Jewish Music Toronto

Creating a database of Jewish music on YouTube, and showcasing other great Jewish music and performers!

[jewishmusicdatabase]

My little attempt at helping to end the war.

I've felt rather helpless, the past few months. I love the land of Israel, its people, and my people. I'm deeply concerned for the hostages being held in Gaza, and though I've participated in #Run4TheirLives, #Candles4Israel, and various other rallies and events, I have never felt like I've been doing much to actually affect anything.

I can't be sure that this will be any different, but it's an attempt at something.

I'm well aware that Hamas is a terrorist organization, and it launched this war when its followers committed the atrocities of October 7, 2023. I'm also well aware that Hamas announced it would do it again. I'm also, also aware that having Qatar, one of Hamas' benefactor nations, act as a third party is ludicrous.

But Hamas is not the only side walking away from the negotiating table when the talks fail.

And they keep failing.

So I decided to see if anything I could do, beyond singing at or live streaming and recording events, can help move things in the right direction, toward the end of the war and peace.

This, my first ever Change.org petition, is that attempt.

Will you sign it, and have the two sides start airing their entire negotiations publicly?

If the link in the picture above doesn't work, you'll find it here. https://chng.it/xLBqJJbNhS

[jewishmusicdatabase]

I CAN FINALLY GET SOME SLEEP!!!

It's been almost three weeks of insane production, but tonight is the final night of The Song Shul's 8 8 '24 Chanukah (should it be 8 8 '25 for the last episode???). I've been running myself so ragged that I hadn't even thought to post this here, but it came to me... eventually.

I hope that you enjoy it, making all those extreme later-nighters and all-nighters worth it!

Episodes 1-7 are up now, and Episode 8 premieres tonight at 7 PM EST!

Goodnight! (Tonight. I'm making a promise to myself.)

[jewishmusicdatabase]

Watch "Join us at David Pecaut Square, today, July 7th, at 4 PM. #bringthemhomenow #bringthemhome #shorts" on YouTube

I'll be streaming the official feed live from the rally. Watch the short for the link, or click below.

[optimisticlucio]

Just tossing this here so non-jewish mutuals/followers are aware, since I think this isn't as well known: Jewish Voice for Peace is as representative of jews as Autism Speaks is of autistic people. That is to say - not at all.

To clarify, I do not disagree with the idea of jews fighting for.. well, peace. I am a big supporter of organizations like Standing Together which pushes for exactly that. The issue is that JVP just makes shit up, often misrepresents or totally messes up jewish tradition (like the time when they misspelled every single hebrew word on their passover plate), and is generally such a car crash that it would be a bad idea to take their comments on judaism at face value.

[jewishmusicdatabase]

Just going to share this here... I can't say that I know enough about Standing Together to endorse the organization, but I do appreciate that they are bringing Israelis and Palestinians together, and that they are BOTH calling for the return of the hostages and the end of the war (though, frankly, a complete cessation of hostility by Palestinian leadership is necessary, not just a return to the status quo).

Honestly, go listen to that full Chuck Schumer speech. It was a lesson on how to criticize Israel without being hateful against Jews.

[jewishmusicdatabase]

Photos: The Afro-Semitic Experience Opens Jewish Music Week 2024

For the complete photo gallery, become a Patron and help Jewish Music Toronto! https://www.patreon.com/posts/105069877

I had the privilege of attending the opening night of Jewish Music Week 2024, featuring The Afro-Semitic Experience.

And what an experience it was!

The band's unique blend of gospel, klezmer, jazz and more brings traditional, liturgical, folk and general cultural music of black and Jewish cultures together in a way I've never seen before.

There is joy in their music. There is hope and pain in it as well, as with their original song My Feet Began to Pray, written following the killing of George Floyd. And there is memory in their stories and songs.

It was a great night, and a wonderful start to Jewish Music Week. If you'd like to know more about this year's festival, check out www.jewishmusicweek.com.

[jewishmusicdatabase]

A Memorial in Canada for Israel's Day of Remembrance #YomHaZikaron #shorts

At last night's Mizrachi Canada Yom HaZikaron (Israeli Memorial Day) and Yom Ha'atzma'ut (Israeli Independence Day) event, people from the v

An Exhibition for Israel's Memorial Day

Going into it, I knew that this year's Yom HaZikaron (Israel's Memorial Day) and Yom Ha'atzma'ut (Israel's Independence Day) was going to be more of an emotional rollercoaster than usual.

Jews around the world aren't just commemorating a terrorist attack that happened on a particular day. We're still reeling from the ongoing war and hostage situation brought on by Hamas' invasion of Israel's southern region on October 7th.

