New Matisyahu Music Video:Matisyahu Hanukkah Song

Check out this latest music video featuring Matisyahu

Hasc Concert: Duet Extravaganza!

The annual HASC concert is presenting an entirely new format for it’s 24th year in concert. This year producer, Suki & Ding present HASC 24: A Time For Duets. The concert has already announced duets featuring Abie Rotenberg & Baruch Levine, Lipa Schmeltzer & Shloime Gertner, Ohad and Yehuda Green, and Shalsheles and Shalsheles Jr.They have just announced the final incredible duet: Avraham Fried, together with Benny Friedman, who will be on the HASC concert stage for the very first time! The concert will take place January 9th, 2011 at Lincoln Center, Avery Fisher Hall. Hosted by Nachum Segal and conducted by Yisroel Lamm.

Jewish Music Review: Aryeh Kunstler- Our eyes Are On You

Aryeh Kunstler has recently released his second solo album entitled "Our Eyes Are On You". This album is a follow up to his solo debut album "From the Depths". Aryeh's latest release sounds a bit more sophisticated and vocally he is moving into new territory. On his first album my favorite song was Mizmor Shir which featured Lenny Solomon on back up vocals. I thought it was a hard song to beat with it's fantastic groove and background vocals. Aryeh does not disappoint me and puts out "Split the Sea". This song features lyrics that discuss the splitting of the red sea and how the Jews needed to believe in order to merit the miracle. The lyrics and musical composition blew me away as did those jazz (gospel) background vocals brought to you by Yitzy Spinner. He has great straight ahead rock songs like his opener Hashem Sifosei and has more alternative sounds on  songs like Lishuasicha. Aryeh really uses different styles within rock to bring you songs that are memorable and very enjoyable. Aryeh is sure to carve out  a real place for himself within the Jewish music scene. He is currently one of the most requested guitarist in the Jewish wedding music circuit. I for one look forward to hearing much more from this very talented musician.To purchase it click here.

Yisroel Werdyger: Free Audio Sample: Ashira V'Azamrah

Please enjoy this small audio preview of Yisroel Werdyger's upcoming new CD, Ashira V'Azamrah, produced by Teem Productions. Produced by Gershy Moskowitz & Yossi Tyberg, Songs by Yossi Green, Yitzy Waldner, Pinky Weber, Motty Illowitz, Ari Haas, Meshulam Greenberger, Avrumi Zhupnik and Chaim Elya Hartman, with arrangements by Shua Fried. For the full report on this new release go to Teem Productions's website by clicking here. The album will be available for purchase on CD and as a digital download in the coming days.

Mike Tyson to Open Kosher Restaurants?

Fox sports is reporting that ear chewing fanatic Mike Tyson has been speaking to Moshe Malamud of the Franklin mint. Eating at Solo in NYC, the two discussed the idea of opening a Kosher restaurant. Tyson is now following a vegetarian diet and seems to have interest in Kosher food. If it will ever come to fruition remains to be seen.

In The News: Airport Security to Kosher Movie Popcorn

Great article about how USA airport security is starting to mimic that of Israel.

Ever wonder if movie popcorn was kosher? Someone asked a Rabbi here locally and he stated that all AMC popcorn is kosher. This has been verified online as well. Of course there is no one watching to make sure they adhere to strict kashrus laws and they also serve other non-kosher items.

Glen Beck under attack over statements he made about billionaire George Soros.

More news on Rapper turned Orthodox Jew: Shyne.

Wholefoods will start carrying Kosher Broth and Kosher Chicken from Kosher Valley.

20 Cantors are to perform at the Vatican. I doubt Helfgot will be among them.

Kosher meals are coming to the MIT campus.

Selling Your Gold- Great Time To Sell?

With the price of gold going through the roof, many are considering selling their gold jewelry for some extra cash. Especially with the economy in it's current terrible state, many people are selling their gold more than ever before. This way they can pay for anything from an electric bill or new set of braces to a gift for the holidays. The important thing is not to get ripped off by being uninformed about what you should be getting in exchange for your gold. Bankrate has some very useful information to about selling your gold jewelry and which types make the best candidates (heavy chains).Don't necessarily think you will make a mint selling any type of gold however, states MSN. Consumer Reports suggests using a online calculator and check the price of gold that day. You can then call around to several jewelry and coin stores to get the best price. Expect to get about 85% of the calculated price. A Wall Street Journal article discusses about the experience of selling gold online. The BBB has some gold selling tips as well that you may find useful. Happy selling!

The Shadchan Video

The unfortunate truth about many shadchanim....

From Jewish Rap Stars to Germany....

Some interesting articles:

Rabbi Balkany, former dean of Bais Yaakov of Brooklyn is finally convicted on extortion charges and could face up to 20 years in prison.

A rap artist who is a former protege of Sean combs and served 9 yrs. in prison is living as a Orthodox Jew in Jerusalem.

Orthodox Jews in Germany are having trouble getting the government to fund a rabbinical seminary. This is in spite of the fact that they already fun a liberal one.

The National Jewish Democratic Council is claiming Jews continued to vote Democratic 2-to-1.

You have heard of Kosher Heering cherry liquer but they are coming out with a coffee liqueur.

Israel has hit gas! Large gas deposits have been found there.

Mayor Bloomberg  is ending a voucher program for after school day care to 2200  orthodox Jewish families

Y-Love: What Makes Music Kosher?

A Jewish Music Insider has a great video featuring Y-Love explaining what makes music kosher.

Interesting News from Kosher Food to Hotels and more!

