Kol Jeshurun – Details, episodes & analysis

On October 7, the Cohens hid in their bomb shelter with their two young sons in their home in Kibbutz K’far Aza for nearly 30 hours. They quieted their older son, Adam, by watching 'Cocomelon' on his iPad. Eleven-year-old TBJ member Cody Braverman, who voices the main character on the show, was able connect with Adam, which is what brings the Cohens to TBJ on January 5, 2024. This is their harrowing story of survival against all odds.

Produced by Matt Turk, Music Director

Rabbi Matthew Gewirtz reflects on the impact of his experience viewing the harrowing footage of the attacks on October 7th and how we all parse out our different views on the conflict as it unfolds.

Originally broadcast December 19th, 2023.

Produced by Matt Turk, Music Director.

TBJ Music Director Matthew J. Turk explores the folk process through three melodies Et Dodim, Yis’m’chu V’mal’chut’cha and Hinei Mah Tov, discovering similarities, differences and the distinction between oral and written tradition in folk music.

Cantor Lucy Fishbein of TBJ sits down for a conversation with her teacher, Cantor Benjie Ellen Schiller. Cantor Schiller has been a professor at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion for 35+ years and is a prolific composer in her own right. She is on the verge of retiring from her post as the Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman Professor of Liturgy, Worship and Ritual and Professor of Cantorial Arts and shares her reflections on her career and the evolution of the cantorate in the 4 decades of her career!

TBJ Music Director Matthew J Turk shares four Passover melodies providing historical context TBJ Music Director Matthew J Turk shares four Passover melodies providing historical context and offering space for reflection on their spiritual meaning today.

Theme Music & Production by Matthew J. Turk

Congregation B’nai Jeshurun Music Director Matt Turk sits down with legendary Cantor Jeffrey Klepper to discuss how Cantor Klepper, Rabbi Daniel Friedlander and Debbie Friedman “torpedoed" Reform Judaism, Jazz legend Arnie Lawrence, Rabbi Chaim Stern’s importance and bringing guitar to liturgical music. Episode 2 of 2.

Congregation B’nai Jeshurun Music Director Matt Turk sits down with legendary Cantor Jeffrey Klepper to discuss “Shalom Rav”, the importance of camp music and how it changed Reform Judaism, becoming a composer, the guitar and his “Ah-Ha” moment at the Chasidic Music Festival.

Episode 1 of 2.

Today on Kol Jeshurun we highlight music written by Israeli composers throughout the ages performed as our Sermon in Song on April 16, 2021 in honor of Yom Ha'atzmaut, Israel's Independence Day. Presented by Cantor Lucy Fishbein, Rabbi Matthew Gewirtz, Cantoral Intern Jenna Mark, Matthew J. Turk, Music Director and the TBJ Band.

Kabbalat shabbat:

Artza alinu – Israeli pioneer folk song

Tzena, Tzena - Issachar Miron & Julius Grossman

Mah yafeh hayom – Issachar Miron & Julius Grossman

Zamru l’Adonai – Yoel Sykes

L’cha dodi – Mordechai Ze’ira

Sermon in Song

Ani V’atah – 1971 – Arik Einstein, Miki Gavrielov

Shir Lashalom – 1970 – Yair Rosenblum

Shir la’ahava (yachad) – 1999 – Gili Liber

Yih’yeh Tov – Yonatan Gefen, David Broza

TBJ's Music Director, Matthew J. Turk presents a special musical presentation celebrating the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

This program was made possible by the generosity of the Dreifus Family in honor of their Aunt Esther Teidor. The video of this presentation can be found here.

Directed and arranged by Matthew J. Turk, Music Director

Lead Vocals: Cantor Lucy B. Fishbein, Matthew J. Turk

Quartet:

Marni Raab, Halley Gilbert, Ethan Fran, Michael Tedesco

Band:

Gary Schreiner, Piano

Dave Richards, Bass

Ben Sutin, Violin

Eran Fink, Drums

Sound Engineer: Jim Ferrante

Produced: Cantor Lucy B. Fishbein

Listen as Cantor Lucy B. Fishbein and TBJ Music Director Matthew J. Turk perform a unique arrangement of the civil rights era anthem Abraham, Martin and John by Dion DiMucci in honor of Martin Luther King Day.

Vocals: Lucy B. Fishbein

Guitar & Mandolin: Matthew J. Turk

Theme music composed by Matthew J. Turk