This video presents an a capella cover of This is the New Year by A Great Big World by the Maccabeats, an all-male Jewish a cappella group that originally formed as Yeshiva University’s student vocal choir. Although this song was not written with Rosh Hashanah in mind, the optimistic themes of renewal, growth, and committing to the values and people we cherish are relevant to both the secular and Jewish New Year. The lyrics can be seen below. Strongly committed to the integration of traditional and secular wisdom, the Maccabeats perform an eclectic array of Jewish, American, and Israeli songs.
This Is the New year
Another year you made a promise
Another chance to turn it all around
And do not save this for tomorrow
Embrace the past and you can live for now
And I will give the world to you
And give them meaning no one else has found
The role we play is so important
We are the voices of the underground
And I will give the world to you
Be not afraid of who you really are
‘Cause in the end we have each other
And that’s at least one thing worth living for
And I will give the world to you
A million suns that shine upon me
A million eyes you are the brightest blue
Let’s tear the walls down that divide us
And build a statue strong enough for two
I pass it back to you
And I will wait for you
‘Cause I would give the world
And I would give the world
And I would give the world to you
This is the new year
A new beginning
You made a promise
You are the brightest
We are the voices
This is the new year
We are the voices
This is the new year