Howdy friends! Who’s looking forward to the July 4 fireworks? We love patriotic events, especially with music in tow. With camp on the horizon, summer travel beckons. Where shall we go first? Along with Israel of course. Adventure is always on my agenda any time of year. Check out Benny Friedman’s Am Yisrael Chai Tour for adventure right from your living room couch.
We love the Alex Clare song “Run” so much that we programmed it across a variety of our radio shows. Yakov Shwekey’s special wedding song tribute to his daughter, “Never Letting Go,” is exceptionally beautiful. Warning: Tissue box needed. We wish a mazel tov to all the chassans and kallahs out there, graduates of all ages, & all those taking steps forward in life.
“Nagila” by Mordechai Shapiro is a great song and music video. Dovid Pearlman’s “Ki Lecha” is lively and full of meaning. Shmueli Ungar’s “Fire” video is “fire-watch it,” and see what we mean.
“The Chabad Album” is Eitan Katz’s newest offering. Yehuda Green’s new album “Amar Abayeh” is out for your listening pleasure. Our talented artists work so hard at producing good music for us, they describe it like a birth. Thank You Hashem Nation is popping out albums quicker than we can play them: Try “Tut Altz” and Mendy Worch’s “Live Living Room Sessions.”
Therapist and talented singer Shaya Hecht has released an important and encouraging song, “Through the Pain.” Our own Joey Newcomb’s “Bonim Lamakom” has topped the charts.
Our pick of the month for new songs out of Israel with great instrumentals backing up great vocals goes to “Echad Sheohev” by Gadi Finegold. Don’t forget our Sunday morning “Kol Yehudim” show with host Mike Greenberg playing a large variety of Israeli, American and chazonus.
Israeli superstar Eden Golan’s “Hurricane” was the subject of the Eurovision contest drama. Her bravery in how she approached the performance, despite being booed and threatened, is what impressed me perhaps more than her powerful song. This young lady has taught us an eternal lesson about courage. We can choose happiness, even during times of war. We chaplains, as masters of hope, know this to be true. And since courage is a trait I admire most, we are delighted to hear that Ishay Ribo will be performing at Madison Square Garden once again, this September, despite protests. As each of us utilizes our unique talents, we too display courage, on or off stage.
We’ve got an important election coming up; perhaps the debates should be set to music. Our rabbis and leaders are infused by music. Singer and friend Darren Glick gets a special birthday shout-out as well as kudos for his activism on the streets of New York City and worldwide. The folks who walk the talk are my heroes. May God bless the IDF, our hostages, and klal Yisroel with safety, our world with clarity, and peace in our homes. Wishing all an enjoyable month filled with meaning. Stay cool, friends. Thank you Hashem!
Al and Sarah (Newcomb) Gordon own and operate 1640 WJPR, a unique radio station in hybrid format out of Highland Park/Edison. Al has been dazzling radioland with his voice and personality for decades. Sarah, a certified chaplain, columnist, realtor and therapeutic healer, is new to radio and new to the Gordon household. Together they hope to blaze a unique trail utilizing their special koach, impacting their children, grandchildren, community, many fans and all others as intended from above, one song and one smile at a time. #TYH Nation, YOU matter! They can be reached at [email protected].
