Side A
— Hershel
Side A is the music I reach for when I want to feel rooted. Most of it is what's broadly called kumzitz — Jewish soulful music, slow-burn to full-volume depending on the moment. Some of it is more recent. All of it is what plays in my head walking home on a Friday.
The order is the order. Side A doesn't shuffle.
- 01
Veharenu — Benny Friedman
The opener. Sets the room before anyone sings along.
- 02
Acheinu — Abie Rotenberg
For when acheinu kol beis yisrael needs to mean what it says.
- 03
Lulei — Eitan Katz feat. Joey Newcomb
Two of the best together. Camp kumzitz energy bottled.
- 04
Hashem Melech — Gad Elbaz
The high-energy one. For when slow won't do.
- 05
Abba Melech Haolam — Avraham Fried & Ari Hill
Quiet authority. The song knows what it is.
- 06
Thank You Hashem — Joey Newcomb
For mornings where the only honest response is gratitude.
- 07
Ki Karov — Eitan Katz
Ki karov elecha hadavar me'od — the song that puts the distance back to nothing.
- 08
Nachamu — Eitan Katz
Slow. Goes inward before it goes anywhere else.
- 09
Beshem Hashem — Shlomo Carlebach
Some songs are canon. This is one of them.
- 10
V'haarev Na — Baruch Levine & Simcha Leiner
The closing track. The kind of song you hum after the room has gone quiet.