Yosef Karduner ( he, יוסף קרדונר, born 1969) is an Israeli
Hasidic
Hasidism, sometimes spelled Chassidism, and also known as Hasidic Judaism ( Ashkenazi Hebrew: חסידות ''Ḥăsīdus'', ; originally, "piety"), is a Jewish religious group that arose as a spiritual revival movement in the territory of conte ...
singer, songwriter, and composer. His biggest hit, ''Shir LaMaalot'' (
Psalm 121
Psalm 121 is the 121st psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.". In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint an ...
), appeared on his debut album, ''Road Marks'' (2000).
Petah Tikva
Petah Tikva ( he, פֶּתַח תִּקְוָה, , ), also known as ''Em HaMoshavot'' (), is a city in the Central District of Israel, east of Tel Aviv. It was founded in 1878, mainly by Haredi Jews of the Old Yishuv, and became a permanent set ...
, Israel. As a youth, he excelled in swimming and
football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kicking a ball to score a goal. Unqualified, the word ''football'' normally means the form of football that is the most popular where the word is used. Sports commonly ...
. He placed second in a national competition in the 50-meter breaststroke, and competed with the Po'el Petah Tikva football team until he suffered a sprain to his ankle.
In his early teens he studied music and in particular the bass guitar. In 1987, at the age of 18, he was
conscripted
Conscription (also called the draft in the United States) is the state-mandated enlistment of people in a national service, mainly a military service. Conscription dates back to antiquity and it continues in some countries to the present day und ...
into the
Israel Defense Forces
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF; he, צְבָא הַהֲגָנָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל , ), alternatively referred to by the Hebrew-language acronym (), is the national military of the Israel, State of Israel. It consists of three servic ...
where he played in a military musical troupe run by the Northern Command.
Following his army service Karduner formed his own rock band and was the backup guitarist for the Israeli singer
Uzi Hitman
Uzi Hitman ( he, עוזי חיטמן; June 9, 1952 – October 17, 2004) was an Israeli singer-songwriter, composer, musician, actor, director and television personality.
Biography
Uzi Hitman was born in Giv'at Shmuel and lived all his life in R ...
. When Karduner was 24, he was introduced to the teachings of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov and the Breslover Hasidim. After discussions with Hitman and his father, who was from a
Hasidic
Hasidism, sometimes spelled Chassidism, and also known as Hasidic Judaism ( Ashkenazi Hebrew: חסידות ''Ḥăsīdus'', ; originally, "piety"), is a Jewish religious group that arose as a spiritual revival movement in the territory of conte ...
Lubavitcher family, Karduner suspended his career and began studying in a
yeshiva
A yeshiva (; he, ישיבה, , sitting; pl. , or ) is a traditional Jewish educational institution focused on the study of Rabbinic literature, primarily the Talmud and halacha (Jewish law), while Torah and Jewish philosophy a ...
run by the Breslover Hasidim for Jews who had turned to Orthodox Judaism ("''baalei teshuva''"). In the mid-1990s, as he became more religious, he changed his name from Gilad Kardunos to Yosef Karduner.
During one session of secluded prayer ("''hitbodedut''"), he created the tune for ''Shir LaMaalot'' (" Song to the Ascents"—
Psalm 121
Psalm 121 is the 121st psalm of the Book of Psalms, beginning in English in the King James Version: "I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.". In the slightly different numbering system used in the Greek Septuagint an ...
), and one of his teachers urged him to resume his music career, this time in a vein related to Judaism. ''Shir LaMaalot'' became a hit in the Israeli religious world, inspiring other religious songwriters such as
Aharon Razel
Aharon Razel ( he, אהרן רזאל) is an Israeli musician. His music explores topics such as the Torah, Orthodox Judaism and living in Israel.
Biography
Born in New York City in 1974, Razel came to Israel with his family when he was one mon ...
to begin composing songs with lyrics from the
Hebrew Bible
The Hebrew Bible or Tanakh (;"Tanach" '' Sheva.
Although he has released 11 albums, Karduner's work has not reached a wide audience due to his aversion to
public relations
Public relations (PR) is the practice of managing and disseminating information from an individual or an organization (such as a business, government agency, or a nonprofit organization) to the public in order to influence their perception. ...
and advertising. He rarely gives interviews. His albums are distributed in the US and he has conducted several live concert tours in New York and Chicago, including annual appearances in
Crown Heights, Brooklyn
Crown Heights is a neighborhood in the central portion of the New York City borough of Brooklyn. Crown Heights is bounded by Washington Avenue to the west, Atlantic Avenue to the north, Ralph Avenue to the east, and Empire Boulevard/East New Yo ...
from 2011 to 2019 with Aryeh Kunstler.
