COL has posted an obituary.

Comparing the National Anthem & Oz Yashir

Over at the Seforim blog... comparing the Star-Spangled banner and Oz Yashir. 

This Will Be Good For Business!

HaRav Yitzchak Yosef rules that Sefardim and Ashkenazim should make weddings during the Three Weeks this year! 

Ai, Ai, Ai

Shaul Shapira used Chat GPT to write "Rupture and Reconstruction" parodies of Abie Rotenberg's "Yeshivishe Reid". 

Lowering Standards

They're lowering standards in Lakewood.  This is likely to work out about as well as the other attempts.

Keep On Shlockining!

Times of Israel tells about a Lenny Solomon documentary 

Cyberfrumenism

 Over at Lehrhaus... a review of Jessica Roda's "For Women and Girls Only: Reshaping Jewish Orthodoxy through the Arts in the Digital Age".

Iced Out

Eyal Golan's hit song from 2017, Hatunat Hashana made into Eurovision via Iceland!

A Penimiyus Perspective on Bar Yochai

Rav Joey on understanding the song, "Bar Yochai".

A Chabad Song to President Donald Trump

This one is about stopping the war in Ukraine. 

Peter Himmelman Gets Results

Peter Himmelman's powerful Substack criticism of  Berklee's hiring of Nicholas Payton  went viral...

... and Berklee just fired Payton!

Shtikah Kehoda'a

Coachella needs to speak up. 

Eve Barlow on Coachella

Shtikah Kehoda'ah. Where are the leaders? 

A Heavenly Voice

Peter Himmelman on the antisemitism at Coachella.

It Don't Mean A Thing...

says Rabbi Greenspan. 

Rabbi Greenspan and Thank You Hashem

Rabbi Greenspan's first(?) collab with TYH Nation - Yum Yum 

Music Inspired/Composed/Performed by Hostages and Chayalim

I haven't seen anyone assemble the numerous inspirational songs/performances that have come out of the tragedy, so here's a list of songs that speak to me. I'm sure I've missed some. Please send in any you think I should add. 

Am Yisrael Chai - Eyal Golan - no explanation needed.

Gam Ki Elech - Composed by Yossi Hershkovitz HY'D Yossi was a soldier who composed this song in the field and was tragically killed. Avraham Fried has covered this song as well.

Acheinu by Lior Narkis - This deceptively complex melody resonates.

B'derech Emunah Bacharti - Moshe Peretz - A beautiful song inspired by freed hostage Agam Berger's message which she held up on a whiteboard as she was being flown back from Gaza.

Drishat Shalom MeChayim Acherim - Idan Reichel A retelling of the incredible connection hostage Sagi Dekel Chen and his wife Avital had while he was in captivity. They shared dreams. Here's a powerful video about the inspiration behind the song.

Beyachad Nenatzeach - Avraham Tal & Lior Narkis

Zeh B'seder - Beniah Berabi

And while this is not a "new" song, this  Concert Moledet remake of Yardena Arazi's Habaita is so, so powerful.

Mei'afeilah Le'orah!

Freed hostage Sagi Dekel Chen recorded a version of Keren Shemesh  weeks after being released.

BD'E - Shiri, Ariel & Kfir Bibas HY"D

The Jerusalem Post reports on the music Yarden Bibas chose to be played at the Bibas' funeral today.

BDE - Benzion Miller Z"L

Saddened to report that Chazzan Benzion Miller Z"L has died. 

Ishay Ribo Interviewed

Interesting Ishay Ribo profile.

Keeping the Faith in the IDF

 Mendel Roth, son of the Shomer Emunim Rebbe enlists in the IDF today and releases a song, "Ani Ratz Lakrav".
ראיתי עם עתיק שחידש את נעוריו נלחם כמו אריה ומשמיד את כל אויביו ראיתי איך בורא עולם שומר בניו אשרי העם הזה שאלו ילדיו שמעתי יש לי אח שלוחם למען אחיו משפחה גם עבודה שנה שלמה עזב ראיתי עם גיבור שיש לו לב זהב והרמתי דגל, אני רץ לקרב כמו דוד המלך כמו שמשון הגיבור כמו הפרטיזנים, שלחמו למען האור כמו המכבים, שניצחו את היוונים אני רץ ללחום להגן על יהודים אני רץ אני רץ אני רץ אני רץ הנני אני רץ אני רץ אני רץ אני רץ הנני ובין חורבות ובין סלעים רצים שם לוחמים ילדים של עם חזק הוא שמש העמים והם פותחים ת׳דרך בשירת גבורה אריה שואג בדרך ומי לא יירא ובין כותלי בית המדרש הבזיק בי אור חזק דם אחיי נשפך כמים שם ליבי צעק שמעתי כאבו ראיתי דמעותיו וליבי היכה בי, אני רץ לקרב כמו דוד המלך כמו שמשון הגיבור כמו הפרטיזנים, שלחמו למען האור כמו המכבים, שניצחו את היוונים אני רץ ללחום להגן על יהודים אני רץ אני רץ אני רץ אני רץ הנני אני רץ אני רץ אני רץ אני רץ הנני ראיתי עם עתיק שחידש את נעוריו נלחם כמו אריה ומשמיד את כל אויביו ראיתי איך בורא עולם שומר בניו אשרי העם הזה שאלו ילדיו

Bageled

The general concept of "bageling" involves someone who isn't obviously Jewish looking identifying themselves to someone who is, not by saying "I'm Jewish too", but rather, by casually dropping a cultural signifier into their approach. For example, saying "boy, that bagel I ate for breakfast hit the spot", "do you know where I can find a good feli around here?" or "Shabbat Shalom" (on a Tuesday). I've noticed a similar musician-specific dynamic as well, particularly in the Yeshivish world..

A few recent examples:

1)

Me: <setting up to play a Bar Mitzvah breakfast at a Yeshiva>
Rebbi 1 to Rebbe 2 commenting loudly in front of me about my gear: RCF, pssshhh, they make the best speakers... etc.

2)

Guy in store who'd clearly been at the public concert I'd played down the road: "You have a 4X?"
Me: A 5X, actually.
Guy: "No one in Lakewood is using those yet."

3)

Guy: <places two-year-old on stage post-show while we are obviously breaking down the gear>
Me: Please take him off the stage, I don't want him to get hurt.
Guy: "It's ok. He knows how to behave around music and sound gear."

People, how about being normal and just saying "Hi! My name is x and I play x?"

Chanuka-pella!

From the Y-Studs... a Jackson 5 Chanukah! 

From Six13... a Wicked Chanukah!

From the Maccabeats... a Wicked anthem!

Happy Chanukah!

from Tower of Power!!! 

Od Yoter....

I suppose this was inevitable...

עוד יותר רע!

Pasken First, Assess The Case Afterwards

This keeps happening!  Rabbis need to stop taking positions based on either ignorance or impression without investigating who/what/why and talking to both sides of an issue before deciding. They don't even know what they don't know.

Additionally, this is a stupid excuse, because if the content is not objectionable, then it shouldn't matter whether or not he thought the songwriter was Chiloni. Sad.

Heartbreaking Superheroes

 No words.

And Even More Tov...

Apropo of yesterday's post... 

Divide and Conquer

Od Yoter Tov Ve....Od Yoter Tov!

Royz, Royz, Vi Vayt Bisti

Over at the Forward... Riki Rose, Yiddish rock star.