# HASC Concert

The HASC Concert, also known as A Time for Music, is an annual concert benefiting Camp HASC, a summer camp for children with special needs. Established in 1988, the concert is a prominent event within the Jewish music community.

## History

Camp HASC was established in 1963 by Rabbi Max and Blanche Kahn. It offers therapeutic, medical, and educational services to its campers. It offers a combination of academic and recreational activities, supported by a team of staff and medical professionals.
The inaugural HASC concert took place on January 17, 1988. Sheya Mendlowitz conceived the concert after visiting Camp HASC in the 1980s and learning about the camp's financial difficulties. The first concert was held at the Lincoln Center. The concert has been held annually since and has become a significant fundraising event for the camp.

## Format

The concert takes place in January and features a lineup of Jewish musical artists. Past performers have included Avraham Fried, Mordechai Ben David, Yaakov Shwekey, and Benny Friedman. The performers are typically not announced in advance.
The concert is typically held at venues such as Lincoln Center, Madison Square Garden, and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. The program includes musical performances, duets, and sometimes theatrical presentations.
The concerts were previously released on DVD. Starting with A Time For Music 31, a livestream was offered instead of a DVD release.

## Production

Sheya Mendlowitz produced the concert for its first thirty years. Eli Gerstner produced it from 2016 to 2022, followed by Shloime Steinmetz from 2023.
The concert was originally directed for the first thirty years by Yisroel Lamm, conducting the Neginah Orchestra. Following his retirement, various conductors participated, sometimes several in one show, including Yoeli Dikman, Rafi Grady, Yuval Stupel, Tzvi Blumenfeld of Freilach Band, and Mendy Hershkowitz.
The concert is hosted by Nachum Segal, who succeeded the original host, Zale Newman.
Chaim Tutio has been the official concert photographer since 2016, succeeding Stan Weiss.

## Recent concerts

The 37th concert, held on January 5, 2024, included a hologram of performer Shlomo Carlebach, which generated controversy.

