HASC Concert

HASC Concert
The logo of A Time for Music 38
Frequency	annually
Country	United States
Years active	38
Inaugurated	January 17, 1988;37 years ago (1988-01-17)
Founder	Sheya Mendlowitz
Most recent	January 19, 2025 (2025-01-19)
Next event	January 2026
Attendance	3,000
Ticket price	avg. $500

The HASC Concert, also known as A Time for Music, is an annual concert benefiting Camp HASC, a summer camp for children with special needs. ^[1] Established in 1963 by Rabbi Max and Blanche Kahn, Camp HASC offers therapeutic, medical, and educational services to its campers. ^[2] The concert has become a prominent event within the Jewish music community. ^[3]

History

The inaugural HASC concert took place on January 17, 1988. Sheya Mendlowitz conceived the concert after visiting Camp HASC in the 1980s and learning about the camp's financial difficulties. ^{[4] [5]} The first concert was held at the Lincoln Center.

The HASC concert has become a significant fundraising event for the camp. ^[2]

Concert experience

The concert takes place in January and features a lineup of Jewish musical artists. Past performers have included Avraham Fried, Mordechai Ben David, Yaakov Shwekey, and Benny Friedman. The performers are not announced in advance. ^[6]

Sheya Mendlowitz produced the concert for its first thirty years. Eli Gerstner produced it from 2016 to 2022, followed by Shloime Steinmetz from 2023.

The concert was originally directed for the first thirty years by Yisroel Lamm, conducting the Neginah Orchestra. Following his retirement, various conductors participated, sometimes several in one show, including Yoeli Dikman, ^[7] Rafi Grady, ^[8] Yuval Stupel, ^[9] Tzvi Blumenfeld of Freilach Band, and Mendy Hershkowitz. ^[10]

The concert is hosted by Nachum Segal. It was originally hosted by Zale Newman.

Chaim Tutio has been the official concert photographer since 2016, ^[11] succeeding Stan Weiss. ^[12]

Concert format

The concert is typically held at venues such as Lincoln Center, Madison Square Garden, and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. ^[2] The program includes musical performances, duets, and sometimes theatrical presentations. ^[6]

The concerts were previously released on DVD. Starting with A Time For Music 31, a livestream was offered instead of a DVD release.

Recent concerts

Recent concerts have included both established and emerging artists. The 32nd annual concert in 2019 featured performances by artists such as Zusha, Mordechai Shapiro, Abie Rotenberg, and Elie Schwab. ^{[5] [2]}

The 37th concert, held on January 5, 2024, included a hologram of performer Shlomo Carlebach, ^{[5] [13]} which generated controversy. ^[14]

Fundraising impact

The concert raises funds for Camp HASC, supporting the camp's programs and services. ^[5] The event also serves to connect communities and showcase Jewish musical talent. ^[15]

