HEBREW SONG PERFORMANCESThe links below connect to a number of excellent YouTube music video performances of traditional and contemporary Hebrew songs. The songs are divided (somewhat roughly) into two sections, the first consisting of mostly Israeli music and the second of mostly liturgical music.
~~~ SONGS OF ISRAEL ~~~
- 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.)
- Ain Li Eretz Acheret ("I Have No Other Country": music by Korin Allal, lyrics by Ehud Manor; sung by Ninet Tayeb.)
- Avinu Malkeinu ("Our Father, Our King": composed by Stalos & Oren Chen (for the Max Janowski composition, see links in the section below on liturgical music); sung by Alexandrina Chelu.)
- B'dama'ich Chayi ("You're My Lifeblood": composed by Naomi Shemer; sung by Ronit Roland.)
- Biglal Ha'layla ("Because of the Night": music by Dafna Eilat, lyrics by Tirtza Atar; sung by Chava Alberstein.)
- Bikashti Aish ("I Asked for Fire": music by Natan Shachar, lyrics by Hezi Lofban; sung by Miri Mesika.)
- Bishvili ("For Me": sung by Hadar Ozeri.)
- Chad Bayta ("One Little Home": satirical update of Chad Gadya (see below) with the latest cast of characters seeking Israel's destruction - Ahmadinejad, Obama, the UN, etc., etc., etc., traditional melody from the Passover Seder, screenplay by Tal Gilad, English translation by Ruthie Blum Leibowitz; produced by Latma, sung by Noam Jakobson.)
- Chavera ("Friend": music by Rami Kleinstein, lyrics by Rita Kleinstein; sung by Rita Kleinstein.)
- Chorshat Ha'ekaliptus ("The Eucalyptus Grove": composed by Naomi Shemer; sung by Shiri Maimon.)
- Dodi Li ("My Beloved is Mine": music by Nira Chen, lyrics from the Song of Songs; performed by the Atonement Klezmer Duo.)
- Eli, Eli ("My God, My God": music by David Zahavi, lyrics from the Hannah Szenes (Senesh) poem A Walk to Caesarea; sung by Sophie Milman.)
- Emtza Ha'Tamuz ("Middle of Tammuz": composed by Naomi Shemer; sung by Nurit Galron.)
- Eretz, Eretz, Eretz ("A Land!": music and lyrics by Shaike Paikov; sung by Ilanit.)
- Erev Shel Shoshanim (1), Erev Shel Shoshanim (2) ("Evening of Roses": music by Yosef Hadar, lyrics by Moshe Dor; sung by (1) Ha'parvarim and (2) Mel Rosenberg and Israel Gurion.)
- Etz Ha'afarsek ("The Peach Tree": composed by Yosef Hadar; sung by Chani Dinur (left) and Meital Trabelsi.)
- Gitarah V'kinor ("A Guitar and a Violin": music and lyrics by Shalom Chanoch; sung by Marina Maximilian Blumin.)
- Ha'ke'ev Ha'zeh ("This Ache": music by Ofra Haza and Izhar Ashdot, lyrics by Ofra Haza; sung by Ofra Haza.)
- Ha'lev ("The Heart": music by Tzvika Pik, lyrics by Mirit Shem-Or; sung by Maya Buskila.)
- Hallelujah ("Hallelujah": music by Kobi Oshrat, lyrics by Shimrit Orr; sung by Limor Shapira.)
- 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.)
- Ha'tikvah (1), Ha'tikvah (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.)
- Hava Nagila ("Let Us Rejoice": composed by Abraham Idelsohn, based on a Hasidic niggun (melody); performed by André Rieu and the Johann Strauss Orchestra.)
- Hinei Mah Tov ("How Good": music by M. Yacovson, lyrics from Psalm 133:1; sung by Dalida.)
- 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.)
- Ishah ("Woman": sung by Limor Shapira.)
- Israelit ("I Am an Israeli": music by Tomer Hadadi, lyrics by Dudu Barak; sung by Ilanit.)
- Kamah Ko'ach ("How Much Strength": lyrics by Talia Barkai; sung by Shiri Maimon and Ran Danker.)
- K'mo 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.)
- Kshe'at Atzuvah ("When You're Sad": music and lyrics by Amir Benayun; sung by Shiri Maimon.)
- 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.)
- Lirot et Ha'or ("See the Light": music by Assaf Amdursky, lyrics by Barak Feldman; sung by Efrat Gosh.)
- Lu Yehi (1), Lu Yehi (2), ("Let It Be": composed by Naomi Shemer, based on the Beatles song; sung by (1) Sarit Hadad and (2) Alexandrina Chelu.)
- Mami ("My Love": music and lyrics by Itai Pearl; sung by Miri Mesika.)
- Mechakah L'ahavah ("Waiting for Love": composed by Tzvika Pik; sung by Hila Zittoun.)
- 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.)
