Ohad Moskowitz
{{Short description|Israeli musical artist}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Ohad Moskowitz
| honorific_suffix =
| image = Ohad Moskowitz 1.jpg
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| birth_name =
| native_name = אוהד מושקוביץ
| native_name_lang = Hebrew
| alias =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1974|09|02}}
| birth_place = Belgium
| origin =
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| genre = Contemporary Jewish religious music
| occupation =
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| website = http://www.ohadm.com/
}}
Ohad Moskowitz ({{Langx|he|אוהד מושקוביץ}}; born September 2, 1974),{{cite web |url=http://www.hidabroot.org/he/article/68288|script-title=he:ווקאלי ליום: אוהד מושקוביץ בשיר 'ברכת הילדים'|trans-title=Vocal of the Day: Ohad Moskowitz sings 'Bless the Children'|language=he|date=20 July 2014|access-date=14 October 2014|publisher=Hidabroot|first=Efrat|last=Cohen}} known professionally as Ohad, is a Belgian-born Israeli Orthodox Jewish vocalist who is one of the superstars of the contemporary Jewish religious music scene. He rose to international stardom in 2003 with his first solo album, Vearastich, produced by Yossi Green.
Music career
Ohad began his career singing back-up vocals for Orthodox Jewish stars such as Mordechai Ben David and Dedi Graucher. His first American performance{{cite web |url= http://www.gruntig.net/2009/11/ohad-moskowitz-first-performance-ever.html|title=Ohad Moskowitz First Performance Ever on an American Stage|date=8 November 2009|access-date=14 October 2014|publisher=gruntig.net}} took place in 2003 at Yossi Green's annual Jewish hospice benefit concert at the Lincoln Center.{{cite web |url=http://clevelandjewishradio.tripod.com/green.html|title= Interview with Yossi Green|first1= Tzvi |last1=Turner|first2=Binyamin|last2=Bresky |date=23 November 2003|access-date=14 October 2014|work=Cleveland Jewish Radio}} Green was so impressed with the audience's reaction to Ohad's singing that he offered to produce Ohad's first album. Green wrote several songs for the album, including the title track, "Vearastich" (I Will Betroth You).{{cite web |url=http://jmreviews.blogspot.co.il/2004/08/ohad.html|title=Oh!ad|date=24 August 2004|access-date=14 October 2014|publisher=Jewish Music Reviews}}
Ohad's debut album catapulted him to fame. He was named Singer of the Year at the Hasidic Music "People of the Year" ceremony in Israel in 2004.{{cite news |url= http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-3002410,00.html|script-title=he:מיהם אנשי השנה במוזיקה החסידית?|trans-title=Who are the People of the Year in Hasidic Music?|work=Ynetnews|language=he|date=11 November 2004|access-date=14 October 2014|first=Smadar|last=Shiloni}} He was a featured singer at the HASC 18 "A Time for Music" in 2005.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djUV09xFq6A|title=HASC 18 - Adetanya - Ohad, Shlomo Simcha & Yossi Green (video)|publisher=Sameach Music|date=29 March 2006|access-date=14 October 2014}} He was also a featured vocalist at HASC 20 (2007);{{cite web |url= http://www.yitzyspinner.com/Images/TJT.pdf|title=Illumination from the Past and Present|first=Lazer|last=Levy|work=Jewish Tribune|date=6 December 2007|access-date=14 October 2014}} HASC 21 (2007) (where he performed as one of the "Four Tenors" alongside Avraham Fried, Cantor Yitzchak Meir Helfgot, and Dudu Fisher{{cite web|url=http://www.yourepeat.com/watch/?v=LQy2W659fwQ|title=The 4 Tenors/Cantors: Fried, Helfgot, Dudu & Ohad – Sheyiboneh (video)|publisher=YouRepeat.com|access-date=14 October 2014|archive-date=19 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141019114440/http://www.yourepeat.com/watch/?v=LQy2W659fwQ|url-status=dead}}); HASC 24 (2010) (where he sang a duet with Hasidic singer and hazzan Yehuda Green{{cite web |url=http://www.collive.com/show_news.rtx?id=12536|title=Fried, Benny Duet at HASC 24|date=11 January 2011|access-date=14 October 2014|publisher=COLLive}}); HASC 25 (2011);{{cite web|url=http://mahnishmah.com/system/scripts/modules/admin/pages/show_page.cgi?p=54116|title=Ohad Singing Barcelona At HASC 25 (video)|publisher=Mah Nishmah|access-date=14 October 2014|archive-date=21 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021023522/http://mahnishmah.com/system/scripts/modules/admin/pages/show_page.cgi?p=54116|url-status=dead}} and HASC 27 (2013).{{cite web|url=http://www.eichlers.com/hasc-a-time-for-music-27-dvd.html|title=HASC – A Time for Music 27 DVD|publisher=eichlers.com|year=2013|access-date=14 October 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140713035400/http://www.eichlers.com/hasc-a-time-for-music-27-dvd.html|archive-date=13 July 2014}} Ohad also performs at concerts benefiting Ohel{{cite web |url= http://www.thejewishinsights.com/wp/a-z-report-with-ohad/|title=Ohad! A-Z Report|publisher=The Jewish Insights|date=November 2009|access-date=14 October 2014}} and other Jewish charity organizations.{{cite web |url=http://www.ou.org/jewish_action/08/2011/jerusalem_day_concert_supports_work_of_zula/|title=Jerusalem Day Concert Supports Work of Zula|date=18 August 2011|access-date=14 October 2014|publisher=Orthodox Union}}