Timeline

Year	Theme	Featured Performers	Venue
1988	Around the Year	Mordechai Ben David, Avraham Fried, Yoel Sharabi	Avery Fisher Hall
1989	25 Year Tribute to Jewish Music	Mordechai Ben David, ShIomo Carlebach, David Werdyger, Dveykus, Piamentas, Ben Zion Shenker, Jo Amar, Or Chodosh, Pirchei, Avraham Rosenblum	Avery Fisher Hall
1990		Avraham Fried, Harmony, Abie Rotenberg, Mordechai Ben David	Avery Fisher Hall
1991		Mordechai Ben David, Dveykus, Journeys, Kol Achai, London School of Jewish Song	Avery Fisher Hall
1992	Showcase of the Masters	Mordechai Ben David, Regesh, Abie Rotenberg, Piamenta, Yaron Gershovsky	Avery Fisher Hall
1993	The Concert of a Lifetime	Mordechai Ben David, Shlomo Carlebach, Baruch Chait, Abie Rotenberg	Avery Fisher Hall
1994	The Next Stage	Mordechai Ben David, Miami Boys Choir, Gershon Veroba, Sandy Shmuely, Moshe Yess	Radio City Music Hall
1995	Only Music	Mordechai Ben David, Miami Boys Choir	Avery Fisher Hall
1996	Cities Salute Jerusalem	Avraham Fried, Prague Symphony Orchestra	Avery Fisher Hall
1997	Tenth Anniversary	Dedi Graucher, Mendy Wald, Yeedle Werdyger	Avery Fisher Hall
1998	The Next Decade	Mordechai Ben David, Dedi Graucher, Amit Listvand	Metropolitan Opera House
1999	Bar Mitzvah Celebration	Mordechai Ben David, Dedi Graucher, Abie Rotenberg, Toronto Kol Chaveirim Choir	Metropolitan Opera House
2000		Mordechai Ben David, Avraham Fried, Amit Listvand	Metropolitan Opera House
2001		Mordechai Ben David, Avraham Fried, Ruby Harris, Toronto Vocal Ensemble	Metropolitan Opera House
2002	United We Stand	Mordechai Ben David, Dedi Graucher, Baruch Abittan, Srully Williger, Shlomo Simcha, Abie Rotenberg, Yossi Green	Metropolitan Opera House
2003	Vintage MBD	Mordechai Ben David, Yaakov Shwekey, Srully Williger, Shloime Dachs, Shomo Simcha	Metropolitan Opera House
2004	The Jerusalem Experience	Mordechai Ben David, Shalsheles, Srully Williger, Chaim Dovid, Lipa Schmeltzer, Benzion Miller, Yaron Gershovsky	The Theater at Madison Square Garden
2005	Chai	Yaakov Shwekey, Yeshiva Boys Choir, Srully Williger, Shlomo Simcha, Yossi Green, The Rabbis' Sons, Piamentas, Baruch Levine, Matisyahu, Yaron Gershovsky	The Theater at Madison Square Garden
2006		Yaakov Shwekey, Abie Rotenberg, Yeshiva Boys Choir	Carnegie Hall
2007		Avraham Fried, Yitzchak Meir Helfgot, Lipa Schmeltzer, Dovid Gabay, Ohad Moskowitz, Dedi Graucher, Baruch Levine, Shalsheles Junior	Avery Fisher Hall
2008		Avraham Fried, Yitzchok Meir Helfgot, Ohad Moskowitz, Dudu Fisher, Shlomo Katz, Yeshiva Boys Choir, Eitan Katz	Avery Fisher Hall
2009		Yaakov Shwekey, Yitzchok Meir Helfgot, Yehuda Green, Dovid Gabay, Baruch Levine	Avery Fisher Hall
2010		Avraham Fried, Lipa Schmeltzer, Dedi Graucher, Yitzchak Fuchs [16]	Avery Fisher Hall
2011	A Time for Duets	Abie Rotenberg, Baruch Levine, Ohad Moskowitz, Yehuda Green, Lipa Schmeltzer, Shloime Gertner, Shalsheles, Shalsheles Jr, Avraham Fried, Benny Friedman, Yonatan Shainfeld, Yeshiva Boys Choir [17]	Avery Fisher Hall
2012		Avraham Fried, Lipa Schmeltzer, Shloime Gertner, Ohad Moskowitz, Dedi Graucher, Dovid Gabay, Abie Rotenberg, Eitan Katz, Yehuda Green, Chaim Dovid, Uncle Moishy, Yoel Sharabi, Shalsheles, Shalsheles Jr, Maccabeats, Yitzchok Meir Helfgot, Journeys, Srully Williger, Mendy Wald, Shloime Dachs, Baruch Levine, Miami Boys Choir [18]	Avery Fisher Hall
2013	We're Back	Mordechai Ben David, Avraham Fried, Abie Rotenberg, Michoel Pruzansky, Yeedle Werdyger, Benny Friedman [19]	Avery Fisher Hall
2014	40 Years of Camp HASC	Avraham Fried, Abie Rotenberg, Diaspora Yeshiva Band, Ohad Moskowitz, Baruch Levine, Benny Friedman, 8th Day, Ari Goldwag, Ieshula Ishakis	Avery Fisher Hall
2015		Yaakov Shwekey, Abie Rotenberg, Benny Friedman, Simcha Leiner, Dedi Graucher	Avery Fisher Hall
2016		Yaakov Shwekey, Abie Rotenberg, 8th Day, Lev Tahor, Yonatan Razel	David Geffen Hall
2017	A 30 Year Celebration	Abie Rotenberg, Rivie Schwebel, Baruch Levine, Avraham Fried, Yaakov Shwekey [20]	David Geffen Hall
2018		Avraham Fried, Ari Goldwag, Shalsheles, Meilech Kohn, Eli Gerstner, Yeshiva Boys Choir, Simcha Leiner, Baruch Chait [21]	David Geffen Hall
2019		Zusha, Pumpidisa, Matt Dubb, Abie Rotenberg, Shlomo Simcha, Mordechai Shapiro, Beri Weber, Or Chodosh, Eli Gerstner, Shlomo Schachter, Yishai Lapidot, Yaakov Shwekey, Abie Rotenberg [22]	David Geffen Hall
2020		Avraham Fried, Ishay Ribo, Benny Friedman, Simcha Leiner, Joey Newcomb	David Geffen Hall
2021		Beri Weber, Matt Dubb, Joey Newcomb, Baruch Levine, Yaakov Shwekey, Avraham Fried	American Dream [23]
2022		Avraham Fried, Chaim Yisrael, Joey Newcomb, Mordechai Shapiro, Ishay Ribo, Lipa Schmeltzer	Bell Works
2023		Yaakov Shwekey, Akiva, Shulem Lemmer, Itzik Dadya, Eitan Katz, Yitzy Waldner, Miami Boys Choir	New Jersey Performing Arts Center
2024	A Time for Unity	Shulem Lemmer, Benny Friedman, Ari Hill, Shalom Berholtz, Shmuel, Mordechai Shapiro, Baruch Levine, Alex Clare, Avraham Fried, Matt Dubb [24]	New Jersey Performing Arts Center
2025	Beyond Words	Eli Schwebel, Rivie Schwebel, Benny Friedman, Avraham Fried, Shuli Rand, Zusha, Yonatan Razel, Yaakov Shwekey	New Jersey Performing Arts Center

