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February 13, 2012
Binyamin Rose: Back to the Bunker: How a life-risking act by a Christian family during the Holocaust saved a family and built a thriving community a world away
Menachem Wecker: Business Schools Teach Real Estate Despite Troubled Housing Market
February 10, 2012
Lisa M. Krieger: Man with defibrillator demands access to his own heart's information
David G. Savage: Why activists may not be in a hurry to have High Court rule on alternative marriage
February 9, 2012
Laura McMullen: 10 Least Expensive Public Schools for Out-of-State Students
Kimberly Palmer: How to actually enjoy -- relaxing, financially -- your vacation
February 8, 2012
Warren Richey: Why momentous Prop. 8 ruling might not satisfy gay-rights groups
Menachem Wecker: Though Controversial, LL.M.'s Can Lead to Specialized Legal Jobs
The Kosher Gourmet byDana Velden: Going to the bother of making soup? You know it better be good. This CREAM OF TOMATO SOUP certainly is! And it's a cinch to make, too (Includes techinques and serving secrets)
February 7, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Caught off-guard? President's Super Bowl interview with Matt Lauer gives those who need a reason not to vote for him, a darn good one
Suzanne Bohan: Leaping lizards! Tiny reptiles advancing robot design
February 6, 2012
Jonathan Tobin: Iran Threatens Israel With Destruction, But the New York Times Doesn't Hear It
Jeffrey Fleishman: In newly democratic Egypt, tens of democracy activists jailed, to stand trial; their groups are 'threatening the stability of the homeland'
Julie Deardorff : Researchers say antioxidants may not be that effective and could do more harm than good
Mark Clayton: How did Anonymous hackers eavesdrop on FBI and Scotland Yard?
February 3, 2012
Edmund Sanders : Israeli official says Iran is creating missile that could reach East Coast of US
Victoria Kim: Immigrant-smuggling ring used black drivers to avoid racial profiling
February 2, 2012
Jim Carney: Wrong number call may have saved her life
Reza Kahlili : Ex-CIA spy in Iran's Revolutionary Guard: What Obama doesn't grasp about striking deals with Tehran
Tina Susman: For woodchuck rescuer, every day is Groundhog Day
February 1, 2012
Brian Bennett: US officials see increasing threat of domestic attack from Iran
Emily Brandon: How to Take Advantage of New 401(k) Fee Disclosures
January 31, 2012
January 30, 2012
Paul Richter and Ramin Mostaghim: Misreading Teheran's limits -- deadly and economically devastating as they may be -- is a risk administration, Europe seem willing to take
Suzanne Bohan: Warning: Nap-deprived tots missing more than sleep, study finds
Meg Handley: Banks Revamping Rewards Programs to Woo Customers
January 27, 2012
Caroline B. Glick: Obama: Of course I intend to prevent a nuclear holocaust . . . in a few months
Yochonon Donn: In liberal New York City, fervently-Orthodox Jews may soon be getting a district to call their own
Jeannine Stein: An inflated ego and thinking you're 'all that' doesn't just make others sick of you, it can make you ill
Katy Hopkins: New budget rules may affect how much money you get for college
January 26, 2012
Ed Koch: To the New York Times, calling for the murder of Jews by those capable of having their incitement taken seriously isn't news
Jeannine Stein: Mental illness struck one in five U.S. adults in 2010: Report
January 25, 2012
Richard Simon: House passes two bills endorsing the use of religious symbols at military memorials
Fred Weir: Putin: Multiethnic Russia cannot survive as a US-style 'melting pot'; must find its own way
Susan Johnston: 5 Sneaky Coupon Strategies Consumers Should Watch Out For
January 24, 2012
Carol Clark: The price of your soul: How your brain decides whether to 'sell out'
Caroline B. Glick: America lost most in 'Arab Spring'. Sadly, many voters still don't grasp the extent
Warren Richey: Drug criminal scores win in GPS ruling from conservative-leaning high court
Erika Bolstad: Black conservatives gather to talk about gaining strength
January 23, 2012
Melissa Dribben: Jewish voters to play a key role in Florida's Republican primary
Jordan Rau: In quest to grow, Catholic hospital system will announce this morning its break from church
Ali Safi: U.S. envoy gives Taliban terms for peace talks
January 19, 2012
January 18, 2012
January 17, 2012
Frank J. Gaffney Jr.: No-kidding red lines: U.S. response to an Iranian nuke may be bluster, but Israel's won't be
David G. Savage: They sued their principals after slandering them online --- now the cases are headed to the Supreme Court
David Francis: Where to Invest in 2012: With stocks expected to rebound, opportunity abounds for investors
January 13, 2012
Ben Lynfield: Israeli lawmakers move to annex Jewish Judea, one museum at a time
Alexia Elejalde-Ruiz: Thriving through touch: Gentle massage helps older people with low mobility improve in mind and body
January 12, 2012
Warren Richey: Landmark Supreme Court ruling a 'resounding win' for religious groups
Warren Richey: Supreme Court says no to new rule on eyewitness testimony
John Fauber : Statins found to raise diabetes risk in postmenopausal women
Katy Hopkins : Consider This Before You Pay for an Online Degree
The Kosher Gourmet by Joseph Erdos: This mushroom and barley soup has an intense -- almost nutty -- flavor that mixes robust with Middle East. It has creaminess without cream
January 11, 2012
Shari Roan: Millions of atrial fibrillation sufferers at risk for devastating, but preventable, stroke
Tom Hussain: Pakistan -- recipient of more than $21 billion in civilian and military aid -- speeds pursuit of Iranian pipeline, defying US
David G. Savage: High court signals it won't be loosening TV's 'indecency' rules
Stephen Ceasar: Oklahoma's Islamic law amendment can't go into effect, court rules
January 10, 2012
Reza Kahlili: From an ex-CIA spy: US must exploit new split in Iran's Revolutionary Guard
Karen Kaplan: Study: Nicotine replacement products ineffective when used in real-life situations
January 9, 2012
Michael Doyle: Put through legal hell over dream home, couple fought back hard --- all the way to Supreme Court
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Jewish World Review
Sept. 20, 2005
/16 Elul, 5765
New year, new and old sounds: Five new CDs for the High Holidays
By Paul Wieder
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Chanukah probably has the catchiest songs of any Jewish holiday, but
the High Holidays are hard to beat for sheer musical depth. Jewish
composers have been inspired by the season's themes of repentance
and
redemption for centuries, creating a whole body of profound work.
