HEBREW SONG PERFORMANCESThe links below connect to a number of excellent YouTube music video performances of traditional and contemporary Hebrew songs.
- Chorshat Ha'ekaliptus ("The Eucalyptus Grove": composed by the late Naomi Shemer; sung by Shiri Maimon.)
- Yerushalayim Shel Zahav ("Jerusalem of Gold": composed by Naomi Shemer; sung by the late Ofra Haza.)
- Hava Nagila ("Let Us Rejoice": composed by Abraham Idelsohn, based on a Hasidic niggun (melody); performed by André Rieu and the Johann Strauss Orchestra.)
- Y'Chefah ("Barefoot": music and lyrics by Aviv Geffen; sung by Ninet Tayeb.)
- Sim Shalom ("Grant Peace": adapted from the Sabbath morning prayer traditionally sung in the synagogue immediately following, and in amplification of, the recitation of the Priestly Blessing*, recited in ancient times by the Kohanim (Priests) in the Temple in Jerusalem; produced by Gil Ladin.)
- Medley of Ha'layla, Mishe'hu, Ey Sham, and Hallelujah ("Tonight": music by Shuki Levy, lyrics by Shulamit and Yuval Dor; "Someone": music by Matti Caspi, lyrics by Ehud Manor; "Somewhere": music by Nurit Hirsch, lyrics by Ehud Manor; and "Hallelujah": music by Kobi Oshrat, lyrics by Shimrit Orr; sung by Maya Buskila and Harel Skaat.)
- Mishe'hu ("Someone": music by Matti Caspi, lyrics by Ehud Manor.)
- Hallelujah ("Hallelujah": music by Kobi Oshrat, lyrics by Shimrit Orr; sung by Limor Shapira.)
- Shir Ha'frecha ("Song of a Tease": music by Tzvika Pik, lyrics by Essi Dayan; sung by Ofra Haza.)
- Erev Shel Shoshanim (1), Erev Shel Shoshanim (2) ("Evening of Roses": music by Yosef Hadar, lyrics by Moshe Dor; sung by (1) David & the High Spirit and (2) Mel Rosenberg and Israel Gurion.)
- Dodi Li ("My Beloved is Mine": music by Nira Chen, lyrics from the Song of Songs; performed by the Atonement Klezmer Duo.)
- Etz Ha'afarsek ("The Peach Tree": composed by Yosef Hadar; sung by Chani Dinur (left) and Meital Trabelsi.)
- Mami ("My Love": music and lyrics by Itai Pearl; sung by Miri Mesika.)
- Shir Lama'alot (1), Shir Lama'alot (2), ("A Song of Ascents": Psalm 121, music by Yosef Karduner, adapted from traditional Sabbath melody; sung by (1) Ninet Tayeb and (2) Yosef Karduner.)
- M'kimi, ("He Raises (the Poor)": Psalm 113:5-8, music by Yosef Karduner; sung by Simcha.)
- Etz Chayim ("A Tree of Life": Adapted from the traditional hymn chanted at the conclusion of the Sabbath morning Torah Service; lyrics are from Proverbs 3:17-18 and Lamentations 5:21; sung by Jay O'Brien and Staam.)
- Chavera ("Friend": music by Rami Kleinstein, lyrics by Rita Kleinstein; sung by Rita Kleinstein.)
- Ve'ulai ("And Perhaps": music and lyrics by Ivri Lider; sung by Moran Aharoni.)
- Shir La'shalom ("A Song for Peace": music by Yair Rosenblum, lyrics by Yaakov Rotblit; sung by Shiri Maimon.)
- Sh'ma Yisrael Elohai (1) , Sh'ma Yisrael Elohai (2), Sh'ma Yisrael Elohai (3) ("Hear Israel, My God": music by Shmuel Elbaz, lyrics by Yossi Gispan and Arlet Tzfadia; sung by (1) Michelle Blumsack and Staam, (2) Noa Dori, and (3) Sarit Hadad.)
- Nifradnu Kach ("We Parted So": music by Miron Minster, lyrics by Lea Goldberg; sung by Marina Maximilian Blumin.)
- Rega Prati ("Private Moment": music by Rami Kleinstein, lyrics by Ehud Manor; sung by Rita Kleinstein.)
- Kmo Tzemach Bar, ("Like a Wildflower": music by Nachum Heiman, lyrics by Rachel Shapira; sung by Maya Rotman (initially seated on the left) and Zehavit Passi.)
- Tfila ("A Prayer": music by Henry Bratter, lyrics by Bezalel Aloni; sung by the Stars of Festigal 2004: Oded Menashe, Harel Moyal, Harel Skaat, Orna & Moshe Datz, Ran Danker, Ninet Tayeb, Maya Buskila, Agam Rodberg, and Roni Duani.)
