Hineni is a central prayer of the High Holidays. Last year, we commissioned and premiered this new composition by Zina Goldrich, a most modern take on the traditional cantor’s prayer. We look forward to seeing you at High Holiday services.

Music: Zina Goldrich, commissioned by PAS Music Center ...

Here we stand at the gate of the year, the bridge between the long, sweet days of summer and the soul-searching of the High Holidays; between the dust of the street and the glory of the synagogue; between comforting tradition and stirring newness; between the shout of prayer and the peace of sile...

When Cantor Schwartz blessed his son, Daniel, on his Bar Mitzvah, the touching moment reverberated through the sanctuary. We hope this brings you happy thoughts and memories of your own loved ones.

Live from Park Avenue Synagogue, May 13, 2023
Lyrics by Ron Miller, music by Ken Hirsch & Marti ...

As we approach Tisha B’Av, we hope this duet by Cantor Schwartz and his son brings you strength and comfort. Wishing you a meaningful fast.

Live from Rosh Hashanah service at Park Avenue Synagogue, New York, 2022
Music: Beth Styles, commissioned by PAS Music Center
Music Director: David Enlow
AV...

We turn our eyes toward Israel, with love and concern for the Israeli people who face pain and challenges in these complicated times. Borrowing an image of the honeybee from this song, we “bless the sting and bless the honey, bless the bitter and the sweet.”

At our recent cross-community Tekes ...

The three weeks leading up to the 9th of Av are a time of grief and sorrow. The ritual of Nichum Aveilim focuses on the power of community in moments of darkness. It is a reminder of the strength we possess when we lean on each other during challenging times. May you find solace, healing, and hop...

This Fourth of July, we are aware of the distinctly American musical language which we include in our prayer and musical life. We are fortunate to have numerous commissions from noted American musician Zina Goldrich, such as this setting of Ochila La-El from the most recent High Holidays. In this...

As we close our musical season, we reflect on the occasions filled with joyful and deep sounds that made it a memorable year. A few weeks ago we heard some of this special music during the bar mitzvah of Cantor Schwartz’s son, Daniel. We hope you enjoy these musical highlights from our cantors an...

We bet you probably have not heard the Eitz Chayim prayer with trumpets, and yet, in last week’s parashah, Moses is commanded to fashion two silver trumpets for assembling the Israelites, whether for war, assembly, or worship, and holidays. We decided to add the trumpets to this favorite Shabbat ...

The halls of Park Avenue Synagogue are still ringing from Wednesday night’s concert, the grand finale of our Israel at 75 season. From Exodus and Hora to Moroccan rhythm and a Tel Aviv dance party, we celebrated the rich fabric of the Israeli people, music, and culture. We hope you enjoy this pro...

It’s been a terrific year of celebrating Israel at 75. PAS was particularly honored in this anniversary year to host the annual collaborative Tekes Me’avar, a transitional ceremony between Yom HaZikaron and Yom HaAtzma’ut.

If Israel, its music, and culture are important to you, we hope to see y...

As we begin the holiday of Shavuot this evening, we recall the original receiving of the Torah. At festive moments such as Rosh Hashanah, the congregation receives the Torah differently, making personal gestures of respect as it is carried around the sanctuary in procession (hakafah) with great r...

This week, we celebrate the reunification of Jerusalem, one of the miracles of our time, which allows all peoples to visit a city that is holy to many. The longing for Jerusalem that suffuses the Mimkomcha prayer has inspired art and music for generations, and we hope it inspires you to dream of ...

Can you think of a piece of music that brings you joy whenever you hear it or sing along to in services? The text of this psalm focuses on the joy of making music, with voices and all kinds of instruments – a delight you can see in the faces of the ensemble. This Shabbat is a time of celebration ...

As all eyes are on London, we offer this setting of Yigdal in the British tradition, composed for a British synagogue by Abraham Saqui (1824–1893). We pray for every blessing on King Charles and Queen Camilla, and on the many peoples and nations around the world the King serves as head of state. ...

In memory of Harry Belafonte, who passed away this past week, Cantor Schwartz sings Ein Keloheinu to the tune of "The Banana Boat Song" (Day-O), which was performed live during these past Shabbat services. May his memory be for a blessing.

As an exclamation point to Israel week, here is a setting of Adon Olam in a Middle Eastern style, commissioned by PAS from our Composer-in-Residence, Oran Eldor. If you think of some of your favorite Shabbat melodies, chances are that Eldor has written more than one. He and Cantor Schwartz form p...

These two weeks are the modern “Israeli High Holidays”, including Yom HaShoah, Yom HaZikaron, and Yom Ha’atzmaut, and so we bring you a song from one of Israel’s most renowned composers. This song bridges Yemeni musical heritage with a Western sound world, an Eastern melody with orchestral accomp...

We have just said the Yizkor memorial service on the eighth day of Passover, and we are preparing for Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, on April 17. Therefore, those who are no longer with us are very much on our minds during this time. We hope this psalm, with its images of green pastures ...

As we conclude the Passover Seder, an evocative phrase from the Haggadah captures our imaginations, a phrase that also appears at the end of Yom Kippur: “Next year, in Jerusalem.” Many might have different feelings when we think about Israel this year. Whatever your emotions are, we can always pr...

Cantor Schwartz and David Enlow recently visited our sister Conservative congregation, B'nai Torah, in Boca Raton, celebrating Jewish music with their newly installed cantor, Magda Fishman. As you prepare for Passover, we hope you enjoy this song of resilience and hope, sung as a duet for over 1,...

Dayenu is more than a word, it evokes an attitude of thankfulness and consideration of blessings. In this new arrangement of the jolly, familiar tune, Cantors Schwartz, Davis, and Michaeli list all the blessings that would have been enough. This Passover season, let us reflect on our blessings, n...

As spring arrives in New York with just a few weeks before Pesach, let’s celebrate with this icon of the Seder that also shows up at Hallel, B’tzet Yisrael. This psalm, 114, is full of powerful images with its internal questions: Why does the sea flee? Why do the mountains skip like rams? There i...

With Purim behind us, we transition to Passover in the coming weeks. One text from the Haggadah, V’hi Sh'amda, addresses a common thread between these two holidays – the ancient hate of the Jewish people that persists “in each generation,” including our own. This melody newly commissioned for our...