Williamsburg opens the first hotel aimed at orthodox Jews: The Condor (Tv's not included).

Federal Judge ruled that the Indiana Department of Corrections violated federal law when it substituted vegan meals for kosher for its inmates.

Wholefoods is to begin selling it's own brand of Kosher chicken broth. 


Shtienzaltz has finished his translation of the entire Shas.

The whole world was shocked to find out that initial rumors about actress Vanessa Hudgens converting to Judaism so she can marry boyfriend Zac Efron are not true. 

Pamela Anderson goes to Israel to stop chassidim from making striemels.

New Release:Yisroel Werdyger-Ashira Va’azamra

After many long months of diligent work in the studio, Teem Productions today proudly announced Monday November 22nd as the release date of Yisroel Werdyger’s highly anticipated new album “Ashira Va’azamra”. In conjunction with that announcement, they have also released the cover of the album, designed by Sruly Meyer. The album includes compositions by many well known composers such as Yossi Green, Yitzy Waldner, Pinky Weber, and Meshulam Greenberger, as well as the work of new talents.

Why is Teem Productions so excited about this album? Producer Gershy Moskowitz explains: “when you have a debut album like Bayis Neeman that is so unbelievably successful, it’s easy to fall into the trap of trying to match it. Instead we went all out to create something so special that it would blow even Bayis Neeman away. As we are doing the final mixing and mastering and listening over and over, I can tell you that bechasdei Hashem I feel overwhelmingly confident that we have accomplished that goal in a very big way.” Moskowitz gives much of the credit to co-producer Yossi Tyberg and Shua Fried, the album's arranger "Both of them are only too well known for their ability, but with their work on this album they both seriously took things to the next level

The album will be available in stores and online through Aderet Music in CD or Digital Download form.

Lev Tahor Interview: Ohel Concert

Check out this hilarious interview with Lev Tahor @ A Jewish Music Insider.

Vzakeini: Video featuring Dovid Dachs W/ Gadi Bodinger

Check out this video featuring Dovid Dachs singing with his father Shloime. Dovid certainly has good vocal control and range. The thing that really caught my ear were those jazz chords played by Gadi Bodinger. He's fantastic.

Berachamim: Benny Friedman Single Released to Benefit Cedarhurst Man

By Sandy Eller

Singer Benny Friedman is just one of the many artists to volunteer his talents for a new single, entitled Berachamim, being released today.  The song, produced and directed by veteran producer Avi Newmark, is being released to benefit Ilan Tocker, a 33 year old father of four and resident of Cedarhurst who suffered a severe brain injury this past summer.

Doctors gave Tocker a ten percent chance of survival, but Tocker’s friends and family joined together, contacting everyone they knew, begging people to storm the gates of heaven with prayers and good deeds, dedicated to Tocker.   Within minutes, there were people literally all over the world doing anything they could to find heavenly mercy for Tocker. 

Despite the odds, Tocker pulled through and doctors consider him to be a medical miracle.  Newmark, a close friend of Tocker’s, was inspired by the compassion shown by friends, relatives and strangers alike and the concept for the song Berachamim was conceived as he sat in the ICU waiting room, waiting for a miracle to happen. Newmark confesses he has never davened so hard in his entire life.  “The power of tefila is not just about opening a siddur and davening,” said Newmark.  “It is about each of us using our own strengths, doing what we can to find zechus and hopefully find favor in Hashem’s eyes.  People didn’t just daven for Ilan with their mouths.  They davened with their entire being, in the actions that they did.  Clearly the rachamim that Hashem showed Ilan was a reflection of all the rachamim that people showed for Ilan.”Over the past three months, not only have countless people continued to daven for Tocker, but numerous fundraisers have been held in the Five Towns area, including an Arba Minim sale, a ping pong tournament, a basketball tournament and a Chanukah fundraiser featuring actor/comedian Elon Gold is being held on Chanukah.  Proceeds from all these events are going to The Ilan Tocker Foundation, which was created to defray the staggering medical costs the Tocker family is now facing.  Berachamim, which was composed by Ari Goldwag, features the talents of some of the music industry’s finest including Benny Friedman, Ari Goldwag, Yitzy Spinner, Ian Freitor, Aryeh Kunstler, Gal Gershovsky and Sruly Meyer.  The song is available for 99 cent download on Mostly Music and iTunes with all proceeds going to benefit The Ilan Tocker Foundation.
Continuing to defy the odds, Tocker is back home in Cedarhurst and was in Shul this past Shabbos where he received his first aliyah since his injury occurred.  While he still faces many long months of therapy, doctors are optimistic that he will make a full recovery.  

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To purchase the single click here. To preview it click here.

Jewish Music Video: Benny Friedman & Ari Boiangiu singing "One Day"

Releasing Pollard and more news....

Here is a quick rundown of happenings in the Jewish world:

Yale researchers may have discovered a more effective and less costly treatment for Gaucher disease — a rare disorder most common in the Ashkenazi Jewish populace.

Members of the Israeli Knesset parliament are requesting that President Obama release Jonathan Pollard.

The Debate in Israel over the Kollel Stipend continues.

Jews in the UK are dealing with a kosher meat shortage.

Esquire features a story:  A Terrorist Almost Bombed My Synagogue.

NYC Jewish museum is featuring "Houdini: Art and Magic," which opens Friday at The Jewish Museum, tells the story of an impoverished son of Jewish immigrants who harnessed the power of the mass media, and the emerging technologies of film and photography, to become one of the 20th century's most famous performers.

Looking for Kosher products? There is an app for that! CRC releases Kosher 1.0.