In celebration of Jewish-American Heritage Month (JAHM), members of AARI and the UGA community collaborated to create a playlist of music about the Jewish experience, music by Jewish artists and musicians, and music that empowers and celebrates people of all Jewish backgrounds. Some of the contributors have chosen to share about what the music they have selected means to them. We hope you enjoy listening to our Jewish-American Heritage Month Playlist!
Jewish folks have made a lot of wonderful and important contributions, and the majority of the time we don’t even know that these people are Jewish. This is not an uncommon phenomenon because of the need for them to assimilate, and for me as a Jewish person, that makes their music even more meaningful. Arnold Schoenberg, one of the 'great composers' of Western Classical music, was a Jew born in Vienna lucky enough to escape Europe before the Holocaust and make a name for himself as an emigrant to the U.S.; his piece “A Survivor from Warsaw” is a fictional depiction of a Holocaust survivor recalling a traumatic experience.
I also wanted to share two songs in Hebrew. “Yerushalayim Shel Zahav” (ירושלים של זהב) or “Jerusalem of Gold” can be heard in the Spielberg movie “Schindler’s List,” however the tune is more often used as an anthem for Israel. It feels very much like a pillar of strength to me, as well as this next song “A Village Love Song” which is a beautiful tune by Yamma, an ensemble that performs traditional and ancient Jewish and Middle Eastern music.
As a lover of American musical theatre, I had to pick just a few iconic pieces of music from some of my favorite shows. The unstoppable duo of Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim have created what I believe are some of the best of their kind; their lyricism and musicality are so clever, captivating, and beautiful.
Finally, I had to choose a few songs by P!nk, being the iconic pop and R&B artist she is. - Claudia Beroukhim, AARI Member
Regina Spektor – The Light: I’ve loved Regina since my best friend at camp introduced me to her music the summer before 7th grade. Regina was born in Russia and moved to the New York when she was young. Her older music is playfully inventive while her most recent songs are masterworks of elegance and beauty. Her subject matter ranges from love songs to mythical allegories, predictions of sci fi dystopia, political and social critique, to songs about life’s difficulties and emotional struggles. She writes and sings with a level of lyricism, creativity and honesty that I’m hard pressed to find anywhere else. The Light is a gorgeously poetic and lilting number that never fails to make me tear up.
Billy Joel – Vienna: Yup Billy Joel is Jewish, not that anyone’s particularly surprised. Vienna is one of my favorite songs of his, as it perfectly encapsulates how I feel looking back at my younger self. It’s a great reminder to slow down, resist hustle culture and find your Vienna, whatever that is for you.
Leonard Cohen – Hallelujah: There’s nothing I can say about this song that hasn’t been said, but I would be remiss if I didn’t include this absolute classic by an absolute songwriting legend.
Static & Ben El – Zahav: An Israeli pop song that was the jam one summer at camp. A total bop, it is pure fun and joy.
Movie songs: I See The Light from Tangled, Accidentally In Love from Shrek 2, and Deliver Us from Prince of Egypt: These are just SOME of my favorite songs from movies written/performed by Jews. I See The Light was written by Jewish composer Alan Menken and performed by Mandy Moore, who is Jewish, and Zachary Levi, who is surprisingly not Jewish but god damn I wish he was. Accidentally In Love was co-written and performed by Counting Crows lead singer Adam Duritz, who is of Russian Jewish decent. And Deliver Us is performed by the woman, the myth, the legend, Ofra Haza, a Yemenite Israeli singer. - Ellie Reingold, UGA Student
As an American Jewish musician, I find it really inspiring to see the works of other Jewish artists within all genres of music. These artists came from different backgrounds, yet all shared the common Jewish culture. A lot of Jewish musicians are heard on the radio, concert halls, and in daily life, yet part of their identity is not acknowledged. The works of Jewish musicians and composers are significant in the world and have impacted music around the globe. It is important that we take time to acknowledge and honor Jewish artists, and I hope that the audience begins to listen to these musicians and composers (and many more) with a different ear and a better understanding of their culture. - Lucy Rubin, UGA Student
I chose to include two art songs by Jewish composers. The first is Gramen gebshribn in zamd (Rhymes Traced in Sand) by Lazar Weiner, the chief advocate for Yiddish art song. He composed over 200 songs for voice in Yiddish -- extending the genre of Yiddish music beyond the stereotype of popular music for vaudeville for folk song. This song, composed in 1965, features a disjointed recitative A section that contrasts with a dramatic B section, and explores the theme of man's relationship with God. The second song I chose is Lori Laitman's take on "The Silver Swan," most frequently associated with English Renaissance composer Orlando Gibbons. This song for voice, piano, and flute offers, if not a lighthearted, then at least a more secular side of Jewish art song composition as well as music by a living composer! Ms. Laitman comes from a long line of cantors (though her parents were not professional musicians), and she is one of the most performed living composers in America. - Rebecca Sacks, UGA Alumni