Tag Archives: Music

Jew of the Week: King David

Happy Shavuot!

David 1, Goliath 0

David ben Ishai (c. 907-837 BCE) Better known as King David, he unified the twelve tribes of Israel, prepared Jerusalem for its status as our eternal capital and defeated all of our enemies, namely the Philistines and their champion Goliath. [*Sidenote: he didn’t kill Goliath with a slingshot. He chopped his head off with the giant’s own sword.] Perhaps most famously, he is the author of the Book of Psalms – beloved by peoples worldwide, including Jews, Christians, and Gangsta Rappers (see below). David was a harpist and poet, shepherd and the youngest of 8 brothers. He ruled Israel for 40 years, and lived exactly 70, having been born and passed away on Shavuot.

Words of the Week

“Even when I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.” – King David, Psalm 23
“As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I take a look at my life, and realize there’s nothin’ left.” – Coolio, Gangster’s Paradise
“I shall fear no man, but God; Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death…” – 2Pac, So Many Tears

Jews of the Week: Berlin, Marks & Cahn

Christmas Music Legends

Berlin

Israel “Irving” Berlin (1888-1989): Considered the greatest song-writer in history, he composed 1,500 songs (!), including the famous “White Christmas”. He also wrote “God Bless America” – the second anthem of the United States.

Johnny Marks (1909-1985): Christmas-song-extraordinaire, this Jew wrote “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer”, “A Holly Jolly Christmas”, and “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”.

Sammy Cahn (1913-1993): Winner of FOUR Oscars, he wrote most of Frank Sinatra’s hits, as well as the Christmas-great “Let It Snow”.

 

Cahn

Marks

Words of the Week

You think you’ve got time, but you don’t. You think you have an alternative solution, but you don’t. You think you’re stronger than the Palestinians, but you’re not.
 – French President Nikolas Sarkozy, to Israeli PM Netanyahu in June 2009, as revealed by recent WikiLeaks cable.