The musician who rose to prominence in the 1990s with her multiple hits, including “You Oughta Know,” has now learned the truth about her extended family. Alanis Morissette appeared on the PBS show “Finding Your Roots,” in which researchers and genealogists discover information about celebrities they ought to know. Morissette had learned in her 20s about her mother’s Jewish […]
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The Israeli Artists Project is holding the Stav Festival, named after the Hebrew word for “fall,” from Sept. 28 through Oct. 29 in New York City. With participation from 100-plus Israeli artists, the program offers a mix of theatrical plays, live music performances, an art exhibit, children’s activities and interactive workshops. “It is strategically timed around the Jewish […]
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After years fighting a serious illness, Oded Dovid (“Dedi”) Graucher died in Jerusalem on Sept. 11. Graucher rose to prominence following the release of his second album, 1993’s “Ratza” with its epic title track making him famous in the world of Jewish music. He would record six more albums through 2003, followed by singles in 2008 and […]
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After World War II, Palestine Symphony Orchestra musicians who wanted nothing to do with their German-made instruments offered Moshe Weinstein an ultimatum. Weinstein had trained as a violinist and violin maker in Vilnius, then part of Poland, and moved in 1938 to Mandatory Palestine, where he opened a violin shop. The musicians told him of […]
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“Please accept my apology for not going public with what I’ve been facing for the last six years,” a post on Paul Reubens’s Instagram account noted on Monday. “I have always felt a huge amount of love and respect from my friends, fans and supporters. I have loved you all so much and enjoyed making art for […]
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The Songwriters Hall of Fame was saddened to learn of the passing of 1972 inductee and 1990 Johnny Mercer Awardee, Sheldon Harnick. Born and raised in Chicago, Sheldon Harnick began studying the violin while in grammar school. After serving in the U.S. Army for three years, he enrolled in the Northwestern University School of Music, and earned a Bachelor […]
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Most Israeli bands and performers would be happy to land a few gigs a month, but how many have clocked 500 performances in the past 14 months? Earlier this week, the Special in Uniform (SIU) Band of the Israel Defense Forces rocked the popular Zappa Club in Tel Aviv with their 500th performance in less than […]
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The latest entry to the ever-growing musical category of “modern Hanukkah songs” has arrived. Distant Cousins—the popular Los Angeles-based band featuring former Blue Fringe frontman Dov Rosenblatt, Moshav’s Duvid Swirsky and singer-songwriter Ami Kozak—has a new song, “My Eight Favorite Nights,” which appears in the Hallmark Channel film “Hanukkah on Rye,” which aired Dec. 18 and can […]
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They say that children make you young and Matisyahu, whose real name is Matthew Miller, celebrated the birth of his sixth child, Judah Mac Miller, 11 months ago, partly named after fellow Jewish rapper Mac Miller, who died in 2018. Matisyahu’s 2006 studio album “Youth” was nominated for a Grammy. The singer since got divorced […]
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Adam Sandler recounted a funny remark from a celebrity mentioned in his famous “The Chanukah Song” when he spoke to a crowd at the 92nd Street Y (now called 92NY) in Manhattan on Tuesday night. Following a screening of his new film “Hustle,” Sandler said he showed his daughters the spot on 56th and Broadway where he […]
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