“Bearers of tears, bring our tears before the Ruler who tends to those in tears.” When Cantor Schwartz and his daughter sing these words, we recall that every parent has held a child in tears. Children can also hold their parents in tears, and we can shed them for each other, as the text speaks a...

These days we have much to feel sorry for. The Selihot service, a communal expression of sorrow and regret, begins on Rosh Hodesh Elul for some communities. May this Sephardic setting, sung by Cantor Schwartz and his sons, prepare us to acknowledge where we have fallen short, individually and in ...

We find ourselves at Labor Day and Rosh Hodesh Elul. After a summer of rest (or hopefully periods of it!), we herald the High Holidays, return to sanctuary services, and many adults resume work and children go back to school. Last Rosh Hashanah, Cantor Schwartz and Cantor Davis sang this brand-ne...

This year, the cantors and music department have had a special focus on Israel, trying to instill hope in the wider Jewish community. As the conflict continues and we still await the release of all hostages, our annual album this year will be Am Yisrael Chai: An October 7th Commemorative Album, f...

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...

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...

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

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...

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...

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 ....

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 ...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 ...

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...

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...