Song of the Week

Song of the Week

Watch free Share
Song of the Week
  • Israeli Music for Summer

    What’s on your summer playlist? With Israel on our minds, we hope you find comfort and hope in the rich fabric of Israeli music. Our album Israel: 75 Years of Music features beloved Israeli songs in addition to new compositions as Israeli-born Cantor Schwartz is joined by inter-generational Ameri...

  • “I Give Thanks” (Modeh Ani Al Boker)

    Let us take a moment and think about the things we are grateful for; the simplest things are often the greatest sources of joy. This song names some of these: the morning light, bread on the table, talents, songs, and the gift of life for another day. As we try to not take these things for grante...

  • Shir Lama’alot: “Song of Ascents”

    This setting of the psalm “Song of Ascents” is presented in honor of those who keep us and Israel safe.

    Music: Josef Karduner
    Music Director: David Enlow
    Special thanks to Eli Grunfeld
    Video: Tami Shaham with help by Alexander Kotov
    Audio: Oli Jung & Oscar Acevedo

  • Supercalifragilisticexpialadonolam

    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...

  • B’tokh Niyar Iton (“Inside a Newspaper”)

    Take a moment for whimsy – with its picturesque lyrics and Moroccan rhythm, we hope this song brings you a little joyful summer energy.

    This song, from our album Israel: 75 Years of Music, is available wherever you stream and download your music.

    Moroccan folk melody, lyrics by Kobi Oz
    Arrange...

  • Matanot Ktanot (“Little Gifts,” feat. Bat Ella)

    For some in Israel, the “little gifts” spoken of in this song have been taken away, for a time, or forever. For those not directly affected by months of war, perhaps there is a new appreciation for thousands of little things in every day that we might take for granted. “Breathing the Friday air ....

  • A Prayer for Israel (Avinu Shebashamayim)

    In honor of Yom Ha’atzmaut, enjoy this new setting of the prayer for Israel. This upbeat adaptation expresses hope for Israel’s future, one we pray for fervently. We dedicate this dance-style song to the victims, and with hope for the hostages, of the Nova Music Festival. Am Yisrael Chai.

    Music,...

  • Uptown Eshet Chayil (feat. Six13)

    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...

  • Moledet - Homeland

    In the aftermath of October 7, celebrated Israeli artist Hanan Ben Ari wrote this song. In his dedication to the song, he writes, “This song is dedicated to my country. Not the one that was here a week ago, the one we will rebuild when all this is over.” As we look to Yom HaShoah, the reasons why...

  • Broadway Star Julie Benko and Cantor Schwartz: One Step Closer

    Even in anguished times, every Jewish holiday is made more special by music. We hope you enjoy the premiere of this duet, which took place on April 20, 2024, at Park Avenue Synagogue.

    Commissioned by the PAS Music Center, this song was recently written by Julie Benko and Jason Yeager. It is bas...

  • Shmor na Aleinu - Remembering Nova Music Festival

    Six months after October 7, we remember the young people who began that day dancing joyfully to the music of the Nova festival. You can see some of those survivors of the attack in this video. They met with Cantor Schwartz on the beach in Tel Aviv to the sounds of the song “Shmor na Aleinu,” a pr...

  • Tahzor (“Come Back”)

    As of this weekend, on April 7, the remaining hostages in Gaza will have been held in captivity for six months. Despite the unimaginable deprivation and cruelty of their condition, we hope and pray for their immediate return.

    Music and lyrics by Idan Reichel and Avi Ohayon
    Arrangement by Oran ...

  • Adon Olam – Sounds Like Coldplay!

    On Shabbat Zahor, we are ready for Purim, and even the Adon Olam is wearing a costume to celebrate! The Purim story itself is one of troubled times for the Jewish people, and it helps us to recognize that even in the greatest adversity, there must be space for laughter, for taking the joyful mome...

  • You Raise Me Up

    There are plenty of reasons to feel down as discouraging news and images are all around us, yet it doesn’t take much effort to raise someone up or to recognize when someone has lifted us from sadness. A kind word, good deed, mitzvah, or even just being together are some of the ways we can support...

  • L’Or HaZichronot (By the Light of Memory)

    For the Jewish people, memory itself is a constant occupation as we breathe different moments of time into the pages of the prayer book each year. Think of Yom HaShoah, remembering the worst of times with the fervent hope that they do not come again. During the High Holidays, we have the Zichrono...

  • Joy in Sorrow – Yism’hu by Yossele Rosenblatt

    In an anguished time, we sing of taking delight from keeping Shabbat. Interestingly, the reverse is also true: the rhythm of this musical setting of a joyful prayer is tinged with melancholy. Perhaps that alloy is what makes deep joy more powerful than happiness – the knowledge that the Jewish pe...

  • Makom L’d’agah (A Place for Worry)

    Yehonatan Geffen (1947–2023) was an esteemed Israeli man of letters. This past Rosh Hashanah, we offered the setting of his Makom L’d’agah by composer Matti Caspi (b. 1949). We did not know how significant it would be soon after to sing, “At the edge of the sky, and at the verge of the desert, th...

  • Shabbat on Broadway

    Featuring leading theater stars, the production Shabbat on Broadway was an inclusive experience that blended prayer and inspirational show tunes – the first time a Shabbat service has taken place on the Broadway stage. Produced by Amanda Lipitz and Henry Tisch, with creative and liturgical input ...

  • Pray for Peace

    Let us pray for peace using these timeless words from the Amidah, sung in this familiar melody. Oseh shalom bimromav hu ya-aseh shalom aleinu, v’al kol Yisrael, v’imru amen – "May the one who creates peace on high bring peace to us and to all Israel. And we say: Amen."

    Music: Nurit Hirsh, arr. b...

  • Bring Them Home

    This week we marked 100 days since 240 women, children, elderly people, and other innocent civilians were brutally abducted from their homes and held in captivity by Hamas, sitting in dark terrorist tunnels under the ground, their condition unknown. Our hearts are with those who have suffered and...

  • What the World Needs Now Is Love

    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...

  • Bashanah Haba’ah – Hopes for Next Year

    As we contemplate the turn of the secular year, we have aspirations for peace, and as this song rings out, “You will yet see how good it will be next year.” Wishing all a happy and safe 2024 and a Shabbat Shalom.

    Lyrics: Ehud Manor / Music: Nurit Hirsch
    Arranged by Oran Eldor
    Music Director:...

  • A Night of Light: Hanukkah Concert Brings NYC Communities Together

    In solidarity with Israel, and in celebration of Hanukkah, talented friends and faith joined us for a concert to bring our communities together. We hope this program brings you light and strength in these dark times.

    Featuring: Rev Adriene Thorne (Riverside Church), Freddy Washington, Cantor Cha...

  • Ahavat Olam – Infinite Love

    Debbie Friedman’s popular melody is lovingly offered here by Cantor Schwartz and his daughter, recorded during the 2023 High Holidays in a new arrangement commissioned by the PAS Music Center. Barukh atah Adonai ohev amo Yisrael – "Praised are you Adonai who loves the people Israel."

    Music: Debb...