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Psalm 63:2-3
צָמְאָה לְךָ נַפְשִׁי כָּמַהּ לְךָ בְּשָׂרִי בּאֶרֶץ צִיָה וְעָיֵף בְּלִי מָיִם
כֵּן בַּקֹּדֶשׁ חֲזִיתִיךָ לִרְאוֹת עֻזְּךָ וּכְבוֹדֶךָ
Transliteration:
Tza-ma le-cha naf-shi ka-ma le-cha be-sa-ri, be-e-retz tzi-yah ve-a-yeif be-li ma-yim. Kein ba-koi-desh cha-zi-si-chah lir-ois ooz-cha oo-che-voi-de-chah.
Translation:
My soul thirsts for You, my flesh longs for You
In a dry and weary land without water
So may I behold You in the sanctuary
To see Your power and Your glory.
(Adapted from https://www.chabad.org/multimedia/music_cdo/aid/140800/jewish/Tzomo-Lecho-Nafshi.htm)
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2. |
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We are whole just as we are
And we will go where our truth calls
We may not know just where the path goes
But we’re coming home to who we are
Thanks for your love, but I don’t need your worry
If you think you know what’s better for me
It’s good to learn to trust myself, and feel safe to be myself
With support from community
[Chorus]
Our ancestors wouldn’t want us to suffer
They would want us to thrive
And when we find what brings us joy and meaning
They’d shep naches [feel pride] for our lives
[Chorus]
Please don’t make me into a symbol
And I will try not to flatten you either
We are infinitely complex creatures
And we deserve to be known
[Chorus]
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3. |
Modim
04:17
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מוֹדִים אֲנַחְנוּ לָךְ שָׁאַתָּה הוּא ה’ אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ ואמהותנו לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד צוּר חַיֵּינוּ מָגֵן יִשְׁעֵנוּ אַתָּה הוּא לְדוֹר וָדוֹר
נוֹדֶה לְּךָ וּנְסַפֵּר תְּהִלָּתֶךָ עַל חַיֵּינוּ הַמְּסוּרִים בְּיָדֶךָ וְעַל נִשְׁמוֹתֵינוּ הַפְּקוּדות לָךְ וְעַל נִסֶּיךָ שֶׁבְּכָל יוֹם עִמָּנוּ וְעַל נִפְלְאוֹתֶיךָ וְטוֹבוֹתֶיךָ שֶׁבְּכָל עֵת עֶרֶב וָבֹקֶר וְצָהֳרָיִם
הַטּוֹב כִּי לֹא כָלוּ רַחֲמֶיךָ וְהַמְרַחֵם כִּי לֹא תַמּוּ חֲסָדֶיךָ
מֵעוֹלָם קִוִּינוּ לָךְ
Transliteration:
Modim anachnu lach sh’ata hu Adonai Eloheinu v’elohei avoseinu v’imoseinu l’olam va’ed.
Tzur chayenu, magen yisheinu ata hu l’dor vador.
Nodeh lecha u’nesaper tehilasecha chayeinu hamesurim b’yadecha v’al nishmoseinu ha’pekudos lach v’al nisecha shebechol yom imanu v’al niflosecha v’tovosecha shebechol eit: erev, vavoker, v’tzohorayim.
Hatov ki lo chalu rachamecha v’ham’rachem ki lo samu chasadecha.
Mei’olam kivinu lach.
Translation:
We give thanks to You, that You are our Divine One, Divine of our ancestors forever and ever, Rock of our lives and Shield of our liberation from generation to generation.
We give thanks to you and recount your praises: for our lives that are entrusted in your hand, and for our souls that are in your safekeeping, and for your miracles that are with us every day, and for your wonders and good deeds that are with us at all times--evening, morning, and midday.
Good One, your mercies never fail us, Compassionate One, your loving kindness never ceases. We always hope in you.
