Jewish High Holiday Songs by Popular Artists

The Jewish High Holiday of Rosh Hashanah starts this weekend. A celebration of the Jewish New Year, the holiday begins a period of renewal and reflection leading up to the day of repentance, Yom Kippur.

While not abundant, there have been a few times where High Holiday themes have made their way into our popular culture, including music. There are even some popular artists who have taken the music of the holiday and made it their own.

Vinyl Bay 777, Long Island’s music outlet, is taking a look at some of these traditional Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur songs that have made their way into popular music and culture. From early movies to dramatic renditions of classic tunes to popular riffs on traditional words, here are three songs to set the holiday tone.

1.       Leonard Cohen, “Who By Fire”: It’s not hard to find Jewish imagery in Leonard Cohen’s music. For instance, in “You Want It Darker,” he repeats the word “hineni” (“here I am”) over and over as if calling out to G-d about all the bad things that happen in the world. While “hineni” is a popular prayer on the High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, it’s not the first time he’s pulled from these holidays’ prayers. In 1974 he released a song called “Who By Fire,” which riffs off the “Unetanneh Tokef,” a confessional prayer said during Yom Kippur. Cohen changes some of the words, making the language a bit more current and ending with the line “who shall I say is calling?” instead of the traditional “On Rosh Hashanah it is written, On Yom Kippur it is sealed.” (video)

2.       Barbra Streisand, “Avenu Malkainu”: Translated as “Our Father Our King,” Streisand released her rendition of traditional High Holiday hymn “Avenu Malkainu” in 1997.  Her version is very dramatic and grandiose, amp-ing up the feeling of begging for forgiveness during the time of renewal and repentance. (video)

3.       Al Jolson, “Kol Nidre”: Performed by Al Jolson in the 1927 version of ‘The Jazz Singer,’ “Kol Nidre” is the initiating prayer of Yom Kippur, performed during a special service the beginning evening of the holiday. The prayer asks G-d to dissolve all of our promises from the previous year to start the New Year with a clean slate. Jolson’s performance comes during a pivotal moment in the film where he takes over for his dying cantor father, leading his congregation during the ritual service. (video)

Though not as prevalent as the music of Christmas or even Hanukkah, there are still songs within popular culture that honor the High Holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. Check out the popular renditions of some traditional prayers and psalms above and have a happy and healthy new year.

---

Find music from these artists and more at Vinyl Bay 777. As Long Island’s top new independent record shop, we have thousands to titles in a wide variety of genres to choose from. Browse our selection of new and used vinyl records, CDs, cassettes, music DVDs, memorabilia and more in store at our Plainview location or online at vinylbay777.com. With more titles being added to our selection all the time, you never know what you might find at Vinyl Bay 777.