1. |
Asleep with waking heart
03:29
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Here I lay, I am fast asleep, yet my heart doth soar
There -- I hear my lover loud and clear, knocking at the door
Maidens of Jerusalem, it's him I do adore
Come now, open up my dear, I can wait no more
My fairest, my love, my own gentle dove
my beauty -- fit my hand like a glove -- oh my bride:
you're the one I always dreamed of …
My lover stretches out his hand to the keyhole
Deep inside I feel as if he stirs my very soul
If my hands drip spice upon the knob when I get up to let him in
Well then, by ever-loving God, I say it is no sin
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2. |
Yigdal
03:35
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Living God is great, to God give glory;
omnipresent, timeless -- God's reality.
The One, there is none, of such singularity
invisible, mystery, unique infinity.
No tangible form, or physicality;
we cannot begin to fathom God's sanctity.
Before all creation, eternal Deity;
there's no starting point to God's apriority.
Master of the world, of all that comes to be;
showing us Divine greatness, and sovereignty.
Abundant revelation, and prophecy
Given free to all who choose to see the majesty.
None in Israel rivals Moses' dignity;
greatest prophet who did glimpse God's luminosity.
Torah of truth God gave, in generosity;
to the people, by the prophet, first in loyalty.
God will not change the way of integrity;
The road that we must stay unto posterity.
God sees and knows our secrets in sensitivity;
from the start knows how things end with finality.
God rewards the righteous in their activity;
giving evil-doers evil and adversity.
End of days— Messiah, in great festivity;
to save all those who worked and waited since antiquity.
Gives life to all that dies, in grace and mercy;
blessed be God's great name for all eternity.
Gives life to all that dies, in grace and mercy;
blessed be God's great name for all eternity.
Living God so great, grant us all shalom,
as we wish each other well and head for home.
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3. |
Hatikva - Joel's hope
03:23
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Hark! from Zion it comes -- from Jerusalem, hear God's roar
Thundering skies shield and protect, all the people ever more
The weak shall be strong, and all shall be free; then you shall know that I am the One
Judah eternal, a life-giving tree, upon my wings, under my sun
Come to pass, on the last day, nectar and song, from the mountains--and lo!
Justice, mercy - then from each hill, as water in every river shall flow
That ancient spring, my children you'll see, again from on high, as if from a stone
To cleanse all your blood, the blood that stained me, let my love shine, no more be alone
A renewed source, from Zion shall spring, sustain all my world, let the bells ring
The future blessed, for each living thing, we raise our voice, and together we sing
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4. |
Book of Ruth
03:31
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Do not ask me to leave and say goodbye,
to turn my back and go away
For wherever you may go -- there go I,
from your side I shall not stray
Do not send me back to parents' home so fine;
To the shade of my people's old grapevine
Only death can part us! See I've drawn the line:
Your people and your God — now they are mine!
No my daughters -- God's hand has laid me low,
and I don't want you to suffer so
May God be with you and protect you from all woe,
and sow your wombs so that life once again may flow
They'll bury me by your side, if you die before;
You know the Bible says of strangers at the door;
Despite "your own poor" -- that you lift them from the floor,
and as different as they be -- that you love them all-the-more
So go make your name, among women, among men
Like Boaz, Oved, and Jesse of Bethlehem
As with Naomi and Ruth, way back then
God is with you! May God bless you just like them!
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5. |
I am Joseph
03:51
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Have you no father, mother or brother
Say so that we may see one another
None but the youngest -- the only one left
His father and he, as one so bereft
I can't hold them back, feelings are pouring out
Cast off all threat, leave behind me all doubt
The pain of my people's never been fully told
To all - east and west - let us meet, as foretold
And so let us all raise our voices and weep
Let none near and far continue to sleep
For Joseph I am, is my father alive?
Your brother am I, come here by my side
We were torn to shreds, and sold off as slaves
Thrown into pits, cast into mass graves
Converted by force, burned, tortured and gassed
From fire comes steel, we'll no more be harassed
His brother Judah now dared to approach
Perhaps it is time to end all reproach
Since our ancient father we share
Here I return, please hear my prayer
Here I return, let peace be our share
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6. |
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They shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning-hooks:
These words of prophets are in our prayers,
we read them in two sacred books
Nation shall not lift up sword against nation any more,
neither shall they learn war, neither shall they any more learn war.
No more war, no more war,
never again shall they know war.
No more war, no more war,
never again shall they know war.
