closeicon
News

Praise the Leonard

articlemain

The taster track released as a preview of Leonard Cohen's forthcoming album is suitably sombre ahead of Rosh Hashanah. Not only that but You Want It Darker ranks as one of the most Jewish of the writer of Hallelujah's songs.

It features backing from the choir of Shaar Hashomayim, the Montreal synagogue in which he grew up, along with a solo from its chazan, Gideon Zelermyer.

Its chorus repeats the word Hineni, "Here I Am", Abraham's response when he is called to offer up his son Isaac.

And it also contains a reference to the Kaddish, "Magnified, sanctified, be Thy holy name" (although you won't find the next line in your siddur, "Vilified, crucified in the human frame").

Share via

Want more from the JC?

To continue reading, we just need a few details...

Want more from
the JC?

To continue reading, we just
need a few details...

Get the best news and views from across the Jewish world Get subscriber-only offers from our partners Subscribe to get access to our e-paper and archive