Leonard Cohen

TGIS Presentation on Leonard Cohen:  The Jewish Influences on His Songs

Friday, May 9, 2025, Temple Bnai Israel

https://sites.google.com/view/writingsdls/presentations/leonard-cohen 

Media List 

ZoomerMedia (Nov 11, 2016).   Leonard Cohen.  Retrieved from https://youtu.be/SpU7RctDdaE?si=_R7luFV-CBruSk0Q 

Who By Fire

Spiegel & Grau (Mar 23, 2022).   WHO BY FIRE by Matti Friedman.  Retrieved from https://youtu.be/5PLrr08hcvs?si=zBReiVXS99HbbetV 

Radar Classics (Mar 3, 2021).  Leonard Cohen-Who By Fire (lyrics).  Retrieved from https://youtu.be/6VHQq-XTSEk?si=c19YB3_U4g5olPKi 

Central Synagogue (Sep 12, 2018).   B'Rosh Hashanah-Who By Fire, Central Synagogue (Rosh Hashanah 5779/2018).  Retrieved from https://youtu.be/dpAcLZs97dA?si=gQqHeY76lyA-xuyY  (1:30 - 3:30) 

Story of Isaac 

Muziek!!! (Dec 25, 2015).  Leonard Cohen - Story of Isaac.  Retrieved from https://youtu.be/tr0HCqiD1C8?si=mCHMkTS865MHeeG1  (1:45 - ) 

If It Be Your Will - “Ken Yehi Ratzon,”

Calazans (Apr 7, 2016).   Leonard Cohen - If it be your will (Lyrics on Screen).  Retireved from https://youtu.be/2BlzPoveUfE?si=qsmEimMZ4a04l-oL 

Anthem

WtW280313 (May 22, 2015).   Leonard Cohen - Anthem (w/lyrics) London 2008.  Retrieved from https://youtu.be/6wRYjtvIYK0?si=UCCz6M3A6G_qfYHo 

There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in.  

You Want It Darker - One of Cohen’s last songs

Petre Sichinava (Jun 8, 2024).   Leonard Cohen (You want it darker) Lyrics 4K.  Retrieved from https://youtu.be/-_RVP1fepc4?si=KmThR3LruorJu3Ex 

Hallelujah

LeonardCohen (Jun 3, 2022).   Leonard Cohen - Hallelujah (Live at Glastonbury) (Official Lyric Video).  Retrieved from https://youtu.be/NcwF9lQx2us?si=-Qj31N4dxtY54CN4 

Central Synagogue (Sep 19, 2020).   Tribute to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg | Central Synagogue Rosh Hashanah 5781/2020.  Retrieved from https://youtu.be/Y-INgWwo8TY?si=_Jyt11Pv8XlV1y0B

For Mother's Day Weekend - 

messalina79 (Apr 10, 2009).   Leonard Cohen - Night Comes On (live 1985).  Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kB6qE1W5fUM

Rabbinical Assembly (n.d.).  Prayer for When There is No Minyan to Say Kaddish. Retrieved from https://www.rabbinicalassembly.org/sites/default/files/2020-03/mourning%20prayer%20when%20there%20is%20no%20minyan%20edited.pdf  

Articles

Ben Sales (November 11, 2016).   5 of Leonard Cohen’s most Jewish songs.  Retrieved from https://www.jta.org/2016/11/11/obituaries/5-of-leonard-cohens-most-jewish-songs 

Jewish Standard (May 22, 2015).   Singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen’s Jewish roots ‘very much intact’.  Retrieved from https://jewishstandard.timesofisrael.com/singer-songwriter-leonard-cohens-jewish-roots-very-much-intact/ 

PJ Grisar (May 23, 2021).   How Jewish is Leonard Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah?’  Retrieved from https://forward.com/culture/music/469890/leonard-cohen-hallelujah-shrek-jewish-jeff-buckley-alan-light-kabbalah/ 

for Shabbat morning, May 10, 2025, Temple Bnai Israel

Torah Readings

Triennial Cycle - Acharei Mot-Kedoshim - Vayikra Chapter 19:23 - 20:27

1. Vayikra (Leviticus) Chapter 16:1 - 24 - https://www.chabad.org/parshah/torahreading_cdo/aid/2495866/p/1/jewish/Acharei-Kedoshim-Torah-Reading.htm (priestly behavior)

2. Vayikra (Leviticus) Chapter 16:25 - 17:7 - https://www.chabad.org/parshah/torahreading.asp?aid=2495866&p=2&jewish=Acharei-Kedoshim-Torah-Reading.htm (connections to Yom Kippur service)

3. Vayikra (Leviticus) Chapter 17:8 - 18:21 - https://www.chabad.org/parshah/torahreading.asp?aid=2495866&p=3&jewish=Acharei-Kedoshim-Torah-Reading.htm (purity codes)

4. Vayikra (Leviticus) Chapter 18:22 - 19:14 - https://www.chabad.org/parshah/torahreading.asp?aid=2495866&p=4&jewish=Acharei-Kedoshim-Torah-Reading.htm (purity and ethical codes) 

5. Vayikra (Leviticus) Chapter 19:15 - 32 - https://www.chabad.org/parshah/torahreading.asp?aid=2495866&p=5&jewish=Acharei-Kedoshim-Torah-Reading.htm - (ethical and environmental codes)

6. Vayikra (Leviticus) Chapter 19:33 - 20:7 - https://www.chabad.org/parshah/torahreading.asp?aid=2495866&jewish=acharei-kedoshim-torah-reading.htm&p=6 - (business ethics and treatment of strangers)

7. Vayikra (Leviticus) Chapter 20:8 - 27 - https://www.chabad.org/parshah/torahreading.asp?aid=2495866&p=7&jewish=Acharei-Kedoshim-Torah-Reading.htm - (punishments and distinctiveness)

8. Haftarah - Amos Chapter 9 - https://www.chabad.org/parshah/torahreading.asp?aid=2495866&p=haftarah&jewish=href - return of the exiles