Many recent releases, in a variety of styles, can help awaken
sluggish souls to the spirit of this time of year.
CANTOR BENZION MILLER: THE FIRST S'LIHOT
The Milken Archive is dedicated to preserving and presenting the
major
works of American Jewish composers. Its two-disc edition of "The
First
S'lihot" features the powerful vocals of Cantor Benzion Miller
honoring
both the words of the liturgy and the arrangements of his cantorial
forebears, including Yoselle Rosenblatt. He is accompanied by full
choruses and both adult and young soloists. Haunting and stirring,
this is very old school- old shul?- music that still resonates.
KOL ZIMRA: THE MUSIC OF ABIE ROTENBERG
There are no instruments on "The First S'lihot", and none on this
disc,
either. But you will have a hard time believing that the drums,
basses
and harmonies are all voices. Or maybe not, after you see which
voices
help Kol Zimra out: Shlomie Dachs, Elli Kranzler, Yehuda!, and Blue
Fringe's Dov Rosenblatt, for starters. The performers and source
material
are strictly Orthodox, but the songs' treatments are not;
Rockapella's
Sean Altman produced this album, which may explain why it can sound
like
everything from Boys II Men to Manhattan Transfer. It is redundant
to
say that Jewish vocalists are "out of the chapel" (which is what "a
cappella" literally means) but the guys in Kol Zimra are also out of
this
world.
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SAM GLASER: EDGE OF LIGHT
This album presents even fewer instruments --- just one voice and a
piano.
But the voice is Sam Glaser's, and the piano his playing his
arrangements. Which is plenty. Glaser moves beyond the usual
and-here-they-are-again concept of best-of compilations with "Edge of
Light", reinterpreting
some of his most spiritual songs from his previous albums. Glaser's
voice, unplugged and unadorned, is both strong and warm; why hasn't
be
been cast as Joseph in the musical yet? And Sha-Rone Kushnir's
delicate,
crystalline playing recalls George Winston's, and is also featured,
solo, on a bonus disc. An inspiring work.
CRAIG TAUBMAN: INSCRIBED
Evidently, giving the Jewish world a new nigun (powerful wordless melody) for Sabbath on "Friday
Night Live" and "One Shabbat Morning" isn't enough for some people. On
"Inscribed", Taubman starts with the High Holiday liturgy and follows
its
themes throughout the Jewish year, touching on some of lesser-used
material. After his showcasing some of the best Jewish musicians
around on the
Celebrate Series he produces, it is nice to see Taubman stretching
his
own musical muscles again. Here, he smoothes his sandy voice over
some
new moving and meditative melodies. The V'al Kulam here is one of
the
most simply and beautifully elegant settings of Jewish liturgy
since...
well, since the Hashkivenu on Taubman's Friday Night Live album.
LAZER LLOYD: HIGHER GROUND
Anyone who knows the blues knows it is a deeply spiritual music. And
an
album with tunes named "Peace Love & Joy," "Life Goes On," and
"Higher
Ground" certainly favors that side of the blues. But here, Lazer
Lloyd
does not forget the other side... the one that people need to be
lifted
to the Higher Ground from. Lloyd was born in Madison, Connecticut,
played in bands starting in high school, and majored in music at
Skidmore.
He eventually opened for Johnny Winter and Little Feat. Lloyd plays
the
kind of blues you would expect from someone who grew up wandering
around Nature; call it laid-backwoods blues. His influences run from
Stevie
Ray Vaughn and Neil Young to Willy Nelson, and of course Bob Dylan.
But
also the Ba'al Shem Tov, the Chofetz Chaim, and the Rebbe. There are
no
overt Jewish references on Higher Ground, but the messages of faith,
acceptance, and salvation are embedded in the lyrics... and flow
from
every guitar lick, slide, and wail.
The High Holidays are a time for introspection, reflection,
resolution.
They also gives us some of the most soulful music of the Jewish
year.
May 5766 be one of both melody and harmony.
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JWR contributor Paul Wieder is a public relations associate at the Jewish United Fund and a columnist for
JUF News. Contact the author or the magazine by clicking here.
© 2005, Paul Wieder
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