- Yedid Nefesh (1), Yedid Nefesh (2), Yedid Nefesh (3) ("Soul's Beloved": Mystical poem composed in 1584 by Rabbi Eliezer Azikri of Safed (Israel). In many congregations, it is chanted just prior to the beginning of the Kabbalat Shabbat (Sabbath welcoming) service on Friday evenings; sung by (1) Barbara Green-Glaz, (2) Dudu Fisher, and (3) Yehoram Gaon.)
- Lecha Dodi (1), Lecha Dodi (2) ("Come, My Beloved": Based on a piyyut (liturgical poem) composed in the sixteenth century by Solomon Alkabetz, one of the mystical rabbis of Safed (Israel). This hymn, which expresses the perennial hope for redemption and a more perfect world, has become a universally accepted component of the Kabbalat Shabbat (Sabbath welcoming) service on Friday evenings; the first performance is of traditional melodies sung by a synagogue choir, while the second is sung with a more contemporary sound by Yofiyah.)
- Adon Olam (1), Adon Olam (2) ("Lord of the Universe" or "Lord of Eternity": Synagogue hymn based on a medieval Hebrew poem, sometimes attributed to the eleventh century philosopher Solomon Ibn Gabirol; the first performance is by the London Jewish Male Choir; the second performance has violinist Miri Ben-Ari playing a traditional melody in a very non-traditional setting.)
- Avinu Malkeinu (1), Avinu Malkeinu (2), Avinu Malkeinu (3) ("Our Father, Our King": music by Max Janowski, adapted from one of the supplicatory prayers recited in the synagogue during the High Holy Day period; sung by (1) Barbra Streisand, (2) Svetlana Portnyansky, and (3) Noa Dori.)
- Avinu Malkeinu ("Our Father, Our King": composed by Stalos & Oren Chen; sung by Alexandrina Chelu.)
- Yigdal (Elohim Chai) ("Great (is the Living God)": concluding hymn of the Sabbath evening service, based on the fourteenth century poem of Daniel ben Judah of Rome, which recounts Maimonides' Thirteen Principles of the Jewish Faith**; sung by Avraham Perrera.)
- Kshe'at Atzuvah ("When You're Sad": music and lyrics by Amir Benayun; sung by Shiri Maimon.)
- Niga El Ha'chalom ("Touch the Dream": music and lyrics by Shalom Chanoch; sung by Hila Maoz.)
- Kshe'Halachta ("When You Went Away": music by Chezi Shaked, lyrics by Shiri Maimon; sung by Shiri Maimon.)
- Le'orech Ha'yam ("Along the Seashore": composed by Ayala Ashrov; sung by Ofra Haza.)
- Le'sham ("To There": music and lyrics by Keren Peles; sung by Miri Mesika.)
- Micha'el ("Michael": music and lyrics by Etti Ankri; sung by Etti Ankri.)
- Zodiac ("Zodiac": music by Yoni Roeh, lyrics by Dudu Barak; sung by Yaron Hadad and Uriel Shaltiel.)
- Eli, Eli ("My God, My God": music by David Zahavi, lyrics by Hannah Szenes (Senesh); sung by Sophie Milman.)
- Emtza Ha'Tamuz ("Middle of Tammuz": music and lyrics by the late Naomi Shemer (woman dressed in white seated on the left); sung by Nurit Galron.)
- Mechakah L'ahavah ("Waiting for Love": composed by Tzvika Pik; sung by Hila Zittoun.)
- Solo Saxophone (Hebrew version of "Last Night of the World," from Miss Saigon: music by Claude-Michel Schönberg; sung by Hila Zittoun and Harel Skaat.)
- Kamah Ko'ach ("How Much Strength": lyrics by Talia Barkai; sung by Shiri Maimon and Ran Danker.)
- Shalom Aleichem ("Peace Be With You": traditional Sabbath hymn; sung by Fortuna.)
- Oseh Shalom ("Establish Peace": conclusion of the Kaddish (sanctification prayer), which dates back to the Second Temple period; the Oseh Shalom is based on a verse from Job 25:2 and is one of several prayers for peace recited or chanted during daily synagogue services; music adapted by Jeff Klepper from traditional melody; performed by Dan Freelander (left), Jeff Klepper, and the Zamir Chorale of Boston.)
- Af Achat (1), Af Achat (2) ("No One": music by Shmulik Neufeld, lyrics by Tzruya Lahav; sung by (1) Anya Bukstein and (2) Miri Mesika.)
- Bikashti Esh ("I Asked for Fire": music by Natan Shachar, lyrics by Hezi Lofban; sung by Miri Mesika.)
- Ishah ("Woman": sung by Limor Shapira.)
- Gitarah V'kinor ("A Guitar and a Violin": music and lyrics by Shalom Chanoch; sung by Marina Maximilian Blumin.)
- Bishvili ("For Me": sung by Hadar Ozeri.)
- Ho Rav Chovel ("Oh Captain": composed by Naomi Shemer in tribute to the memory of Itzhak Rabin (lyrics are Shemer's translation of Walt Whitman's poetic tribute to the fallen Abraham Lincoln: "Oh Captain! My Captain!"); sung by Meital Trabelsi.)
