“A Jewish Star” Wasn’t a Concert

By Chanale

Last night at the Jewish Star concert sat four teenage girls two rows ahead of us who were in full concert mode before the first singer even walked on stage. They screamed and cheered non stop and with every shriek the people sitting around us became more and more annoyed.

At first I thought, “It’s a concert, let them have a good time!”‘ but as they were kindly escorted to the back, I noticed the “Go Choni” signs the family in front of us were holding and I realized this was not a concert at all, but something greater and more significant than I had first anticipated.

For those of you who have only given A Jewish Star a passing thought, let me try to describe to you what this one of a kind contest is all about, in a nutshell.

For starters, this intense competition is literally a once in a lifetime opportunity for 10 hopeful (and probably terrified) men and boys to deliver their best performance and impress 4 powerhouse judges in 3 short minutes. Now keep in mind that until a few weeks ago every last contestant was virtually unknown even in their own neighborhoods!

With zero professional experience they are to take this massive Brooklyn College stage and sing in front of close to 2500 people… And not just any people, but a mixed bag of Orthodox Jews, all music lovers with varied tastes and backgrounds (and recording cellphone cameras). Sounds intimidating?

Now imagine, standing on that stage while a band of seasoned musicians conducted by the legendary Yochi Briskman perfectly delivers your musical accompaniment, as you stare out into the absolute darkness, a hot spotlight drawing attention to the sweat that is gathering on your forehead as you imagine your parents, grandparents and respective communities rooting for you from their seats, all the while knowing that 3 insanely talented writers and one mega star are looking on and judging your performance from a mere 3 feet away.

And that’s before anyone has sung a word. With such pressure there is no room for distraction. Ahem.

Now let’s talk about them judges for a minute. There is no question that there must be a dozen Jewish singers eager to sit in those judge’s seats, literally. (I for one am!) The exposure is excellent, widespread and positive, making it a very desirable gig for almost anyone in show business. So I just love the fact that Jewish Star producers went for the big guns, and hired the best of the best for the job.

In no specific order:

Eli Gerstner reinvented the Jewish boys choir, introducing pop and humor into the genre, and built a fan base that won’t quit (most of the above mentioned shrieking was directed towards him). He is warm, personable and has thousands of hours under his belt working with newby singers. His critiques were spot on and while he he was generous with the compliments (“loved your energy!”, “really felt your performance!”, “you are a star!”,) he also noticed the technical aspects of the performance (“could’ve used a mike stand”,”drums were amazing”, “good song choice!”). I thought it was very cute that he kept plugging his music (Chevra, YBC, etc.) and proved once again, he knows the Jewish music business, and the importance of constant marketing, well.

Mendy Pellin, a comic and writer in his own right, added a delicious dose of humor throughout the night and reminded me again that Jewish music is all about feeling good and being B’Simcha. He was nothing less than hysterical delivering one-liners that were both funny and spot-on. He broke the tension and joked affectionately about the performers (“loved your MBD finger-twist”, “first 3 rows you should consider vaccinations”, “fshiz”, “you can definitely join my choir, 50 additional spots available”, and my favorite line delivered to Israeli singer Moshe Bitton: “Ata Tov Gadol!!”) all with a kind sprinkling of compliments and encouragement. I am SO going to his Sholom Bayis tour….

Avraham Fried, the most poised of the group came on stage first and the truth was I was hoping he would be greeted with the standing ovation he deserves. Famous as can be, his motive for taking this gig is the only one I wonder about but I’m gonna guess that his love for pure and unadulterated Jewish music is enough to keep him involved in preserving its future. Just his presence was enough if you ask me. The biggest compliment of the night came from him and was directed to Russian contestant Pinchas Tsinan and his original song. He absolutely loved the performance and told him that when he produces a Russian album, he wants that song on it. Huge compliment from a very particular artist.

And then there was Yossi Green, who unbeknownst to most of the people in the audience, is the reason we were all at A Jewish Star to begin with. Although his enormous contribution was mentioned time and time again, I don’t think the audience fully understood that without Green, Jewish music would be pretty much in the same sorry state it was in the 1940s after WWII. He is a genius, a lover of music and language, and last night proved his passion extends to the underdog as well. He has worked with the most talented of singers and writers but he paid attention to each and every singer in a sensitive and accurate manner drawing attention to the singers’ smiles, their energy and their Neshamos. Yossi brought a lot of heart to the judges table.

All 4 judges were phenomenal and I truly respect their commitment to what must have been a tedious and at times mind-numbing process for their trained ears. Together they selected a wonderful bunch of first-timers that with enough coaching and guidance have some real potential.

Sure, Choni Goldman and Dovid Moskovitz may have been the official winners but ultimately, the producers of Jewish Star are the real winners, tapping into the resources available online and off so they could bring a whole new generation of families into the excitement and magic that is Jewish music.

I only hope that this enormous undertaking is one that will be developed and fine-tuned over the years so that we get a new opportunity every year to witness dreams become a reality, stars created in front of our eyes and most importantly Klal Yisroel from all backgrounds, neighborhoods and communities, uniting in the effort to preserve and promote the integrity of Jewish music. Yasher Koach to everyone involved!

Below are backstage photos by Yossi Percia: