"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.
Five 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:
Rabbi Reflections
Rabbi Josh Breindel
Enjoy The Music
Miriam Diamond
Dr. Miriam Rosalyn Diamond enjoys sharing with Chagigah listeners the stories behind Hebrew songs, from classic prayers to Israel's top hits. She sheds light on what inspired the composers and performers, as well as the tunes' meaning and places in tradition and popular culture. Miriam is an educator, writer, and inclusive learning specialist who teaches Hebrew, Israeli poetry, Judaica, Psychology, Education, and Friendship. She has written books such as Encountering Faith in the Classroom and Fostering Religious Literacy Across Campus, in addition to plays about inspirational women.
Our Jewish Tradition And The Hits
Rabbi David Meyer
For the past twenty-nine years, Rabbi David Meyer has served as Senior Rabbi of Temple Emanu-El in Marblehead, MA. Prior to pursuing his career as a rabbi, David Meyer was one of the best-known performers on the American Jewish music scene. Recently, he has teamed with Jon Nelson to release two full-length CD's of original songs, "This One At Last", and "Road Without Shoulders". His weekly feature, "Our Jewish Tradition and the Hits" explores the wide variety of Jewish music, themes, languages and composers, ranging from Hollywood to Broadway, North America to Israel, classic folk songs to the latest hits.
Reuben's Rhythm
Ambassador Meron Reuben
Ambassador Meron Reuben, Israel's Consul General to New England, got his love of music from his mother, who taught music at the keyboard. Meron has served in the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs for over thirty years, including as the Israeli Ambassador to the UN and most recently as the Chief of State Protocol. Meron lives in Boston with his partner David and their dog Dobi. Meron is the father of Jen and Liad. He is an avid fan of music, especially classical and Israeli folk music. Meron played the clarinet in his youth and nearly joined the Israeli Army Orchestra but went for air traffic control instead.
Dan Shimshak, At Large
Dan Shimshak
"Dan Shimshak, At Large" is a feature blending music with a Jewish connection with Dan's family stories, memories, personal experiences and current events. Dan lives in Sharon, MA, having moved from New Jersey over 40 years ago. He and his wife, Marcia, met in high school in Jersey City. His sons and their families live in Needham, MA and Modiin, Israel. Dan is a retired professor from the University of Massachusetts Boston. He is a member and former president of the Young Israel of Sharon synagogue. Dan often travels to Israel to visit his family and to volunteer in the IDF Sar-El Program and for the Lone Soldier Center. Dan presents features on interesting topics from time to time to delight the Chagigah audience.
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.
The Message In The Music
Michele Tamaren
Music is magic and has the power to lift, to soothe, to transport us to another place and time. Each week in "The Message in the Music" we learn about a different Jewish singer or songwriter and are invited to discover how the lyrics, the melody, and the meaning of the songs move you. Michele Tamaren is a Positive Psychology Educator, Author, and Life Coach specializing in the science and spirit of happiness and wellbeing. She is a presenter and keynote speaker at national and international conferences.
Jewish Rock & Roll
Alison Wachtler
Alison Wachtler is an actress, writer, producer, wife, mother, daughter, friend, sister and a fan of pop musical culture trivia. "Jewish Rock & Roll" features the music of Jewish singers and songwriters who sang American pop tunes as the soundtrack to our generation. From time to time she will also feature music from the Broadway stage and fun facts from a time we all cherished. Her segment will bring back memories, make you smile, and get a song stuck in your head.
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