In 2008 Ohad performed a new Yossi Green song dedicated to Chabad shluchim around the world in the wake of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which targeted the Chabad house there.{{cite web |url=http://www.collive.com/show_news.rtx?id=1022 |title=Yossi Green's Shluchim Song|date=4 December 2008|publisher=COLLive}} He was one of over 30 Orthodox Jewish superstars appearing on the 2010 Unity for Justice album to benefit the legal defense of Sholom Rubashkin.{{cite web |url=http://www.collive.com/show_news.rtx?id=10491 |title=Unity Brings Singers Together|date=23 August 2010|first= Mica |last=Soffer|access-date=14 October 2014|publisher=COLLive}}
Ohad sings at Jewish weddings and Chol HaMoed events with choirs such as the Gershon Freishtat Orchestra,{{cite web |url=http://www.thejewishinsights.com/wp/ohad-performing-live-radio-kol-chai/|title=Ohad! performing LIVE on Radio Gal Kol|date=March 2011|access-date=14 October 2014|publisher=The Jewish Insights}} the Yedidim Choir,{{cite web|url= http://www.zingmit.com/ohad-moskowitz-yedidim-choir-second-dance-set/|title= Ohad Moskowitz & Yedidim Choir "Second Dance Set" (video)|date=17 November 2013|access-date=14 October 2014|publisher=Zingmit}} the KMR Boys Choir,{{cite web|url=http://mahnishmah.com/system/scripts/modules/admin/pages/show_page.cgi?p=58481|title=Ohad Moskowitz With The KMR Boys Choir Vehi Sheamda (video)|publisher=Mah Nishmah|year=2012|access-date=14 October 2014|archive-date=21 October 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021023721/http://mahnishmah.com/system/scripts/modules/admin/pages/show_page.cgi?p=58481|url-status=dead}} and the Miami Boys Choir,{{cite web |url=http://www.judaism.com/miami-moshiach/dp/JFHGB/
|title=Miami Mashiach|year=2014|access-date=14 October 2014}} His 2009 hit, Bo'i Kala, set to the words of the traditional song accompanying the bride to the chuppah, is a remake of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah".{{cite web |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-203908884.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924175518/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-203908884.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 September 2015|title=Cantering Ahead|first=Greer Fay|last=Cashman|work=The Jerusalem Post |date=16 March 2012|access-date=16 October 2014}}{{cite web |url=http://www.gruntig.net/2010/02/ohad-moskowitz-boi-kala.html|title=Ohad Moskowitz - Boi Kala (video)|date=24 February 2010|access-date=16 October 2014|publisher=gruntig.net}}
Vocal style
Ohad has an exceptionally wide vocal range and high vocal register, with the capacity to hold high notes.{{cite web |url= http://jewishmusicreport.com/2009/09/23/review-of-ohad-moskowitzs-my-music/|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110101195245/http://jewishmusicreport.com/2009/09/23/review-of-ohad-moskowitzs-my-music/|url-status= usurped|archive-date= January 1, 2011|title=Review of Ohad Moskowitz's "My Music"|date=23 September 2009|access-date=14 October 2014|work=Jewish Music Report}}
Personal life
Ohad was born in Belgium.{{cite web |url= http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/282447#.VD1R4fmSyv0|title=Iconic Israeli Rockers Team up with Hasidic Singer|date=11 December 2013|access-date=14 October 2014|work=Israel National News}} He began singing at an early age. He attended the Talmudic college Yeshivat Kerem B'Yavneh. After his marriage, he immigrated to Israel.{{cite web|url=http://www.ohadm.com/about|script-title=he:ביוגרפיה|trans-title=Biography|language=he|publisher=Ohad|access-date=14 October 2014|archive-date=3 August 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140803044259/http://www.ohadm.com/about|url-status=dead}} He resides in Modi'in with his wife and children.
In 2011 he recorded a duet for his song "Birkat HaBanim" (Bless the Children) with his firstborn son Eyal, then aged 13. While the boy shows talent, Ohad prefers that he perform in the school choir and in the studio with him, but not on stage.{{cite news |url=http://www.ynet.co.il/articles/0,7340,L-4105369,00.html|script-title=he:שירים מהחורבן|trans-title=Songs from the Destruction of the Temple|first=Liron|last=Nagler-Cohen|language=he|date=7 August 2011|work=Ynetnews}}
Discography
- Oh! Ohad: Vearastich (2003)
- Ohad Live in New York (2006){{cite web|url=http://www.eichlers.com/ohad-live-in-new-york-featuring-ohad-moskowitz-kinderlach-yishai-lapidot-dvd.html|title=Ohad! Live in New York (featuring Ohad Moskowitz, Kinderlach & Yishai Lapidot) DVD|publisher=eichlers.com|year=2013|access-date=14 October 2014|archive-date=23 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923234543/http://www.eichlers.com/ohad-live-in-new-york-featuring-ohad-moskowitz-kinderlach-yishai-lapidot-dvd.html|url-status=dead}}
- Oh! Ohad II (2008)
- My Music (2009)
- Ohad III (2011)
- Segula (2015)
- Beshaah Tova (2018)
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4h0_9NP8fY Ohad Moskowitz Singing a Chuppah (video)]
{{Contemporary Jewish religious music}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Moskowitz, Ohad}}
Category:20th-century Belgian Jews
Category:21st-century Belgian Jews
Category:Belgian Orthodox Jews
Category:Israeli Orthodox Jews