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7. |
Song of Thanksgiving
02:06
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To God so good let praise ascend: for kindness without end
The world a garden our's to tend: may it never end
Let us all apprehend: the kindness without end
Hallelujah, sing it friend: in kindness without end
Oh life is good, so let us transcend
Great mercy and kindness endure – may they never end
We give thanks with every line: for kindness to the end of time
And with Israel realign: and creation oh so fine
House of Aaron, rise and shine: as at the Holy shrine
All God-fearing, reason-rhyme: in kindness to the end of time
Let us see the Divine, in creation sublime
Great mercy and kindness paradigm: to the end of time
Oh life is good, so let us transcend
Great mercy and kindness endure – may they never end!
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8. |
Hear O Israel
02:30
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Listen-hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One.
Blessed be, for all eternity, God's majesty is second to none!
Love the Lord Hashem your God
with all your heart, all your might, all your soul.
Let these words I command you today,
into your heart to make you whole.
Teach these words to your children;
discuss them, continue to speak of them,
when at home, when on the way,
as you lay you down at night, and rise each day.
Around your arms let them be bound,
and as a sign between your eyes.
Inscribed on your doorposts let them be found,
and from your gates -- let their wisdom rise.
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9. |
Psalm 23
03:08
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A psalm of David.
God is my shepherd, I shall want not.
Lays me down in green pastures, leads me to calm waters --
this be my lot.
Refreshes my soul, frees me of shame,
guides me along the paths of the righteous, for the sake of the Name.
Though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, can't you see--
I shall fear no evil, for You are ever with me.
Your mighty rod, and Your staff of mercy,
now and forever -- they shall comfort me.
You set me a table before my enemies, so that they know.
My head you have anointed with oil; my cup doth overflow.
Let only goodness and love follow me all my days,
till my wave reaches shore;
Thus I dwell in the house of God, in repose always,
forever more.
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10. |
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Oh God of ours and of ancestors went before
take delight in the restful Sabbath we adore.
Sanctify us all, through your commands,
fair share of your Torah give unto our hands.
Give us of your goodness at Divine behest,
let all rejoice in your salvation -- this be our request.
Purify our hearts with truth in every land,
to serve You well in every way as best we understand.
Let us inherit a delightful lot,
willingly and in love Your Holy Shabbat.
Rest give to Israel, who sanctify Your Name,
Blessed are you O God, as Sabbath you proclaim.
Let us inherit a delightful lot,
willingly and in love Your Holy Shabbat.
Peace give to Israel, who sanctify Your Name,
Blessed are you O God, as Sabbath you proclaim.
Blessed are You O God -- shows us the way --
who consecrates the Sabbath as the holy day.
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11. |
Zion Zion
03:35
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Zion, Zion, how fare your prisoners, why do you ask no more
Won't you see, and tend to your flock, as the good shepherds always did before
I do indeed remember all your pasts, from your youth until today
All your kindness & newly-wedded love, and I wonder: was it worth it all, this long way
I dig a well to quench our thirst, as your hills and dales I walk in the sun
I come inside your gates and futures, a flower in my left, but in my right a gun
Sometimes I roll and writhe upon your holy ground, my tears for you a stream
You've seen so many battle-graves, our desire that from our blood we shall live; can we be clean?
Let me walk then, among your ruins, heal your mourning and your pain
Be your child saying kaddish with your builders, saving stranger, orphan, each field and holy domain
Let us learn from all of your disasters, even as again we build your walls
Redouble strength, pacify the haters and destroyers -- for the remnant of a tortured flock we call
Let it be a time of grace -- that no ill may befall
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12. |
I think therefore I am?
02:43
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I think therefore I am at the shore
There I question: Am I real?
And if so, then whatever for?
Dive, go deep -- a sleek blue seal
Then need air, come up and sigh
From the depths I call to Thee
Holy One, the Most High
God who was, is, and will be
In the end, all life must die
All I love, you and I
Peoples, species, just pass through
Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Jew
Nukes could well mean the end
Without peace our dangers loom
Can we all seek to mend
heal the earth, avoid our doom
So relax, no malaise
We're not at the end of days
There's no need to be uptight
In the end we'll be alright
Some will say it's for the best
That Mideast can meet the West
New York, Paris, London-town
Looking up or falling down
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Aiton Birnbaum Israel
Hi. I'm originally from NYC, now live in Israel. Got into writing music to express emotions about difficult current events, often using Holy Scriptures. There must be a reason such writings have been preserved and hallowed by so many for so long. So putting ancient wisdom to new music just feels right. Hope you enjoy the English or Hebrew versions, and wish you well. Thanks for listening! ... more
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