Popular A Cappella Group Maccabeats to Perform in Caldwell

Yeshiva University’s widely acclaimed – and wildly popular – a cappella group, the Maccabeats, is coming to in Caldwell Saturday night. The concert is a benefit to raise funds for the synagogue’s partnership programs in Israel.

The Maccabeats Channukah song released last November,“Candlelight,” is a YouTube phenomenon with nearly five million views.

Maccabeats' repertoire includes a mix of Jewish, American and Israeli songs. Members of the group are committed to the philosophy of Torah u-Madda, which is the integration of traditional and secular wisdom. Their breakthrough song, Lecha Dodi, epitomizes their style. The song combines Jewish liturgy with the melody of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah.”

The group formed in the fall of 2007 when a few students from Yeshiva realized most colleges with a big Jewish student population had a Jewish a cappella group on campus.

The Maccabeats started out small performing mostly at Yeshiva. But with their infectious sound, the Maccabeats have moved on to perform around the country, including Madison Square Garden in New York and Orlando.

The group’s first album, Voices from the Heights (Sameach Music), was released in March 2010.

The concert at Agudath Israel, 20 Academy Road, Caldwell, is scheduled for Saturday, April 2, from 9:30 to 11 p.m. Doors will open at 9 p.m. Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door for adults; $18 in advance, $20 at the door for students. Tickets may be purchased online.