Burt Bacharach (1928–2023) was a star in the firmament of Jewish songwriting that rose over New York through the 20th century, from the Brill Building to Broadway, to the Hit Parade and beyond. As we approach Bacharach’s yahrzeit, his beautiful, wistful setting of the lyrics of his frequent colla...

This Mother’s Day, we have reimagined Billy Joel’s classic tribute to a “Woman of Valor.” We hope that mothers and children of all ages enjoy this collaboration with the celebrated a cappella group Six13 in praise of all their virtues we admire!

Starring:
Cantor Arielle Reisner
Rabbi Lori Ko...

The world of film and theatre music lost a great light recently when the songwriter Richard M. Sherman died. From Mary Poppins to The Jungle Book, music written by Sherman and his brother, Robert, has brought joy to millions over many decades. The Sherman Brothers were born to a father of Russian...

Written in response to the events of October 7th, this song then appeared in the Eurovision contest as “Hurricane.” Cantor Schwartz sings the original lyrics as he does on our album, Am Yisrael Chai: An October 7th Commemorative Album, now available on our site and wherever you stream music.

Cre...

We build something stronger when we build it together. Whether building the mishkan (tabernacle) in this week’s parashah, or the kehilla kedoshah, the sacred community that we all aim to create, having a friend to share the work with can mean everything. We are grateful to our food pantry teen vo...

There is a rich treasury of music that’s been written for Israeli children. Here are some whimsical and beautiful children’s songs in Hebrew. Enjoy solos by Cantor Schwartz’s children and let your heart be light! Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom and a Happy Purim.

When you think of Mediterranean movie-making, you might think of the Cannes Film Festival, which begins this coming week, but what do you know about the film industry in Israel? Last year, we created a medley of songs from Israeli film. Some scenes you might recognize, if only Chaim Topol’s famou...

The first among the Declaration of Independence’s famous rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is life, ‘chai’. In this, Israel’s 1983 Eurovision entry, life is “a song passed from generation to generation”. May we all value and celebrate the precious gift of life. Am Yisrael Chai...

Sixty years after Simon & Garfunkel released this song, we find ourselves once again in a world deeply divided. “People talking without speaking - people hearing without listening.”

If you recognize some of the singers here, it’s because they also opened the Tony Awards earlier this year. Singin...

The rainbow, in both this song and this week’s parshah, is a sign of hope and promise at the conclusion of a troubled time. In 1939, when this song appeared, and in our own troubled times, imagining a better world might feel impossible. And yet, when music and imagination come together, our souls...

Rabbis Cosgrove and Zuckerman, both “Born in the USA,” love Bruce Springsteen. The rabbis joke with Cantor Schwartz, who hails from “The Promised Land,” that he really doesn’t get the Boss, that he’s just “Dancing in the Dark.” This past Rosh Hashanah, the Cantor proved that he is not “Blinded by...

While shooting this video in public, we witnessed a beautiful miracle: New Yorkers from all walks of life joining in. Written by the legendary Stephen Schwartz (of Wicked fame), this anthem captures the spirit of the holiday season.

May we all celebrate the light in others, differences and al...