Live from Cedarhurst

It was just the whole magic, the intimacy of the medium. I fell in love with it.”

Nachum Segal, Radio host

Nachum Segal listened to sports, especially Yankees games, with a transistor radio under his pillow, and that childhood passion grew into a more than 30-year broadcasting career.

Segal, 53, the voice of “JM in the AM” — Jewish Moments in the Morning —  since 1983, brought his 4-year-old Kosher Halftime Show to the Courtside Grill in Cedarhurst for a live videotaping last Saturday. 

“I was 5 or 6 — it was the magic of the voice coming out of that box,” recalled Segal, who was pushed by his late mother, Esther Segal, to pursue his interest in college. “It was just the whole magic, the intimacy of the medium. I fell in love with it.”

That affection continued at Yeshiva University, where he began his radio career at the school’s on-campus station, WYUR, in 1981. Two years later, Segal became the head of Jewish programming at WFMU, an FM station in New Jersey that reaches New York City, the Hudson Valley and parts of Pennsylvania.  

“JM in the AM” went live in September 1983, and since then Segal has expanded his listening audience across the international Jewish community. Hearing the program’s intro song, “Modeh Ani” (Thank God I’m Alive) is how many listeners begin their day. In December, Segal launched the digital version of the 4-year-old Nachum Segal Network. “Listeners, supporters are trending up,” said its general manager, Miriam Wallach. “People are looking for something good, something different to listen to.”  

Segal’s guests include authors, community leaders, government officials and newsmakers as well as musicians. “I like to say that I’m always preparing, taking notes,” he said, for the morning show and a weekly current events segment on the Friday show.

Three years ago, Segal began doing the Kosher Halftime Show as an option for Orthodox Jews, who prefer not to watch the more secular entertainment during halftime of the Super Bowl. 

“In 2014, we first did it to make a point for people in this country: As wonderful as the Super Bowl is, they didn’t want to watch, and didn’t want their children exposed to the Super Bowl halftime show,” Segal said. “We view our programming as a statement. It’s value-laden programming and a family-oriented alternative.”

After two years in the studio and a year of taping at the Teaneck Doghouse in New Jersey, a kosher sports-themed restaurant like the Courtside Grill, Segal came to the Five Towns. His musical guests were the EvanAl Orchestra, featuring Cedarhurst resident Aryeh Kunstler. Kunstler has been on “JM in the AM” many times, he said, and was asked to do the halftime show. 

“I think it’s cool,” Kunstler said. “What’s great about Nachum is they don’t always have mainstream music. They have somewhat alternative styles of Jewish music.”

Kunstler, whose father Avi is also a musician, said he grew up in a recording studio starting in the first grade. “I kinda realized when hockey wasn’t going to work out, I picked up a guitar and made a career out it, he said. He has played on a record with his father and his dad performed on Aryeh’s second album, “Our Eyes Are on You.”

I’m super excited,” Kunstler said, about performing in the community where he lives. He grew up in Rockaway Beach, and now his parents and a grandmother are in Lawrence, and one of his brothers lives in Woodmere. Another brother, he joked is in the sixth Five Town — Israel.  

At the taping, the musicians — Kunstler on guitar and vocals, Gli Lax on keyboards, drummer Israel Reches and bassist Mitch Friedman — cranked out six songs including, “Split the Sea,” “Modeh Ani,” Hashem Melech” and “Mi Chamocha.” Shy Clyman served as the band’s sound mixer. Some audience members sang along.

As for who is going to win the big game, Segal, a Jets fan, wouldn’t say — though he did tell his children that Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has ruined his life. “I think it’s unique that both team owners are great supporters of Israel,” he said. Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank and New England owner Robert Kraft are well-known contributors to Jewish causes.   

To view the roughly 20-minute show during the Super Bowl halftime, go to www.nachumsegal.com. 

To learn more about Aryeh Kunstler’s music, visit www.aryehkunstler.com.