Yisroel R.

Just in time for Yom Kippur, Cantor Yaakov Stark has released a moving new performance of “Ato Yodea,” bringing one of the classic pieces of Yom Kippur chazzanus to life in a polished new production. The six-minute video was released this week as part of Stark’s ongoing “Cantorial Classics” series.

“Ato Yodea,” based on the words “Ato Yodea Razei Olam” from the Yom Kippur davening, has long been associated with the chazzanus of Cantor Moshe Ganchoff and is rooted in a classic composition connected to Jacob Rappaport. Archival recordings and Jewish music collections have preserved the piece for decades as part of the traditional Yom Kippur repertoire.

In the newly released version, Stark is joined by international pianist Menachem Bristowski and the Core Music Collective choir. The production was produced, arranged, and conducted by Meir Briskman, who also serves as musical director for the project. The performance was filmed at the Great Synagogue of Tel Aviv, a setting that has served as the backdrop for several earlier releases in Stark’s Cantorial Classics series.

The new release continues a series in which Stark has revisited well-known pieces from the world of traditional chazzanus, including “Shema Koleinu,” “Umipnei Chatoeinu,” “Hoshana,” “Tefilas Geshem,” and a collection of classic Shabbos zemiros. The series has repeatedly paired Stark’s voice with Briskman’s arrangements, Bristowski’s piano, and the Core Music Collective choir.

Released during the Aseres Yemei Teshuvah and just ahead of Yom Kippur, “Ato Yodea” arrives at a fitting time, with its familiar words and stirring chazzanus capturing the emotion and seriousness of the holiest day of the year. The release is already appearing across Jewish music platforms as one of the newest additions to this year’s Yomim Noraim music lineup.