Customer Reviews

Classic Jewish Holiday & Shabbat Songs

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This CD is a learning tool, not a concert. It's an excellent way for both children and adults to learn the basic traditional songs that every Jew should know, as well as a few new ones, such as Hashkediya, "The Almond Tree," for Tu B'Shevat. Most of the tunes will be familiar, although the version of "Hiney MaTov" on this CD is a more peppy, Israel-sounding tune, rather than the one we sang in summer camp years ago. Frankly, I like this one better.

Bikel introduces each section with a short narrative, then sings the songs clearly, with simple guitar accompanyment. Most of the songs have both Hebrew and English lyrics. For people who don't speak Hebrew, this is a great help for getting the "feel" or "spirit" of a song. There's even a Purim ballad entirely in English. (I know, I know -- all Jews SHOULD know Hebrew. But a lot don't. Then there are people who just aren't good at languages. Our ancestors in Eastern Europe sang in Yiddish, which was their everyday language. So nu? Why can't American Jews sing in English?)

One minor annoyance is that the songs are not numbered on the cover of the CD. This makes it hard to go directly to a specific holiday if you are doing a class. On the plus side, the CD comes with a very nice booklet (where the songs ARE numbered) that has all the Hebrew lyrics transliterated into English spelling, as well as the English lyrics.

I read your review and decided to take a chance.

After buying so many different CD's this is the first one my grandmother fell in love with.

You're right -- it's instructional -- but for my grandmother who is suffering from senile dimensia, it's a g*d send. It helps her to remember and she sings along even when she doesn't know the words.

I also like it just for me since it's the music I grew up with and I get much enjoyment from it.

I bought this CD to get my young children ready for a seder. My husband didn't really remember the words and I didn't know them at all. I play the CD in the car to get ready for whatever holiday is coming up. The words are easy to hear because it is just Bikel singing, accompanying himself on the guitar. He also says a few words to introduce each song. The liner notes provide English transliteration of the Hebrew lyrics which is also really useful for those unfamiliar with the songs.

Beautiful music... great inspiring songs sung with deep feeling, fell in love with Theodore Bikel and bought three more cd's from him !!! Toda Theodore !!!

I am always hesitant to order CDs and this is why. Reviews were good but this cd is not engaging at all for my child. She loves guitar music but this is just boring. We didn't even finish it and I don't see us going back to it later since I didn't enjoy it either. Oh well.

The warmth we have come to expect from Theodore Bikel is here. This is an excellent, simple recording which sounds like Bikel's just inside a door, around the corne, or maybe behind a curtain. Great for the whole family, and I should think very appealing to children.

I very much enjoy this CD. The songs are pleasant and entertaining. I highly recommend it.

I purchased this DVD to use as music during my church's Seder dinner, and it worked well. I have always loved his voice, and it is just as good as it was years ago in Sound of Music.