By now, even the last minute Pesach cleaners among us have at least picked up a broom, right? So I thought it would be nice if we featured a fun song to help give us a boost of spirit as we tackle our Yom Tov to-do lists head-on.
Moishe Oysher was born in 1907 in a small shtetl in Russia by the name of Lipkon (which, today, is called Lipcani if that helps you at all). A sixth generation chazzan, Moishe came to Canada in his teens, and then eventually would make his way to the United States where he would settle on the East Coast. Once there, it did not take long for him to find his niche. The consummate showman, Moishe quickly gained international acclaim as both an actor in Yiddish theatre and as a cantor in the Rumanian Synagogue on the Lower East Side.
Moishe Oysher’s voice was rich, warm and colorful. In his recordings, he attains a depth and a celebration that affect the listener to the core of his emotions. He was a natural actor and would use his theatrical aptitude to entertain his audience through his masterful gift of song. Oysher may have been most known for his ability to fuse the modern Jazz stylings of the 20’s and 30’s with the popular cantorial style of this time period, a period that would come to be known as the Golden Age of Chazzanus. Especially when it came to the more lighthearted sections of liturgy, Oysher would put his unique vocal improvisational talents on full display.
Maybe the prime example of this can be heard on what would become one of his most well-known recordings. For sheer bubbling enthusiasm and showmanship, the version of Chad Gadya that Oysher sings as the final item on his Pesach record would be hard to beat. “The King of Yiddish Scat” expertly displayed much his cantorial prowess in just one song.
This seasonal classic was first recorded on The Moishe Oysher Seder back in 1956. But what you might not know is that the majority of the tune itself was a combination of a songs that Oysher, and others, had sung elsewhere. There are traces of this song found in a Thomashefsky Yiddish theatre play called “Minka the Maid” from back in 1917. Another part of this song was originally recorded by Oysher and his wife, Florence Weiss, back in 1938 as a mostly wordless song called Chasidic In America for the film “The Singing Blacksmith.” Some more of the tune was taken from an English song that Oysher sang in 1956 called My Heart Sings With Me, on a film called “Singing in the Dark.”
So, while widely associated with Oysher, there seems to be clear evidence that he may not have exclusively written what the world knows as “Moishe Oysher’s Chad Gadya.” Sadly, the composer of this lively song remains Unknown.
The incomparable Oysher enjoyed a successful career and would prove to be a worthy successor to Chazzan Yossele Rosenblatt (who passed away in 1933). He would hold that esteemed mantle until his own passing in 1958. One would be hard-pressed to find a singer – cantor or otherwise, past or present – who could match Oysher’s dexterity and skill…
…That is until a young man by the name of Shulem Lemmer came along who did what others could not – and made it look easy! Growing up in the heart of Boro Park, Shulem was exposed to cantorial music at a young age while also listening to the current contemporary Jewish music. He attended the Belz Cheder in Boro Park and would become a featured child soloist in many of the local choirs.
He later joined the highly acclaimed Shira Choir, in which he would become the lead soloist within a few months. It was during this time that Shulem was recorded singing Oysher’s Chad Gadya at a New York fundraiser. That 2015 video performance went on to become an absolute viral sensation and led to his rise to superstardom.
Lemmer has since made a name for himself in the Jewish music world through his captivating voice, flawless pitch, and versatility in many genres of music. With his wide breadth of influence, Shulem beautifully combines them all into his performances, and is renowned as one of the most celebrated and versatile artists today. He would release his debut album called Shulem in 2017, on which he would record his rendition of this Chad Gadya. It is this version that I have chosen to highlight below.
In the meantime, happy cleaning!

He is in a class of his own! What a song to sing at the seder!