Va’ani matzati menucha mitachat kanfay HaSh’china

Under the Wings of Shechina I have found my rest.

I wrote this chant in honor of Sukkot. I imagine sitting in my Sukkah under a delicate roof of branches that give me a glimpse of the vast deep blue sky. The Divine Presence also protects me, yet allows me to see through her wings and connect with The Beyond.

To hear the various parts of the chant, use the audio players. To download a part, right-click a note and save (or download) the linked MP3 file.

• Under the Wings 1  
• Under the Wings 2  
• Under the Wings Mix  

To download the PDF file for this chant, click Under the Wings PDF. For the musical notation, see The Magic of Hebrew Chant, page 241.

The Magic of Hebrew Chant ©2013 Shefa Gold. All rights reserved.

Odach b’od t’h’yeh Nishmat Eloha bi

I will thank You as long as the Divine Breath is in me.
(Solomon ibn Gabirol, 11th Century Spanish poet and philosopher)

Gratefulness is the foundation for my practice and it is the fuel for my spiritual search. When I can fully receive the miracle of this moment, I am energized and inspired to face whatever challenge Life gives me. This line from a poem by Solomon ibn Gabirol, expresses my intention so well — to feel God’s breath in me, and to use that breath in gratitude.

Also, see the Flavors of Gratefulness page for Modah Ani chants.

To hear the various parts of the chant, use the audio players. To download a part, right-click a note and save (or download) the linked MP3 file.

• Gratefulness 1  
• Gratefulness 2  
• Gratefulness Mix  

To download the PDF file for this chant, click Gratefulness (Odach) PDF. For the musical notation, see The Magic of Hebrew Chant, page 233.

The Magic of Hebrew Chant ©2013 Shefa Gold. All rights reserved.

V’Ha’ayr aynaynu b’toratecha, v’dabayk libaynu b’mitzvotecha

Enlighten our eyes with Your Torah, and connect our hearts to Your Mitzvot. (Liturgy)

When my eyes are really opened, I see your Torah everywhere! And from the deepest place within, I can connect with and embody that heart wisdom. Then the next step is to allow that deep heart-wisdom to flow out across my shoulders, down my arms and into my hands. These are the hands that will do Your Mitzvot with heartful compassion and kindness, instructed always by the Torah that this world reveals to me.

To hear the various parts of the chant, use the audio players. To download a part, right-click a note and save (or download) the linked MP3 file.

• Eyes, Hearts, and Hands 1  
• Eyes, Hearts, and Hands 2  
• Eyes, Hearts, and Hands Mix  

To download the PDF file for this chant, click Eyes, Hearts, and Hands PDF. For the musical notation, see The Magic of Hebrew Chant, page 238.

The Magic of Hebrew Chant ©2013 Shefa Gold. All rights reserved.

Golel or mipnay choshech, Choshech mipnay or

Rolling away light before darkness, darkness before light (Evening Liturgy)

As evening falls we say a prayer to bless the coming darkness. This practice opens us to the miracle of light and dark as they mix and then roll away from each other in cycles of day and night. These same cycles roll inside us through the rhythms of mood, through the ebb and flow of our daily drama. Through this practice, we raise ourselves up as holy witness to these cycles, so that we may gratefully receive the gifts of darkness in absolute trust. We surrender to the evening, knowing this darkness will lead us back to the light again.

To hear the various parts of the chant, use the audio players. To download a part, right-click a note and save (or download) the linked MP3 file.

• Rolling 1  
• Rolling 2  
• Rolling 3  
• Rolling Mix  

To download the PDF file for this chant, click Rolling PDF. For the musical notation, see The Magic of Hebrew Chant, page 244.

The Magic of Hebrew Chant ©2013 Shefa Gold. All rights reserved.