Doron Medalie and Stav Berger: Toy
On the third day of Sukkot, Jews welcome the spirits of Jacob and his first wife Leah, the “baby momma” for most of his children and older sister of his true love Rachel (who visits us tomorrow). Rabbinic and scholarly commentaries across the centuries are rife with interpretations about Jacob’s relationship with his wives. One of the most radical contemporary versions comes in the midst of Anita Diamant’s 1994 novel The Red Tent, which casts Jacob as a smooth-talking, very virile Casanova, a bonafide “boy toy.” A similar sort of man is the focus of the singer’s ire in the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest’s winning tune, which also takes the “cuckold” concept to a bold new extreme. Enjoy!
“Toy” by Doron Medalie and Stav Berger, sung by Netta Barzilai
Joshua Breitzer is cantor and music director of Congregation Beth Elohim in Brooklyn. Considered one of his generation’s leading talents, Cantor Breitzer has performed at such prestigious venues as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, and Merkin Concert Hall. For the past several years, he has appeared with NYFOS in our annual “A Goyishe Christmas to You!” program, and has coached several NYFOS’s Emerging Artists on Jewish repertoire.
Read other posts by Joshua Breitzer.