Jerusalem is Calling

Diaspora Yeshiva Band

They are back and better than ever. It has been nearly 16 years since the release of the Diaspora Yeshiva Band's last original album entitled, The Last Diaspora. Let me tell you, it was well worth the wait.

The new album entitled Jerusalem is Calling is truly awesome. It contains ten new songs that Rabbi Avraham Rosenblum, Diaspora's vocalist and lead guitarist calls, "Music from the soul to the soul." Rabbi Rosenblum explained that, "The new album was prompted by feelings of longing for Eretz Yisroel that have entered our hearts after the band's departure from the Holy Land. This is illustrated in the title song Eim Eshkachaik Yerushalayim."

Musically speaking, the new songs range from jazz-like tunes to the good ole' Jewish-rocking-blues that gave Diaspora its fame. Stylistically, the album is upbeat rock with moderate additions of guitar, piano and vocal solos. The prominent new feature in this album is the addition of Avraham's son, percussionist Moe Rosenblum, who co-produced the album with his father.

The last time the members of The Diaspora Yeshiva Band performed in public, aside from the recent "Shearis Israel Concert," was a series of three Diaspora reunion concerts in 1992. Many of their songs such as "Pischu Li," "Malchuscha," and "The Kotel Song" (just to name a few) have become favorites in the Jewish music world.

The Diaspora Yeshiva Band are probably the earliest pioneer's of "Country Eastern" klezmer music. Their Chassidic tunes, blended with American Rock and Country music rhythms, made them a big hit. They were renowned throughout Israel and the world for their prize-winning performances in the 1977, 1978, and 1980 Israeli Chassidic Song Festivals. Their music reverberated throughout Jerusalem for over a decade, as they built a large international following from the tens of thousands of tourists and students who flocked to their Saturday night concerts at King David's Tomb on Mt. Zion.

The band members met in the early seventies at the Diaspora Yeshiva (hence the band's name), a yeshiva for returnees to Torah ("ba'alei teshuva") set on Mt. Zion, in the Old City of Jerusalem. It was during those Vietnam War years that many young people throughout the world were questioning the values and norms of established society, and were looking to be "turned on" spiritually. Many young Jews saw the hand of G-d in Israel's 1967 Six Day War victory and in the recapture and rebuilding of Jerusalem. Those who ventured to Israel were often engaged by various Rabbis and outreach personalities with the message to "check out the Torah!"

"As history changes, so do feelings of religious spirituality," says Rabbi Rosenblum. "The formation of the band was to express these changes through a fusion of contemporary music of that time." The recent album, Rosenblum further commented, "required all of us to dig deep into our hearts. The outcome was a feeling love and yearning for Jerusalem."

Diaspora concerts are usually an euphoric jubilee with immense dancing. The next scheduled concert is actually here on campus at YU on Thursday, January 28, 1999 at 8:00PM in Weissberg Commons. The band also has a web site featuring all of their work at www.rockinrabbi.com.