Karduner also joins
Moshe Weinberger
Rabbi Moshe Weinberger (born June 1, 1957) is an American Chasidic rabbi, outreach educator, author, translator, and speaker. He is the founding ''rav'' of Congregation Aish Kodesh in Woodmere, New York, and former '' Mashpia''/''mashgiach rucha ...
Kalonymus Kalman Shapira
Kalonymus Kalman Shapira (or Klonimus Kalmish Szapiro) (or "Shapiro," a more common transliteration of the Polish spelling of his name "Szapiro") (20 May 1889–3 November 1943), was the Grand Rabbi of Piaseczno, Poland, who authored a number ...
, the
rebbe
A Rebbe ( yi, רבי, translit=rebe) or Admor ( he, אדמו״ר) is the spiritual leader in the Hasidic movement, and the personalities of its dynasties.Heilman, Samuel"The Rebbe and the Resurgence of Orthodox Judaism."''Religion and Spiritu ...
of Piacezna. At those annual events, Weinberger preaches while Karduner performs.
He and his wife, Vered, have seven children and reside in
Beit Shemesh
Beit Shemesh ( he, בֵּית שֶׁמֶשׁ ) is a city located approximately west of Jerusalem in Israel's Jerusalem District, with a population of in .
History Tel Beit Shemesh
The small archaeological tell northeast of the modern city w ...
, Israel.
Musical style
The teachings of
Nachman of Breslov
Nachman of Breslov ( he, רַבִּי נַחְמָן מִבְּרֶסְלֶב ''Rabbī'' ''Naḥmān mīBreslev''), also known as Reb Nachman of Bratslav, Reb Nachman Breslover ( yi, רבי נחמן ברעסלאווער ''Rebe Nakhmen Breslover'' ...
are a major source for Karduner's musical inspiration. Karduner's early albums were described as a "refreshing breeze on the Hasidic music scene". His melodies are simple and repetitive. His music also reflects
soft rock
Soft rock is a form of rock music that originated in the late 1960s in Southern California and the United Kingdom which smoothed over the edges of singer-songwriter and pop rock, relying on simple, melodic songs with big, lush productions. S ...
,
rock 'n' roll
Rock and roll (often written as rock & roll, rock 'n' roll, or rock 'n roll) is a genre of popular music that evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It originated from African-American music such as jazz, rhythm an ...
,
jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...
,
country music
Country (also called country and western) is a genre of popular music that originated in the Southern and Southwestern United States in the early 1920s. It primarily derives from blues, church music such as Southern gospel and spirituals, ...
,
pop
Pop or POP may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Music
* Pop music, a musical genre Artists
* POP, a Japanese idol group now known as Gang Parade
* Pop!, a UK pop group
* Pop! featuring Angie Hart, an Australian band
Albums
* ''Pop'' ( ...
and
Latin music
Latin music ( Portuguese and es, música latina) is a term used by the music industry as a catch-all category for various styles of music from Ibero-America (including Spain and Portugal) and the Latino United States inspired by Latin Amer ...
.
Karduner often sets the words of the
Breslover
Breslov (also Bratslav, also spelled Breslev) is a branch of Hasidic Judaism founded by Rebbe Nachman of Breslov (1772–1810), a great-grandson of the Baal Shem Tov, founder of Hasidism. Its adherents strive to develop an intense, joyous rel ...
rebbe
Nachman of Breslov
Nachman of Breslov ( he, רַבִּי נַחְמָן מִבְּרֶסְלֶב ''Rabbī'' ''Naḥmān mīBreslev''), also known as Reb Nachman of Bratslav, Reb Nachman Breslover ( yi, רבי נחמן ברעסלאווער ''Rebe Nakhmen Breslover'' ...
's teachings to music, as well as composing songs based on biblical and liturgical passages. Je is sometimes called "The Nightingale of Breslov". He has also been referred to as The "Sweet Singer of Breslov".
Discography
Karduner has released the following albums:
*''Sha'ah Achat'' (One Moment) (2020)
*''Mesugal L'Teshuva'' (Capable of Repentance) (2016)
*''Menorah HaZahav'' (The Golden Menorah) (2013)
*''Dibur Pashut'' (Simple Talk) (2012)
*''Kisufim L'Shabbat'' (Yearning for Shabbat) (2010)
*''Kumzits: Live in New York'' (2010)
*''Mikdash Melech'' (Sanctuary of the King) (2008)
*''Breslever Melave Malka'' (2006)
*''Bakesh Avdecha'' (Your Servant Asked) (2005)
*''Osef L'yedidi'' (2003)
*''Bechirah'' (Choice) (2003)
*''Achat Sha'alti'' (I Asked One Thing) (2003)
*''Mekor Chachmah'' (Source of Wisdom) (2002)
*''Simanim Baderech'' (Road Marks) and ''Kol HaOlam'' (The Whole World) (2000, double album)