What was supposed to be one of the most joyous days in the Jewish calendar is, still, now a cloud that hangs over our heads, of continued rocket fire from Hamas and company in the south, Hezbollah in the north, and, the one large-scale (thankfully failed) attack from the Iranian regime, and Yemen.

132 hostages still remain (hopefully alive), and bodies of those hostages that were executed by Hamas and its accomplices, or that have died from their wounds, lack of essential medications, starvation, or who knows what else because no international welfare organization has bothered to even try and check on their wellbeing.

The displays at Mizrachi Canada's Yom HaZikaron and Yom Ha'atzma'ut event were well done, to say the least. For those who can't simply pick up to go and visit Israel, to see the devastation for themselves, this one, especially, felt as if you were there, walking in the field where the Nova Festival was held.

[jewishmusicdatabase]

Yom HaShoah and Hostage Commemoration - Sunday May 5

Please join us as we reflect on the parallels between past and present struggles against hate. What lessons do the 1930s offer us, and why a

Live now, for Yom HaShoah.

[jewishmusicdatabase]

Live now, for Yom HaShoah.

[jewishmusicdatabase]

This is some high-level #talent coming out of the Ultra-Orthodox #Jewish community #music #fyp

Last night, I went to record a special fundraiser event for Kollel Aliyos Shlomo, run by Rabbi Dovid Lipson.The core of the evening was cham

It's been a loooong time since I had something like this to share. You have to listen to this!

[jewishmusicdatabase]

#ShlomoSimcha working with Gideon Levine on new #music

Shlomo Simcha is working on a brand #newsong composed by Yoeli Dikman, getting ready to release it just in time for #TuBishvat! Behind the d

For those who don't know, I've been either performing or doing production work for others since just before the pandemic.

Shlomo Simcha is a regular on that list, and he's got a new album and a new single coming out. The single is getting its radio premiere at midnight tonight, Israel Time, on Kol Barama radio. The show is hosted by composer and conductor Yoeli Dikman (quite honestly, an insane talent), who, it just so happens, also composed the single as well.

I got to hear an early version of the song a little over a month ago, and I'm excited to hear the final take. It has some fantastic electric guitar parts. There's a little ABBA-style influence in there (I have no idea if it was intentional), and it's quite uplifting.

All that said, we've released a couple of shorts over on Shlomo Simcha's channel from behind the scenes of the production, like this one at GYL Studios in Brooklyn!

[jewishmusicdatabase]

Hey... so this is crazy, but... I'm back!

Watch "#Hatikvah, but it's bass." on YouTube

Long story short; I got locked out of my account in early 2020, and Tumblr support refused to help. On a whim, since I decided to make a few of shorts in the past few months, I decided to try again, and they HELPED!

Here's my latest short. It's the Israeli National Anthem, Hatikvah, but... a bass part.

[jewishmusicdatabase]

@rotenbergabie and @shlomosimcha's #Aish3 came out this week. I've had the pleasure of working in various ways with both Shlomo Simcha and @doni.gross over the past year, and I've gotten to see their talents first-hand (I've also gotten to see Abie perform live on a separate occasion, and that's something to see on its own). I want to wish them the best of success for this album, which is surely an #instantclassic. You can get a copy for yourself at MusicofAish.com. #jewishmusic #jewish #Repost @doni.gross (@get_repost) ・・・ "I am humbled to have been involved in an Aish album. The music that I grew up with and infused within me a love for music. The music that has had a major impact on my career as a producer, molding my musical style, taste and direction. BH I have had the opportunity to work on many different unique projects, but this one is a true dream come true for me! Aish has provided songs to the Jewish world that are timeless. Just think about all the big, incredible moments that these Aish songs have been a part of: simchos that are enhanced, Chassanim and Kallos walking down the aisle at the most precious moments of their lives, singing in shuls on Shabbosim and Yomim Tovim, and Tisha B'Avs deeply felt. Abie's songs have always touched us in places that are so deep; the songs are larger than life and something words cannot adequately describe. Together with the sweet, yet powerful and moving vocals of Shlomo Simcha, Aish has countless classics that have outlived the many fading songs that have been popular since then. So as we release Aish Volume 3, the next chapter in the Aish series, I know that the legacy of Aish will continue, with all of the listeners out there connecting to these niggunim and getting moved by the songs on a deep and meaningful level. Quite a few songs in this selection focus upon our longing for Geulah (Mosai Timloch, Ani Maamin, Bayom Hahu and Lo Matza). I hope this album can be a form of inspiration for everyone who listens and we should all be Zocheh very soon to see the ultimate Geula in our days, Bimhera Viyamenu Amen!" https://ift.tt/2UXYCCn

