Yosef Karduner is an Israeli Hasidic singer, songwriter, and composer. His biggest hit, Shir LaMaalot, appeared on his debut album, Road Marks.
Biography
Born Gilad Kardunos, he was raised in a traditionalist Jewish family in Petah Tikva, Israel. As a youth, he excelled in swimming and football. He placed second in a national competition in the 50-meter breaststroke, and competed with the Po'el Petah Tikvafootball team until he suffered a sprain to his ankle. In his early teens, he studied music and in particular the bass guitar. In 1987, at the age of 18, he was conscripted into the Israel Defense Forces, where he played in a military musical troupe run by the Northern Command. Following his army service, Karduner formed his own rock band and was the backup guitarist for the Israeli singer Uzi Hitman. When Karduner was 24, he was first introduced to the Torah of Rabbi Nachman of Breslov which inspired him to learn more about Breslover Chasidus. Influenced by discussions with Hitman and his father, the scion of an Orthodox Jewish, Hasidic Lubavitcher family, Karduner put his career on hold and began studying in a yeshiva run by the Breslov Hasidic group for Jews who had turned to embrace Orthodox Judaism. In the mid-1990s, during his religious conversion, he changed his name from Gilad Kardunos to Yosef Karduner. During one session of secluded prayer, the tune for Shir LaMaalot popped into Karduner's head and one of his teachers urged him to resume his music career, this time in a vein related to Judaism. Shir LaMaalot became a hit in the Israeli religious world, inspiring other religious songwriters such as Aharon Razel to begin composing songs with lyrics from the Hebrew Bible. Shir LaMaalot has been covered by numerous Israeli artists, including Sheva, and is a staple among synagogue youth groups in Israel and Canada. Although he has released 11 albums, Karduner's work has not reached a wide audience due to his aversion to public relations and advertising. He rarely gives interviews. His albums are distributed in the US and he has conducted several live concert tours in New York and Chicago, including annual appearances in Crown Heights, Brooklyn from 2011 to 2019 with Aryeh Kunstler. Karduner also joins Rabbi Moshe Weinberger of Congregation Aish Kodesh at the annual Hilula of The Aish Kodesh, the Rebbe of Piacezna. At those annual events, Weinberger speaks words of Torah while Karduner performs. Karduner has received inspiration from the teachings of Rabbi Shalom Arush and Rabbi Lazer Brody. In 2008 he and Brody staged several Orthodox Jewish outreach sessions together, combining music and dancing with talks on Judaism and faith. Outside of his music career, Karduner spends his time with his family, Torah study and collective and solitary prayer. He and his wife, Vered, have seven children and reside in Beit Shemesh, Israel.
Musical style
The teachings of Rebbe Nachman are a major source for Karduner's musical inspiration. Karduner's early albums were described as a "refreshing breeze on the Hasidic music scene". His melodies are simple and repetitive. His music also reflects soft rock, rock 'n' roll, jazz, and Latin music. A member of the Breslov Hasidic group, Karduner often sets the words of Rebbe Nachman's teachings to music, as well as composes songs based on biblical and liturgical passages. Karduner's clear voice has earned him the sobriquet "The Nightingale of Breslov". He has also been referred to as The "Sweet Singer of Breslov".