- Megared Li Ba'gav ("Scratch My Back": music by Yoni Bloch, lyrics by Barak Feldman; sung by Efrat Gosh and Yoni Bloch.)
- Micha'el ("Michael": music and lyrics by Etti Ankri; sung by Etti Ankri.)
- Mishe'hu ("Someone": music by Matti Caspi, lyrics by Ehud Manor.)
- Nifradnu Kach ("We Parted So": music by Miron Minster, lyrics by Lea Goldberg; sung by Marina Maximilian Blumin.)
- Niga El Ha'chalom ("Touch the Dream": music and lyrics by Shalom Chanoch; sung by Hila Maoz.)
- 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.)
- Rak L'Yisrael ("Only Israel": music by Yedida Freilich, lyrics by Gabby and Yuval Freilich; sung by Yedida Freilich.)
- Ratziti She'teda (Elohim Sheli), ("I Wanted You to Know" ("God of Mine"): music and lyrics by Uzi Chitman; sung by Liel Kolet.)
- Rega Prati ("Private Moment": music by Rami Kleinstein, lyrics by Ehud Manor; sung by Rita Kleinstein.)
- 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.)
- Shir Ha'frecha ("Song of a Tease": music by Tzvika Pik, lyrics by Essi Dayan; sung by Ofra Haza.)
- Shir L'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.)
- 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.)
- 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.)
- Tishmor Al Ha'olam, Yeled ("Watch Over the World, Child": music and lyrics by David D'or.)
- Ve'ulai ("And Perhaps": music and lyrics by Ivri Lider; sung by Moran Aharoni.)
- Y'chefah ("Barefoot": music and lyrics by Aviv Geffen; sung by Ninet Tayeb.)
- Yerushalayim Shel Zahav ("Jerusalem of Gold": composed by Naomi Shemer; sung by the late Ofra Haza.)
- Zodiak ("Zodiac": music by Yoni Roeh, lyrics by Dudu Barak; sung by Yaron Hadad and Uriel Shaltiel.)
~~~ LITURGICAL OR LITURGICALLY-INSPIRED SONGS ~~~
- 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.)
- Adonai Ro'i ("The Lord is My Shepherd": Psalm 23, music by Gerald Cohen; sung by Rowna Sutin and the choir of Rodef Shalom Congregation, Pittsburgh, PA.)
- Ashrei Ha'gafrur ("Blessed is the Match": music by Lawrence Avery, lyrics from the Hannah Szenes (Senesh) poem Blessed is the Match; sung by Jeanne Fisher.)
- 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 She'ba'shamayim ("Our Heavenly Father": synagogue prayer for the State of Israel; music by Sol Zim, lyrics by Nobel laureate S. Y. Agnon; sung by Meir Finkelstein.)
- 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 conquered Israel (the "baby goat"), but in the end were conquered themselves; sung with an Italian-Jewish melody by Chava Alberstein.)
- 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.)
- L'dor Va'dor ("From Generation to Generation": music by Meir Finkelstein, words from the Amidah prayer; sung by Meir Finkelstein and Ehud Spielman.)
- 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.)
- Lecha Dodi, Sim Shalom & L'dor Va'dor ("Come My Beloved," "Grant Peace" & "From Generation to Generation" (see descriptions above and below); variations on traditional melodies, composed by Meir Finkelstein; sung by David Propis, Meir Finkelstein, and Alberto Mizrahi.)
- 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.)
- M'kimi, ("He Raises (the Poor)": Psalm 113:5-8, music by Yosef Karduner; sung by Simcha.)
- 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.)
- Oseh Shalom, Bring Him Home & 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.)
- Shalom Aleichem (1), Shalom Aleichem (2) ("Peace Be With You": traditional Sabbath hymn; sung by (1) Varda & Ehud Spielman and Meir Finkelstein and (2) Fortuna.)
- Shalom Aleichem & Yah Ribon Olam ("Peace Be With You" (see above) & "God, Lord of the World": Aramaic song traditionally sung at the Sabbath table as one of the Shabbat Zemirot; variations on traditional melodies, composed by Meir Finkelstein; sung by David Propis and Meir Finkelstein.)
- 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.)
- Shir Lama'alot (1), Shir Lama'alot (2), Shir Lama'alot (3) ("A Song of Ascents": Psalm 121, music by Yosef Karduner, adapted from traditional Sabbath melody; sung by (1) Ninet Tayeb, (2) Yosef Karduner, and (3) Liel Kolet.)
- 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.)
- Va'yechulu Ha'shamayim & Magen Avot ("The Heavens Were Completed" & "Shield of Our Fathers": hymns chanted at the conclusion of the Sabbath Eve Amidah prayer, lyrics of Va'yechulu from Genesis 2:1-3; sung by Varda Spielman.)
- 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.)
- Yigdal (Elohim Chai) ("Revere (the Living God)" or "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.)
NOTES
* "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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