The annual Flatbush Hatzolah-NYPD baseball game at the Brooklyn Cyclones’ MCU Park began on an awkward note this year.
As spotted by Gothamist, a ragtag group of Hasidic a cappella singers struggled with the national anthem. In a video posted to YouTube, the chorus faces technical and lyrical challenges, with the lead singer relying on a smartphone to get through the words.
Aside: The Cyclones are a minor league affiliate of the New York Mets, whose Citi Field played home to the Asifa, a rally against the dangers of the Internet in May 2012.
Lest we perpetrate a myth that Jews don’t know their patriotic hymns, let the record show that in 1941, a group of 132 child refugees from Portugal sang The Star-Spangled Banner fresh off the boat. To be fair, they were coached in advance “by missionaries returning from their abortive voyage aboard the Zemsam.”
A freilichen Fourth of July.
h/t to my former colleague and Rockower Award-winner Dvora
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