References

1. "BENEFITS". The New York Times. 1996-01-28. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2024-08-26.
2. Farrell (2019-01-17). "A Time For Music 32: The Camp HASC Concert". Five Towns Jewish Times . Retrieved 2024-07-30.
3. Goldstein, Riki (2021-03-10). "Behind the Screens". Mishpacha Magazine . Retrieved 2025-01-18.
4. "How the HASC Concert A TIME For Music Began". Jewish Insights. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
5. "HASC 37: The Show That Made History - Produced by Shlome Steinmetz". The Lakewood Scoop. 2024-01-11. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
6. Kinderlehrer, Moshe (2024-01-11). "A Beautiful HASC Experience This Past Sunday Night". The Jewish Link. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
7. Leifer, Netanel (2019-01-07). "האסק 32: צפו בטעימות מהערב היוקרתי". Kikar HaShabbat (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on 2024-12-13. Retrieved 2025-01-18.
8. "34th annual HASC concert, also during COVID". Israel National News . Archived from the original on 2024-03-01. Retrieved 2025-01-18.
9. "חיים טויטו מגיש: קונצרט האסק 33 • גלריה נוצצת" [Chaim Tuito presents: Hasc Concert 33 • Sparkling Gallery]. JDN (in Hebrew). 2020-01-14. Retrieved 2025-01-18.
10. "האסק 36: צפו בתיעוד מהמופע היוקר." Kikar HaShabbat (in Hebrew). 2023-01-10. Retrieved 2025-01-18.
11. "Gallery: 37th 'A Time for Music' HASC Concert". chabadinfo.com. 2024-01-10. Retrieved 2025-01-18.
12. "HASC 26 Through The Photo Lens of Stan Weiss | Jewish Insights" . Retrieved 2025-01-18.
13. "Annual HASC Concert Entertained For 4 Hours". COLlive. 2024-01-11. Retrieved 2024-07-30.
14. בלייך, חנני. "הקהילה החרדית בניו יורק עוד סוערת מההולוגרמה של ר' שלמה קרליבך" [The ultra-orthodox community in New York is still in turmoil over Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach's hologram]. Makor Rishon (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-09-09.
15. "Camp HASC Presents 'A Time For Music 29'". The Yeshiva World . Retrieved 2024-07-30.
16. "HASC XXIII Review & Photos | Jewish Insights" . Retrieved 2025-01-20.
17. "HASC 24: An Overview of the Concert!". Mostly Music. 2011-01-10. Retrieved 2025-01-20.
18. "HASC 25 Recap". Mostly Music. Retrieved 2025-01-20.
19. Zweig, Yossi (2013-01-18). "HASC XXVI Review/Recap". Jewish Insights. Retrieved 2025-01-22.
20. "A T.I.M.E. For Celebration – Camp HASC Celebrates 30 Years". Jewish Insights. Retrieved 2025-01-20.
21. "A TIME FOR MUSIC 31 RECAP | Jewish Insights". Archived from the original on 2024-07-24. Retrieved 2025-01-20.
22. Zweig, Yossi. "HASC: A Time For Music 32 Recap". Jewish Insights. Archived from the original on 2024-07-24. Retrieved 2025-01-20.
23. Scarr, Cindy (2023-09-26). "Concerted Efforts". Mishpacha Magazine . Archived from the original on 2023-10-06. Retrieved 2025-01-20.
24. Zweig, Yossi. "A Time For Music 37". Camp HASC. Retrieved 2025-01-25.