- Noa ("Noa": composed by Naomi Shemer; sung by Meital Trabelsi.)
- Ha'ke'ev Ha'zeh ("This Ache": music by Ofra Haza and Izhar Ashdot, lyrics by Ofra Haza; sung by Ofra Haza.)
- Notzah Baru'ach (1), Notzah Baru'ach (2), Notzah Baru'ach (3) ("A Feather in the Wind": music by Rami Kleinstein, lyrics by Ya'akov Gilad; sung by (1) Ninet Tayeb, (2) Rita Kleinstein, and (3) Yehuda Aruti.)
- Pri Ganech (1), Pri Ganech (2) ("The Fruit of Your Garden": music and lyrics by Yoni Ro'eh; sung by (1) Marina Maximilian Blumin and (2) Aviva Avidan and Eli Luzon.)
- Tishmor Al Ha'olam, Yeled ("Watch Over the World, Child": music and lyrics by David D'or.)
- Shecharchoret (1), Shecharchoret (2) ("Dark Girl": Judeo-Spanish folk song, Hebrew lyrics by Moshe Giora and Moshe Elimelech; sung by (1) Esther Ofarim and (2) Marina Maximilian Blumin and Boaz Mauda.)
- Bendigamos al Altísimo ("Let Us Bless the Most High": a traditional prayer of benediction in the Sephardic rite; Judeo-Spanish with some Hebrew at the very end in this performance by Fortuna.)
- Ha'lev ("The Heart": music by Tzvika Pik, lyrics by Mirit Shem-Or; sung by Maya Buskila.)
- Biglal Ha'layla ("Because of the Night": music by Dafna Eilat, lyrics by Tirtza Atar; sung by Chava Alberstein.)
- Ma'oz Tsur (1), Ma'oz Tsur (2) ("Rock of Ages": traditional Chanukah hymn; sung by (1) Marie Betcher and (2) the Indiana University Hillel HooShir Choir.)
- Chad Gadya ("One Baby Goat": traditional song in Aramaic from the Passover Seder, generally interpreted as an allegorical recounting of the succession of empires - Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia, Persia, Greece, Rome, Islam, the Crusaders, and the Ottomans - that tried to devour Israel (the "baby goat"), but in the end were devoured themselves; sung with an Italian-Jewish melody by Chava Alberstein.)
- Adonai Roi ("The Lord is My Shepherd": Psalm 23, music by Gerald Cohen; sung by Rowna Sutin and the choir of Rodef Shalom Congregation, Pittsburgh, PA.)
- Ain Li Eretz Acheret ("I Have No Other Country": music by Korin Allal, lyrics by Ehud Manor; sung by Ninet Tayeb.)
- Shalom Rav ("Grant Abundant Peace": concluding benediction of the Amidah, a prayer dating back to the Second Temple period that constitutes the central component of the three daily synagogue services; music by Jeff Klepper and Dan Freelander; performed by Dan Freelander (left), Jeff Klepper, and the Zamir Chorale of Boston, MA.)
- Lu Yehi (1), Lu Yehi (2), ("Let It Be": composed by Naomi Shemer; sung by (1) Sarit Hadad and (2) Alexandrina Chelu.)
- Eretz, Eretz, Eretz ("A Land!": music and lyrics by Shaike Paikov; sung by Ilanit.)
- Israelit ("I Am an Israeli": music by Tomer Hadadi, lyrics by Dudu Barak; sung by Ilanit.)
- Medley of Oseh Shalom, Bring Him Home, and Lu Yehi ("Establish Peace": traditional synagogue melody with words from Job 25:2 ; "Bring Him Home": music from Les Miserables by Claude-Michel Schönberg, lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer; and "Let It Be": composed by Naomi Shemer; sung by David D'or (left), Dudu Fisher, and the Voices of Peace Choir of the Jaffa Arab-Jewish Community Center.)
NOTES
- Hatikvah (1), Hatikvah (2) ("The Hope" (National Anthem of the State of Israel and "the Song of the Jewish People"): composed by Naftali Herz Imber in 1878; sung by (1) Barbra Streisand in 1978 and (2) Live Hatikva in 2008.)
* "May the Lord bless you and keep you; May the Lord cause His countenance to shine upon you and be gracious unto you; May the Lord show you kindness and grant you peace." (Numbers 6:22-27.)
** Briefly, Maimonides' Thirteen Principles are 1) the existence of God, the Creator of all things; 2) the unity of God, who is one; 3) the incorporeality of God, who transcends the material world; 4) the eternity of God, who was the first and will be the last; 5) God alone is to be worshipped; 6) the words of the Prophets are true; 7) the greatest of the Prophets was Moses; 8) the Torah is of Divine origin; 9) its teachings are immutable; 10) God knows the thoughts and deeds of men; 11) God rewards and punishes; 12) the Messiah will come at the end of days; and 13) the dead will be resurrected.
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