## Timeline

| Year | Theme | Featured Performers | Venue |
| 1988 | Around the Year | Mordechai Ben David, Avraham Fried, Yoel Sharabi | Avery Fisher Hall |
| 1989 | 25 Year Tribute to Jewish Music | Mordechai Ben David, ShIomo Carlebach, David Werdyger, Dveykus, Piamentas, Ben Zion Shenker, Jo Amar, Or Chodosh, Pirchei, Avraham Rosenblum | Avery Fisher Hall |
| 1990 | | Avraham Fried, Harmony, Abie Rotenberg, Mordechai Ben David | Avery Fisher Hall |
| 1991 | | Mordechai Ben David, Dveykus, Journeys, Kol Achai, London School of Jewish Song | Avery Fisher Hall |
| 1992 | Showcase of the Masters | Mordechai Ben David, Regesh, Abie Rotenberg, Piamenta, Yaron Gershovsky | Avery Fisher Hall |
| 1993 | The Concert of a Lifetime | Mordechai Ben David, Shlomo Carlebach, Baruch Chait, Abie Rotenberg | Avery Fisher Hall |
| 1994 | The Next Stage | Mordechai Ben David, Miami Boys Choir, Gershon Veroba, Sandy Shmuely, Moshe Yess | Radio City Music Hall |
| 1995 | Only Music | Mordechai Ben David, Miami Boys Choir | Avery Fisher Hall |
| 1996 | Cities Salute Jerusalem | Avraham Fried, Prague Symphony Orchestra | Avery Fisher Hall |
| 1997 | Tenth Anniversary | Dedi Graucher, Mendy Wald, Yeedle Werdyger | Avery Fisher Hall |
| 1998 | The Next Decade | Mordechai Ben David, Dedi Graucher, Amit Listvand | Metropolitan Opera House |
| 1999 | Bar Mitzvah Celebration | Mordechai Ben David, Dedi Graucher, Abie Rotenberg, Toronto Kol Chaveirim Choir | Metropolitan Opera House |
| 2000 | | Mordechai Ben David, Avraham Fried, Amit Listvand | Metropolitan Opera House |
| 2001 | | Mordechai Ben David, Avraham Fried, Ruby Harris, Toronto Vocal Ensemble | Metropolitan Opera House |
| 2002 | United We Stand | Mordechai Ben David, Dedi Graucher, Baruch Abittan, Srully Williger, Shlomo Simcha, Abie Rotenberg, Yossi Green | Metropolitan Opera House |
| 2003 | Vintage MBD | Mordechai Ben David, Yaakov Shwekey, Srully Williger, Shloime Dachs, Shomo Simcha | Metropolitan Opera House |
| 2004 | The Jerusalem Experience | Mordechai Ben David, Shalsheles, Srully Williger, Chaim Dovid, Lipa Schmeltzer, Benzion Miller, Yaron Gershovsky | The Theater at Madison Square Garden |
| 2005 | Chai | Yaakov Shwekey, Yeshiva Boys Choir, Srully Williger, Ohad Moskowitz, Shlomo Simcha, Yossi Green, The Rabbis' Sons, Piamentas, Baruch Levine, Matisyahu, Eli Gerstner, Lipa Schmeltzer, Rivie Schwebel, Dov Levine, Baruch Chait, Heshy Walfish, Itzel Weinberger | The Theater at Madison Square Garden |
| 2006 | | Yaakov Shwekey, Abie Rotenberg, Yeshiva Boys Choir | Carnegie Hall |
| 2007 | | Avraham Fried, Yitzchak Meir Helfgot, Lipa Schmeltzer, Dovid Gabay, Ohad Moskowitz, Dedi Graucher, Baruch Levine, Shalsheles Junior | Avery Fisher Hall |
| 2008 | | Avraham Fried, Yitzchok Meir Helfgot, Ohad Moskowitz, Dudu Fisher, Shlomo Katz, Yeshiva Boys Choir, Eitan Katz | Avery Fisher Hall |
| 2009 | | Yaakov Shwekey, Yitzchok Meir Helfgot, Yehuda Green, Dovid Gabay, Baruch Levine, Abie Rotenberg, Piamenta | Avery Fisher Hall |
| 2010 | | Avraham Fried, Lipa Schmeltzer, Dedi Graucher, Yitzchak Fuchs | Avery Fisher Hall |
| 2011 | A Time for Duets | Abie Rotenberg, Baruch Levine, Ohad Moskowitz, Yehuda Green, Lipa Schmeltzer, Shloime Gertner, Shalsheles, Shalsheles Jr, Avraham Fried, Benny Friedman, Yonatan Shainfeld, Yeshiva Boys Choir | Avery Fisher Hall |
| 2012 | | Avraham Fried, Lipa Schmeltzer, Shloime Gertner, Ohad Moskowitz, Dedi Graucher, Dovid Gabay, Abie Rotenberg, Eitan Katz, Yehuda Green, Chaim Dovid, Uncle Moishy, Yoel Sharabi, Shalsheles, Shalsheles Jr, Maccabeats, Yitzchok Meir Helfgot, Journeys, Srully Williger, Mendy Wald, Shloime Dachs, Baruch Levine, Miami Boys Choir | Avery Fisher Hall |
| 2013 | We're Back | Mordechai Ben David, Avraham Fried, Abie Rotenberg, Michoel Pruzansky, Yeedle Werdyger, Benny Friedman | Avery Fisher Hall |
| 2014 | 40 Years of Camp HASC | Avraham Fried, Abie Rotenberg, Diaspora Yeshiva Band, Ohad Moskowitz, Baruch Levine, Benny Friedman, 8th Day, Ari Goldwag, Ieshula Ishakis | Avery Fisher Hall |
| 2015 | | Yaakov Shwekey, Abie Rotenberg, Benny Friedman, Simcha Leiner, Dedi Graucher | Avery Fisher Hall |
| 2016 | | Yaakov Shwekey, Abie Rotenberg, 8th Day, Lev Tahor, Yonatan Razel | David Geffen Hall |
| 2017 | A 30 Year Celebration | Abie Rotenberg, Rivie Schwebel, Baruch Levine, Avraham Fried, Yaakov Shwekey | David Geffen Hall |
| 2018 | | Avraham Fried, Ari Goldwag, Shalsheles, Meilech Kohn, Eli Gerstner, Yeshiva Boys Choir, Simcha Leiner, Baruch Chait | David Geffen Hall |
| 2019 | | Zusha, Pumpidisa, Matt Dubb, Abie Rotenberg, Shlomo Simcha, Mordechai Shapiro, Beri Weber, Or Chodosh, Eli Gerstner, Shlomo Schachter, Yishai Lapidot, Yaakov Shwekey, Abie Rotenberg | David Geffen Hall |
| 2020 | | Avraham Fried, Ishay Ribo, Benny Friedman, Simcha Leiner, Joey Newcomb | David Geffen Hall |
| 2021 | | Beri Weber, Matt Dubb, Joey Newcomb, Baruch Levine, Yaakov Shwekey, Avraham Fried | American Dream |
| 2022 | | Avraham Fried, Chaim Yisrael, Joey Newcomb, Mordechai Shapiro, Ishay Ribo, Lipa Schmeltzer | Bell Works |
| 2023 | | Yaakov Shwekey, Akiva, Shulem Lemmer, Itzik Dadya, Eitan Katz, Yitzy Waldner, Miami Boys Choir | New Jersey Performing Arts Center |
| 2024 | A Time for Unity | Shulem Lemmer, Benny Friedman, Ari Hill, Shalom Berholtz, Shmuel, Mordechai Shapiro, Baruch Levine, Alex Clare, Avraham Fried, Matt Dubb | New Jersey Performing Arts Center |
| 2025 | Beyond Words | Eli Schwebel, Rivie Schwebel, Benny Friedman, Avraham Fried, Shuli Rand, Zusha, Yonatan Razel, Yaakov Shwekey | New Jersey Performing Arts Center |