Fighting for religious pluralism in Israel

By Julie Gruenbaum Fax
Published on November 15, 2012

The arrest of Israeli feminist Anat Hoffman at the Western Wall last month sent ripples of alarm across the Jewish world, and leaders in Los Angeles will address their concerns about religious pluralism in Israel to Los Angeles’ Israeli Consul General in a public forum Nov. 26 at Temple Emanuel in Beverly Hills.

Anat Hoffman’s arrest at Western Wall galvanizing liberal Jewish groups

Published on October 22, 2012

Last week’s episode was hardly the first time Israeli police stopped activist Anat Hoffman while she was leading a women’s prayer service at the Western Wall in violation of Israeli law.

The value of voice

Published on September 12, 2012

As we prepare for the High Holy Days, we often do not consider one aspect of ourselves, our voice. I’m taking about our actual vocal cords; our means of producing sound.

Israel’s ‘American Idol’: The contest and the winner

Published on March 20, 2012

Adam Kleinberg has the rock star look and sound down pat. With a coif of heavy, brown dreadlocks, and dressed mostly in black and leather, this 22-year-old Mexican Jew has a powerful voice with deep range.

Military chief slams settler rabbi over women’s singing

Published on November 21, 2011

Israel's military chief of staff, Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz, slammed a settler rabbi's claim that religious soldiers would rather face a firing squad than attend a ceremony in which women sing.

Winners of Jewish song contest to make aliyah

Published on October 10, 2011

The top two finishers in an international Jewish singing contest are immigrating to Israel.

‘Israeli Idol’ Diana Golbi brings act and message to U.S.

Published on September 19, 2011

For her first visit to New York and the United States, Diana Golbi adopted the unofficial uniform of most city dwellers -- head-to-toe black. Black shirt, black top and tight black jeans. Her long brown hair was straight and hung past her shoulders.

There is nothing like seeing your kid singing Christmas Carols!

By Julia Bendis
Published on December 17, 2010

No Bieber Fever Here!

By Julia Bendis
Published on December 9, 2010

VIDEO: Sukkot services with the Happy Minyan

Published on November 9, 2008

The spirited, eclectic Happy Minyan of L.A. davening Hoshana Rabba concluding Sukkot. Guest chazans, New York's Yehuda Green and Lazar Wax, lead and deliver the cantillation.

VIDEO: Chazzan Chaim Adler—‘Kaddish’ @  Selichot services in Tel Aviv

By The Web Guy
Published on September 21, 2008

Chazzan Chiam Adler, Chief cantor at Tel-Aviv's Great Synagogue, sings the Kaddish. Recorded at first Selichot service. September 21 2008 midnight. Great chazzanut and wonderful singing by the congregation. Towards the end, you can hear a little Kol Isha. Is that our videographer, Y227, up in the womens' balcony?

MUSIC VIDEO: Amonai Shamati—Moroccan High Holy Day Piyyut

Published on September 10, 2008

Beautiful, pleading Sephardic High Holy Day piyyut recited on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur before Amidah. Tradtional Moroccan melody sung by Eyal Bitton.

VIDEO: Moroccan Jewish sacred singing

Published on May 11, 2008

Video of Moroccan Jewish sacred singing.

Gole to lead Cantor’s Assembly

By Tom Tugend
Published on May 3, 2007

Cantor Joseph Gole of Sinai Temple will be installed as president of the international Cantors Assembly during the organization's convention in Los Angeles, at a time when the profession is facing changes and challenges.

Voices of women loud and proud with ‘Vox Femina’

By Robert David Jaffee
Published on December 14, 2006

"We want to give the women of Los Angeles a voice," said Levine, pointing out that every world song in their repertoire "has a population right here" in Los Angeles. She added that world music is "the music of the people."

Songs of the South

By Keren Engelberg
Published on March 16, 2006

It appears Fox TV's "American Idol" has a Jewish contestant heading to the finals. Twenty-seven-year-old Elliott Yamin from Virginia, auditioned for the pop star search and singing competition in Boston, and has gone on to make it into the top 24, and then, on March 9, into the top 12.

Two Shows Set the Stage for Chanukah

By Robert David Jaffee
Published on December 15, 2005

Two winters ago, in one of its traditional Victorian teas, A Noise Within (ANW), the classical repertory theater company in Glendale, staged a series of holiday readings from actors as varied as Ed Asner and Fred Savage.

Roll It, Pat It and Mark It With a ‘B’

By Gabriella Gershenson
Published on April 7, 2005

For the birthdays of each of her grandchildren, Babulinka used to bake a krendel, a traditional Latvian cake in the shape of a B. The classic shape was really a figure eight; it just looked like a B to Babulinka's youngest grandchild, and so it became "the B cake."

The cake isn't what most children might imagine for a birthday cake. After all, it has no frosting, no layers, and no candles. Krendel (pronounced kryen-dzel) is low and yeasty with a streusel topping, more like coffee cake or a babka.

Secular Fans Hip to Religious Rapper

By Kelly Hartog
Published on April 7, 2005

He's into rap, hip-hop, reggae -- and religion. He's not a Christian rocker; he's a Chasidic reggae/hip-hop musician.

Matisyahu is the artist formerly known as Mathew Miller -- until he found God, Lubavitch-style, almost five years ago.

Aroeste Gives New Life to Ladino Tunes

By Naomi Pfefferman
Published on September 9, 2004

Purists were skeptical when Sarah Aroeste debuted her Ladino rock 'n' roll band back in 2001. Most artists singing in the fading Sephardic language were traditionalists, performing classical versions of songs dating to the Jews' expulsion from Spain in 1492.

