Welcome to the Forward’s coverage of Jewish music, including klezmer and other traditions.
Music
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Fast Forward Louis Farrakhan’s New Album Features Stevie Wonder, Common, Snoop Dogg
Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan just dropped a seven-CD album series — and some of your favorite artists may be on it. Farrakhan, who has been accused of anti-Semitism for decades, released his “Let’s Change the World” musical box set late last month after years of planning and recording. Farrakhan himself plays on the…
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Fast Forward Israeli Pop Duo Static & Ben-El Sign With Capitol Records
JERUSALEM (JTA) — Popular Israel music artists Static and Ben-El have signed a recording contract with Capitol Records. The seven-album, 10-year contract with the duo, whose real names are Liraz Russo, 27, and Ben-El Tavori, 26, was facilitated by Israeli-American millionaire and media mogul Haim Saban. The deal reportedly is worth $5 million. Saban Capital…
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Fast Forward Spotify Is Finally Coming To Israel
(JTA) — Spotify, the streaming service that offers access to millions of songs, is now available in Israel. The platform’s ad-free service will cost less per month in the Jewish state than it does in the U.S. — 19.90 shekels, or about $5.80, as opposed to $10 here. The company expanded to a few other…
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Fast Forward ‘Backstreet’s Back’ To Perform Again In Tel Aviv Suburb
JERUSALEM (JTA) — The American pop band Backstreet Boys will perform in Israel. The band, whose popularity was at its peak in the 1990s, will play one concert in April in the central city of Rishon Lezion. The concert was announced on Monday afternoon and is based on the band’s Las Vegas show in residence at the…
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Fast Forward Paul McCartney Wins A Prestigious Prize In Israel
JERUSALEM (JTA) — Paul McCartney is one of nine laureates announced for Israel’s prestigious Wolf Prize. McCartney is one of two recipients of the 2018 Wolf Prize in Music, Israel’s President Reuven Rivlin announced Monday. Each year the Wolf Foundation awards $100,000 prizes in five fields. More than 30 winners have gone on to receive…
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Breaking News Lorde Cancelled Her Concert In Israel. Here’s What 5 Other Artists Did Instead.
(JTA) — Pop star Lorde’s decision to cancel her scheduled concert in Israel has sparked some fierce reactions, even if most of them were expected. The 21-year-old New Zealand native’s move earned praise from proponents of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, who said she was taking a stand for the Palestinians. Meanwhile, a range…
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News Jewish Convert Explores Faith And Belonging Through Country Music
At the largest gathering of Reform Jews in the country earlier this month, Joe Buchanan stuck out in the crowd. Thousands of Jews had gathered in Boston for four days of worship and learning. But Buchanan was the only Jewish cowboy. In a black felted hat and a patterned handkerchief tied around his wrist, Buchanan,…
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Opinion Should We Still Be Singing Shlomo Carlebach’s Songs In The #MeToo Era?
Though Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach has been dead for nearly as long as I’ve been alive, his music and ethos still echo throughout American Jewish communal life and liturgy. Carlebach’s music is almost childishly simple, often utilizing only a few easy chords and repeating a few short verses in Hebrew. In the right environment, it can…
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Opinion This is the most disorienting Rosh Hashanah in memory
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