Chants, Liturgy, Psalms

Morning Blessings

Adonai matir asurim, Adonai pokayah ivrim
Adonai zokayf k’fufim, Adonai ohayv tzadikim
Morning Blessings Hebrew text
Ahal’lah Yah b’chayai
Morning Blessings Hebrew text

Oh God, who sets the captive free,
who opens the eyes of the blind to see,
who heals the lame and
loves the just.
I will praise Yah with my life! (Psalm 146:2, 7, and 8)

As my morning blessings, I acknowledge the Force that sets me free from the bondage of habit and conditioning. I thank the One who opens my eyes to what were once invisible realms. I feel myself lifted up and healed by that Power, as the best in me is seen , known and loved.

Then I make a commitment to praise Yah with my life as I become a channel for that force of liberation, enlightenment, healing and love.

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

To download the PDF file for this chant, click Morning Blessings PDF. For the musical notation, see The Magic of Hebrew Chant, page 234.

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

Chants, Psalms

Clean Hands: Mi ya’aleh

Mi ya’aleh v’har Adonai umi yakum bim’kom kodsho?
N’ki chapayim uvar layvov

Clean Hands Hebrew text

Who may ascend the Mountain of God and who may establish the Place of His Holiness?
One with clean hands and a pure heart. (Psalm 24:3-4)

As we prepare for the work of holiness, we can listen for this question from Psalm 24, that asks us to step forward, raise our consciousness and enter the Place where God’s Presence can be known and experienced. The requirements are clean hands and a pure heart. Clean hands represent the purity of our intention as we do our work. A pure heart is who we are.

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.

To download the PDF file for this chant, click Clean Hands PDF.

Chants, Scripture

Justice, Justice: Tzedek, Tzedek Tirdof

Hold firmly, without wavering, to the hope that we confess. (Hebrews 10:23)

Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof
TzedekText
Justice, Justice you shall pursue. (Deuteronomy 16:20)

In Barack Obama’s acceptance speech at the Democratic Convention, he quoted this line from scripture as a reminder that we must not succumb to cynicism or fear. During this time leading up to the election, there is so much pettiness and poison in the air. I wrote this chant to help us stay anchored in the hope, and in the possibility of justice.

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.

Chants, Liturgy

Manifesting Torah: Lilmod

Lilmod u’l’lamayd lishmor v’la’asot u’l’kayaym
Manifesting Torah Hebrew text
To learn and to teach, to uphold and to practice and to manifest (Liturgy)

As we approach the Sh’ma, we increase the power of our receptivity and presence by making a commitment to Torah/Wisdom. Our commitment is not just to learn, but to teach… not just to teach, but to uphold. Not just to uphold, but to practice. And not just to practice, but to manifest Torah in our lives and in our world.

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.

To download the PDF file for this chant, click Manifesting Torah (Lilmod) PDF. For the musical notation, see The Magic of Hebrew Chant, page 236.

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

Chants, Psalms

Lands of Life: Et’halech lifnay

Et’halech lifnay Yah B’Artzot HaChayyim.
Lands of Life Hebrew text
I will walk before God in the Lands of the Living
I will walk before God in the Lands of Life. (Psalm 116:9)

The Power of Placebo
As I was exploring the power of my beliefs, I was curious about the word placebo. I learned that its origin was Psalm 116:9, which was translated into Latin and adapted into a Catholic funeral ritual. They sang, “Placebo Domino in regione vivorum” (“I will please the Lord in the land of the living”) The word, placebo came into the English language to mean sycophant or flatterer because of the interpretation “I will please…” and then it came to mean simulator because how can you trust someone who is trying to please?

Today the phenomenon of placebo is linked to the miraculous power of Belief. When I chant these compelling words from Psalm 116, I am embodying my belief in God’s loving, life-giving Presence that surrounds me and beckons me towards ever-more radiant vitality. As I strengthen, nurture and refine this belief, God’s Presence manifests before me as the miracle of my Life.

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.

To download the PDF file for this chant, click Lands of Life PDF.