But here was Aroeste, mixing rock and jazz with the flamenco and Middle Eastern-tinged music of her ancestors, singing those same lush romances accompanied by electric guitar as well as oud. And, the New York press noted, she was doing so while performing with a bare midriff and gyrating hips -- moves that led several publications to label her "The Jewish Shakira."

The Circuit

By Gaby Wenig
Published on August 19, 2004

News from the Circuit.

Long-Hair Music Gets Kid’sBuzz Cut in ‘Beethoven’s Wig’

By Nancy Sokoler Steiner
Published on April 22, 2004

Move over Baby Mozart and Baby Bach. If you really want your children to learn the classics -- and know the composer's name to boot -- check out "Beethoven's Wig, Sing Along Symphonies."

Matzah, Matzahman

By Naomi Pfefferman
Published on April 8, 2004

"Everyone wanted to clone our mother, which is why we created our Dancing Matzahman, said Davida Lampkin-Tydings. Actually, the singing, swaying doll -- voted best new Passover item at the 2003 Kosherfest -- looks like a male chef wearing matzah print. But press his foot, and the plush figure raps in the voice of Lampkin-Tydings' mother, Pauline S. Lampkin, whose photo is on the tag.

Exile the So-So Seder

By Sandee Brawarsky
Published on April 1, 2004

Some people like their Passover seders just as they remember them: the same lines recited by the same relatives with the same emphasis, the same songs, jokes and foods, the same delicate glassware that picks up the light in a certain way, reflecting past and present.

VBS Reaches Out With Tunes and Tie-Dye

By David Finnigan
Published on February 19, 2004

Jewish tunes, Grateful Dead-style tie-dyed T-shirts and rows of singing, swaying, arm-in-arm Jews gave a summer camp feel to Valley Beth Shalom's (VBS) "25th Hour" event, which marked the end of the Valentine's Day Shabbat.

Nearly 400 people came to the Conservative Encino synagogue's festive but compact Feb. 14 outreach to the 90 percent of San Fernando Valley Jews not affiliated with a synagogue.

Jerusalem

By Amy Klein
Published on February 5, 2004

Livin’ La

By Gaby Wenig
Published on December 18, 2003

Singer-songwriter Diex sees himself as an ambassador, a bridge between the unlikely worlds of the prayer filled synagogues and the groove-shaking beats of J Lo, Enrique Iglesias and Ricky Martin.

7 Days In Arts

Published on November 20, 2003

7 Days In The Arts

7 Days In Arts

Published on June 12, 2003

A documentary about an old-age home. Sound like a snoozefest?

Cantor Steven Puzarne of Breeyah.

By Gaby Wenig
Published on May 8, 2003

Carole Levine had been a member of Temple Israel of Hollywood for 28 years. During that time, she attended temple only during the High Holidays. Recently, Levine has started going to temple more often. As a flautist for The Chai Tones, a 10-piece temple band, Levine finds herself at the temple now at least once a month, playing jazzed-up versions of the regular synagogue melodies.

Oh So Sorry

By Marlene Adler Marks
Published on August 29, 2002

I'm sorry I haven't eaten more hot dogs.

Saturday is Selichot, the time when the whole Jewish world sings with Connie Francis, "I'm sorry," and vows to do better next time. Many of us are focused on the wrongs we've done to others, or even to God.

7 Days In Arts

Published on August 8, 2002

7 Days In The Arts

Double Identity

By Michael Aushenker
Published on June 27, 2002

Vocalist Vanessa Paloma can not wait to sing at Fiesta Shalom on June 30. For the Angeleno, who performs Ladino music with her band, Flor de Serena, Fiesta Shalom, a celebration of her Jewish and Latin ethnicities, is a far cry from the mixed feelings she used to experience about carrying passports in both cultures.

Estranged Bedfellows

By Gil Sedan
Published on March 8, 2001

Only in Israel would a government minister refrain from singing the national anthem.

Cantors Sing a New Song

By Naomi Pfefferman
Published on July 13, 2000

If Jewish Los Angeles seemed a more melodious place in late June, you can thank 250 of the Reform movement's sweet singers of Israel, who gathered in Beverly Hills to celebrate Jewish music and share their knowledge, skills, and repertoire.

Putting the Joy in Judaism

By Rabbi Elazar Muskin
Published on September 10, 1998

A few years ago, two of my colleagues took their families on vacation to Mammoth Lake. While there, the families spent Shabbat with one another, eating their meals together, singing zmirot (Shabbat songs) and enjoying each other's company.

Other Voices

By Sandor Slomovits
Published on June 18, 1998

My father has always revered Joe Louis. Asurprising hero, perhaps, for a man born and raised in far-awayHungary. Not the hero one might expect of a Jewish cantor, whose workall his life has been singing liturgy in synagogues. Yet, among themost vivid memories I have from my childhood in Hungary and Israel,through my teen-age years in the United States, are the stories myfather told of Joe Louis.

The Arts

By Curt Schleier
Published on June 4, 1998

When thecolumnist and author Jack Newfield started work on his documentaryabout Robert F. Kennedy, his mind was rooted as much in the presentas it was in the past. Yes, a large part of the purpose of thethree-hour special, "Robert F. Kennedy: A Memoir" (Discovery Channel,Sunday, June 7, 8 p.m.), was to commemorate and honor the latesenator on the 30th anniversary of his assassination.

A Traditional Meeting Place

Published on March 5, 1998

It all begins on a Friday around sundown. You, theparticipant, are assigned to a family's house. Perhaps you arrive attheir doorstep, or maybe you meet them at Aish HaTorah's KabbalatShabbat services at Pico Boulevard and Doheny Drive and walk homewith them afterward.