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4. |
L'dor Vador
02:53
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L'dor vador, ancestors sing from the waters (/share their wisdom/call for justice)
L'dor vador, children shout from the trees (take the lead/chant for peace)
Generations to come demand that we act now
To heal the earth for all to thrive under the sun
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5. |
Slow Down
03:25
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Slow down
Feel your feet on the ground
שַׁל־נְעָלֶ֙יךָ֙ מֵעַ֣ל רַגְלֶ֔יךָ
Shal na’alecha mei'al raglecha
Translation: Take off your shoes [for the ground you are standing on is holy] - from Exodus 3:5, Hashem speaking to Moshe at the burning bush
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6. |
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Got a shell of patterns
That have tried to keep me safe
But I’m on my way
Out to infinite space
Creation is a party
And every part of me’s invited
Soft and sharp, light and darkness
All the mysteries inside
I am a holy child of the universe (x4)
Lo teivoshi לֹא תֵבֽוֹשִׁי
Don’t be embarrassed
How could a snail
Be embarrassed of itself?
My cells inside the cosmos
Are tiny and majestic
I’m a snail, I’m a whale,
I’m chrysanthemums
I am a holy child of the universe (x3)
I am a holy child of Ayn Sof אֵין סוֹף [There Is No End]
Beep beeeeeeeeep
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7. |
Return Anew
03:13
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Return, return anew
To the breath that is moving through
To the repair you are called to do
To the healing that's ripe for you
Ay ay ay ay...
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8. |
Ahava Raba
03:41
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Love is not a receding horizon we reach for
Love is the ground, love is the ground on which we lay
Worthiness is not a mountaintop we strive toward
It is the field, it is the field in which we play
אַהֲבָה רַבָּה אֲהַבְתָּנוּ, ה’ אֱלהֵינוּ. חֶמְלָה גְּדולָה וִיתֵרָה חָמַלְתָּ עָלֵינוּ:
Ahava raba ahavtanu hashem elokeinu
Chemla gedola viteira chamalta aleynu
Translation:
With abundant love you have loved us, Divine One
With overflowing compassion you have compassioned upon us
(from the blessing that leads into the Shema prayer, traditionally recited every morning)
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9. |
Veshameru
08:20
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וְשָׁמְרוּ בְנֵי יִשְֹרָאֵל אֶת־הַשַּׁבָּת, לַעֲשׂוֹת אֶת־הַשַּׁבָּת לְדֹרֹתָם בְּרִית עוֹלָם. בֵּינִי וּבֵין בְּנֵי יִשְֹרָאֵל אוֹת הִיא לְעֹלָם, כִּי־שֵֽׁשֶׁת יָמִים עָשָׂה יי אֶת־הַשָּׁמַֽיִם וְאֶת־הָאָֽרֶץ, וּבַיוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי שָׁבַת וַיִּנָּפַשׁ.
Transliteration:
Ve'shameru benai Yisrael et ha'shabbat, laasot et ha'shabbat le'dorotam berit olam:
Beini u'vein b’nei yisrael, ot hee leolam, ki sheshet yamim asa Hashem
et ha shamaim ve'et ha'aretz, u'vayom ha'shvi'i shabbat va'yinafash.
Translation:
And the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, to observe the Sabbath throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant. It is a sign between Me and the children of Israel for ever: that in six days the Divine made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day She rested, and ceased from Her work.
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10. |
Our Power
03:52
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We will not underestimate our power any longer
We know that together we are strong (x2)
Like drops of water shape the rocks
As they rush down the falls
We know that together we are strong
שִׁירָה חֲדָשָׁה שִׁבְּ֒חוּ גְאוּלִים לְשִׁמְךָ עַל־שְׂפַת הַיָּם יַֽחַד כֻּלָּם הוֹדוּ
Shira chadasha shibchu ge'ulim l'shimcha al sfat hayam, yachad kulam hodu
Translation:
With newborn song, liberated people praised Your name on the lip of the sea. All were one in thanks. (May it be so!)
Adapted from liturgy before the Amidah prayer
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11. |
I Will Carry You
05:09
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I will carry you through these changes
וְעַד־שֵׂיבָ֖ה אֲנִ֣י אֶסְבֹּ֑ל
V'ad seva ani esbol
Translation:
When you turn grey, I'll still carry you/be patient with you/bear you (Isaiah 46:4)
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Rena Branson Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Rena Branson (they/she) is a Jewish composer, ritual leader, and educator who uplifts personal and collective healing through song. They founded A Queer Nigun Project, which organizes singing events for LGBTQIA+ folks and sends audio content to people in the Jewish community who are incarcerated. Rena is also a Reiki practitioner. Learn more at renabranson.com. ... more
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