[jewishmusicdatabase]

@rotenbergabie and @shlomosimcha's #Aish3 came out this week. I've had the pleasure of working in various ways with both Shlomo Simcha and @doni.gross over the past year, and I've gotten to see their talents first-hand (I've also gotten to see Abie perform live on a separate occasion, and that's something to see on its own). I want to wish them the best of success for this album, which is surely an #instantclassic. You can get a copy for yourself at MusicofAish.com. #jewishmusic #jewish #Repost @doni.gross (@get_repost) ・・・ "I am humbled to have been involved in an Aish album. The music that I grew up with and infused within me a love for music. The music that has had a major impact on my career as a producer, molding my musical style, taste and direction. BH I have had the opportunity to work on many different unique projects, but this one is a true dream come true for me! Aish has provided songs to the Jewish world that are timeless. Just think about all the big, incredible moments that these Aish songs have been a part of: simchos that are enhanced, Chassanim and Kallos walking down the aisle at the most precious moments of their lives, singing in shuls on Shabbosim and Yomim Tovim, and Tisha B'Avs deeply felt. Abie's songs have always touched us in places that are so deep; the songs are larger than life and something words cannot adequately describe. Together with the sweet, yet powerful and moving vocals of Shlomo Simcha, Aish has countless classics that have outlived the many fading songs that have been popular since then. So as we release Aish Volume 3, the next chapter in the Aish series, I know that the legacy of Aish will continue, with all of the listeners out there connecting to these niggunim and getting moved by the songs on a deep and meaningful level. Quite a few songs in this selection focus upon our longing for Geulah (Mosai Timloch, Ani Maamin, Bayom Hahu and Lo Matza). I hope this album can be a form of inspiration for everyone who listens and we should all be Zocheh very soon to see the ultimate Geula in our days, Bimhera Viyamenu Amen!" — view on Instagram https://ift.tt/2w5YiXw

[jewishmusicdatabase]

@sonshineandbroccoli's new album, "Hug Life" released today. It's available through @itunes, @amazon and @spotify. Links below. You can learn more about the duo from my interview with them earlier this year at https://youtu.be/oNnTsYZvWDE iTunes: https://ift.tt/2KokKPY Amazon: https://ift.tt/2NPebIs Spotify: https://ift.tt/2QtWkbw #notsponsored — view on Instagram https://ift.tt/377PYVj

[starlightomatic]

[Image description: a card on a lanyard reading “VidCon” in large letters, and above that, reading “In observance of the Sabbath, this attendee is not required to use their wristband at RFID locations from Friday, July 12 at 5:00pm through Saturday, July 13 at 11:59pm.]

This is so incredibly important. Religious Jews who keep Shabbat (the Jewish Sabbath) can’t use electronics (among other things) from sundown on Friday until nightfall on Saturday. As someone who used to keep Shabbat, it was so hard to participate in so many things. Simple things like electronic hotel door locks — or, in this case, RFID wristbands, can mean an event isn’t accessible to those who keep Shabbat. So, even though I’m not at VidCon myself (I’ve never been and I’m on the opposite side of the country!) and I don’t keep Shabbat anymore, I’m incredibly grateful and moved that they did this. This isn’t just a kind staffer waiving a rule for an individual, this is a convention-wide policy and system that allows observant Jews full participation in the con. This is what inclusion looks like. This is what welcoming diversity looks like. This is what making sure your space welcomes Jewish people looks like. Thank you thank you thank you.

[starlightomatic]

(Non-Jews can definitely reblog this!)

[jewishmusicdatabase]

I was wondering what to do on Shabbat if I ever went to VidCon, thinking of maybe trying to create some kind of special event for Shabbat (prayer services or a kumzitz or something), but I was always worried about getting around the facilities on the day.

This, if this is official, and not just made by the person who took the photo, is really cool.

[jewishmusicdatabase]

Alright. I actually DO have a little update from today's events. Another phenomenal gig filming @shlomosimcha. Very cool meeting @shmueliungar, @moshetischler and the guys from @ateamorchestra as well! Send some 👍 if you'd like to see them on the channel! — view on Instagram https://ift.tt/2LZLDLX

[jewishmusicdatabase]

I just watched the new video from @iamshulem, with @theshirachoir and @sabababand. It's a beautiful updated arrangement on a cantorial classic. Highly suggest checking it out - https://youtu.be/rF2l2mtfufg Let me know if you want to see them on the channel in the future! — view on Instagram https://ift.tt/2xA4W62