"Listening to Chagigah is a Sunday morning tradition for everyone in our family!" -WERS Member
Chagigah Radio
On Chagigah Radio we showcase the music of Jewish singers and songwriters from the USA, Israel, and from around the world. We feature American Jewish Pop, Hebrew Favorites, Klezmer, Yiddish, Ladino and Secular Music, as requested by our large and diverse listening audience. Tell us what you like and we will play your favorite tunes!
Sunday Mornings 7 a.m. to 10 a.m.
Meet Your Chagigah Radio Host, Hal Slifer:
Hal worked in radio upon his graduation from Boston University. After spending a few years at WGIR-FM in Manchester, Hal traded in his radio mic for a video camera and started a successful video company specializing in family documentaries.
Ten years ago, Hal came back to his first love, radio, when he created a new style of the programming of Chagigah. On Chagigah Radio, Hal enjoys playing the best in contemporary Jewish music, schmoozing with his guests, and laughing along with his audience, with the best of Jewish humor.
When Hal is not hosting Chagigah Radio, he is affectionately known as "Jersey Hal" when hosting other music programs on WERS.
Featured Hosts on Chagigah Radio:
Your Rabbi On The Radio
Rabbi Josh Breindel
Rabbi Josh Breindel blends his love of Jewish culture with song and joy at Congregation Beth El (Sudbury). Ordained at Hebrew College, where he also gained his Masters in Jewish Studies and Jewish Education, he delighted in leading services on the lawn at Tanglewood while he served Temple Anshe Amunim in the Berkshires. His “Rabbi on the Radio” offers a moment to see the world through a Jewish perspective that is enhanced and clarified by music. He and his wife enjoy singing Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel and folk songs of many cultures to their two children.
Music and Memory
Jeff Crocker
The quote “Music evokes emotion, and emotion can bring with it a memory” inspires Jeff Crocker’s monthly “Music and a Memory” feature that connects a memory with a harmonious tune on Chagigah Radio. Jeff, a lifelong resident of New Hampshire’s Monadnock region, is Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Jewish Federation of New Hampshire Foundation and is a member of Congregation Ahavas Achim in Keene, New Hampshire. Jeff resides with his wife, Martha, and enjoys spending time with their grandkids, hiking, kayaking, canoeing, sailing and skiing.
Chagigah Rock and Roll
Sam Posman
Known to Chagigah listeners as Songbook Sam, Sam Posman is the host of "Chagigah Rock and Roll", which pays tribute to and honors Jewish singers, songwriters, musicians and record producers. Sam's strong interest, in rock and pop music, started when he was in high school, where he compared notes on the music scene and attended hundreds of Rock concerts. Sam with his wife, Georgette and family live in Central Florida where Sam maintains his interest in singers and songwriters, in many genres, by writing a popular music blog.
Chagigah Connections
Mike Slifer
Mike Slifer grew up in a family that played Hebrew and Israeli music all the time. From a young age, he enjoyed listening to music, and for a while, he was in a band that played at weddings and bar/bat mitzvahs. His love of music continued in his own family as both daughters, Pam and Laura, sang in the Solomon Schechter Day School choir. With his love of music from the 1960s and 1970s, he particularly enjoys hosting his latest feature "Chagigah Connections," where he plays classic English songs that have been covered by Israeli singers who play the songs in Hebrew. Mike lives with his wife, Janet, in New Jersey, and he is also the brother of Hal Slifer, the host of Chagigah.
Some of the Music on Chagigah Radio:
- Omer Adam
- Shlomo Artzi
- The Barry Sisters
- Theodore Bikel
- David Broza
- Leonard Cohen
- Bob Dylan
- Arik Einstein
- Benny Friedman
- Debbie Friedman
- Dudu Fisher
- Eyal Golan
- Kaveret
- Klezmatics
- Yasmin Levy
- Maccabeats
- Netta
- Idan Raichel
- Yehudit Ravitz
- Rita
- Static and Ben El
- Barbra Streisand
Send your Musical Suggestions to HalSlifer@WERS.org
