TAKE A DEEP BREATH,
SIMPLY TSFAT!
Experience the crisp clear air of the
HOLY CITY OF TSFAT
through the music and stories of
REBBE NACHMAN OF BRESLEV
~~~~~~~~~~ About the Music ~~~~~~~~~~~~
Simply Tsfat is a trio of talented Chassidic Israeli
musicians, Elyahu Reiter, Yehonasan Lipshutz and
Yonatan Tzarum. In concert, they merge Heaven
and Earth through music and stories of the great
Chassidic master, Rebbe Nachman of Breslev.
A "maiden voyage" tour of the East Coast, Canada
and Central America, several years ago, attracted
audiences from all ages and backgrounds. The
group has made several tours of the United States
and Canada, with successul appearances on both
the East and West Coasts, in locations such as
Chicago, Denver, Atlanta, Miami and Boston.
Wherever they appear, the trio develop a loyal and
ardent following. Their latest 17-day tour involved 18
concerts.
For current engagements, see www.simplytsfat.com.
Simply Tsfat's 2 CD's, "Fresh Air" and "Be Happy",
have been extremely well received, and are the
staple of several radio stations. The trio performs in
traditional venues - synagogues, weddings, schools,
yeshivas, nursing homes, hospitals, festive
occasions and private parties - providing a lively mix
of Hebrew, English and Yiddish dance and song..
The unique presentation of Simply Tsfat inspires,
whether in small and personal gatherings or large
performance halls. Stories, personal anecdotes and
Chassidic teachings are interwoven with powerful
lyrics and enchanting music passed from generation
to generation in authentic oral tradition; from the
time of Rebbe Nachman, some 200 years ago.
Simply Tsfat conveys a deep love of chassidic life
and its music. The trio's style is warm and intimate,
drawing listeners into the air of Tsfat and a living
Chassidic tradition.
~~~~~~~ About the Performers ~~~~~~~~
Elyahu Reiter, born and raised in New York City,
is a graduate of Tufts and Stanford. An
accomplished acoustic guitarist, vocalist and
story-teller, Elyahu was drawn to the Tsfat Breslev
community to continue his Torah studies. After his
marriage, he settled in Tsfat, owning and
managing “Safed Candles,” a successful candle
factory. His lyrical guitar strumming provides a
harmonious accompaniment to instrumental
strains of the trio's violin and flamenco guitar.
When not in concert, Eliyahu writes modern music
and lyrics for the trio.
Yehonasan Lipshutz, a graduate of SUNYPurchase, where he earned his BA in music, is a
classically-trained violinist, who studied privately
with teachers from both the Julliard School of
Music and the New York Philharmonic. He
performed in the SUNY and Westchester
symphony orchestras and smaller chamber
groups. After moving to Israel, he and his family
moved to the Breslev community in Tsfat where
he learns part time, teaches violin, and enchants
audiences with his classically-influenced musical
interpretations of ancient and modern Hebrew
music.
Yonatan Tzarum, born and raised in Rehovot,
Israel, studied music with his father, a
professional flamenco guitarist. Yonatan's love for
Chassidic music and the acoustic flamenco guitar
fuse into a technique that is spectacular. Until
recently, Yonatan was also a member of a wellreceived wedding band. After serving in the
Israeli army, he traveled around the world for a
year, and then began his return to observant
Jewish life. Yonatan lives in Kiryat Breslev with
his family and currently learns Torah full-time in
the Breslev Kollel. In concert, audiences are
fascinated with his Flamenco-style playing.