Even in anguished times, every Jewish holiday is made more special by music. We hope you enjoy the premiere of this duet, which took place on April 20, 2024, at Park Avenue Synagogue, written by Broadway star Julie Benko and Jason Yeager.
April 22, 2024
Broadway Star Julie Benko and Cantor Schwartz: One Step Closer
Topic(s) / Music, Passover
April 05, 2024
Tahzor (“Come Back”)
Topic(s) / Shabbat, Music, Israel
As of this weekend, on April 7, the remaining hostages in Gaza will have been held in captivity for six months. Despite the unimaginable deprivation and cruelty of their condition, we hope and pray for their immediate return.
March 22, 2024
Adon Olam – Sounds Like Coldplay!
Topic(s) / Shabbat, Music
Even the Adon Olam is wearing a costume for Purim! The Purim story helps us to recognize that even in adversity, there must be space for taking the joyful moments as they come. One such moment was the Bar Mitzvah of Cantor Schwartz’s son, during which this rendition was delivered.
March 15, 2024
You Raise Me Up
Topic(s) / Shabbat, Music
There are plenty of reasons to feel down as discouraging news and images are all around us, yet it doesn’t take much effort to raise someone up or to recognize when someone has lifted us from sadness.
March 01, 2024
L’Or HaZichronot (By the Light of Memory)
Topic(s) / Music, Shabbat
Consider the moments that many of us remember from our own lives; remember the hostages and the sacrifice of all who died on and since October 7.
February 23, 2024
Joy in Sorrow – Yism’hu by Yossele Rosenblatt
Topic(s) / Music, Shabbat
In an anguished time, we sing of taking delight from keeping Shabbat. Interestingly, the reverse is also true: the rhythm of this musical setting of a joyful prayer is tinged with melancholy.
February 09, 2024
Makom L’d’agah (A Place for Worry)
Topic(s) / Shabbat, Music
Yehonatan Geffen (1947–2023) was an esteemed Israeli man of letters.
February 02, 2024
Shabbat on Broadway
Topic(s) / Shabbat, Music
Featuring leading theater stars, the production Shabbat on Broadway was an inclusive experience that blended prayer and inspirational show tunes – the first time a Shabbat service has taken place on the Broadway stage.
January 26, 2024
Pray for Peace
Topic(s) / Shabbat, Music, Israel
Let us pray for peace using these timeless words from the Amidah, sung in this familiar melody. Oseh shalom bimromav hu ya-aseh shalom aleinu, v’al kol Yisrael, v’imru amen – "May the one who creates peace on high bring peace to us and to all Israel. And we say: Amen."
January 19, 2024
Bring Them Home
Topic(s) / Music, Shabbat, Israel
This week we marked 100 days since 240 women, children, elderly people, and other innocent civilians were brutally abducted from their homes and held in captivity by Hamas, sitting in dark terrorist tunnels under the ground, their condition unknown.