HEBREW SONG PERFORMANCES (MUSIC VIDEOS)The 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.)
- 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.)
- Medley of Ha'layla, Ey Sham, and Hallelujah ("Tonight": music by Shuki Levy, lyrics by Shulamit and Yuval Dor; "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.)
- Shir Ha'frecha ("Song of a Tease": music by Tzvika Pik, lyrics by Essi Dayan; sung by Ofra Haza.)
- Erev Shel Shoshanim ("Evening of Roses": music by Yosef Hadar, lyrics by Moshe Dor; sung by Mel Rosenberg and Israel Gurion.)
- Mami ("Baby": music and lyrics by Itai Pearl; sung by Miri Mesika.)
- Shir Lama'alot ("A Song of Ascents": Psalm 121, music by Yosef Karduner, adapted from traditional Sabbath melody; sung by Ninet Tayeb.)
- Chavera ("Friend": music by Rami Kleinstein, lyrics by Rita Kleinstein; sung by Rita Kleinstein.)
- Nifradnu Kach ("We Parted So": music by Miron Minster, lyrics by Lea Goldberg; sung by Marina Maximilian Blumin.)
- Ha'rikud Ha'muzar Shel Ha'lev ("Strange Dance of the Heart": music and lyrics by Rona Kenan; sung by Rona Kenan and Gidi Gov.)
- 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) ("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; the first performance is by Barbara Green-Glaz, the second by 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 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 Yevgeni Shapovalov and Felix Livshitz; the second performance has violinist Miri Ben-Ari playing the traditional melody in a very non-traditional setting.)
- Avinu Malkeinu (1), Avinu Malkeinu (2) ("Our Father, Our King": adapted from one of the supplicatory prayers recited in the synagogue during the High Holy Day period; the first rendition is sung by Barbra Streisand, the second by Svetlana Portnyansky.)
- Kshe'at Atzuvah ("When You're Sad": music and lyrics by Amir Benayun; sung by Shiri Maimon.)
- Le'orech Ha'yam ("Along the Seashore": composed by Ayala Ashrov; sung by Ofra Haza.)
- Eishet Chayil ("Woman of Valor": Proverbs 31:10-12, music by Avraham Fried; sung by Avraham Fried.)
- Le'sham ("To There": music and lyrics by Keren Peles; sung by Miri Mesika.)
- 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.)
- 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.)
- Gitarah ve'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.)
- 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.)
- Veshamru ("And They Shall Keep": adapted from traditional Sabbath melody; sung by Debbie Friedman.)
- 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 now 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.)
NOTES
- Hatikvah ("The Hope" (Israeli National Anthem): composed by Naftali Herz Imber in 1878; sung here by Barbra Streisand in 1978.)
* "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.)
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