Chants, Psalms

Return Us

Elohim hashivaynu v’ha’ayr panecha v’nivashay’ah
Graphic: Return Us in Hebrew
Oh God return us; shine the light of your presence;
thus we will be delivered. (Psalm 80:4)
[Click (or tap) to see the entire Psalm 80 in Hebrew and English (JPS 1985).]

Return us to our true selves, God. To our spacious awareness, to our complete acceptance of what is. When You shine on and through us, the light of compassionate awareness, with the radiance of Your Presence, we are saved from our pettiness, from our reactivity, from our grudges, from small-minded impulses for revenge. Then, we are delivered into our true capacities for generosity and joy.

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

To download the PDF file for this chant, click Return Us PDF.

Chants, Psalms

Through the Generations

L’dor vador n’sapayr t’hilatecha
Graphic: Through the Generations in Hebrew
From generation to generation, we will recount your praises. (Psalm 79:13)
[Click (or tap) to see the entire Psalm 79 in Hebrew and English (JPS 1985).]

One key to our wholeness and wellbeing is establishing a connection with our ancestors and descendants. When we become a link in the chain of blessing, we are being inspired by both the merit of our lineage and the hope of our children. We pass on the stories of the past and are called by a vision for the future. Often that chain has been broken and needs our compassion and repair, which we can manifest with this practice.

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

To download the PDF file for this chant, click Through the Generations PDF.

Chants, Psalms

Guidance Through the Wilderness

Vayanchaym bee’anan yomam v’chol-halaila b’or aysh
Graphic: Guidance Through the Wilderness in Hebrew
He led them with a cloud by day,
and throughout the night by the light of fire. (Psalm 78:14)
[Click (or tap) to see the entire Psalm 78 in Hebrew and English (JPS 1985).]

This Psalm tells the story of our long and fraught passage from slavery to freedom. This practice invokes the spirit of guidance that is available to us as we journey through the wilderness. Throughout our journeys we are accompanied by these divine signs — the cloud of unknowing by day, and the fire of our heart’s passion by night to light the way.

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

To download the PDF file for this chant, click Guidance Through the Wilderness PDF.

Chants, Psalms

Oh You!

Atah nora atah u’mi-ya’amod l’fanecha
Graphic: Oh You! in Hebrew
Oh You! You are awesome! Who can stand before You? (Psalm 76:8)
Oh You! You are awesome! Yes, I will stand before You.
[Click (or tap) to see the entire Psalm 76 in Hebrew and English (JPS 1985).]

To address the Great Mystery directly and say, “Oh You!”, activates our love and courage in the face of such awesome magnificence. The Psalm suggests that we might be afraid to face this awesome mystery. Yet our practice is one of hearing the question, “Who can stand before You?” and responding with our willingness to be fully present to the astounding and humbling Presence that addresses us in the form of this life.

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

To download the PDF file for this chant, click Oh You! PDF.

Chants, Psalms

Your Miracles

Hodinu l’cha Elohim hodinu, v’karov sh’mecha, sipru niflotecha
Graphic: Your Miracles in Hebrew
We praise You, O God; we praise You;
When Your presence is near, they tell of Your miracles. (Psalm 75:2)
[Click (or tap) to see the entire Psalm 75 in Hebrew and English (JPS 1985).]

Our gratefulness opens the doors of our perception. In giving homage, we connect ourselves to the Divine presence. And when we feel that closeness to God, our eyes are open to miracle. Then we can tell the world about the miracles that have been revealed to us. Our sense of wonder is contagious.

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

To download the PDF file for this chant, click Your Miracles PDF.