Or zarua laTzadik, u’l’yishray lev simcha

Plant the seeds of Joy and Light; Tend them carefully day and night,
In this soil so dark and deep, I plant the dreams that Love will reap. (Psalm 97:11)
[Click (or tap) to see the entire Psalm 97 in Hebrew and English (JPS 1985).]

I wrote this practice in honor of the winter solstice leading up to the passage of Chanukah. In preparation for this chant, recall the shining peak moments in your life that revealed to you a great joy or profound wisdom, moments of ecstasy or prophesy, delight or enchantment. Imagine those moments as seeds. Create an intention to plant those seeds and tend them with your loving attention as you grow a life of joy and light.

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.

• Planting Seeds of Joy and Light 1  
• Planting Seeds of Joy and Light 2  
• Planting Seeds of Joy and Light Mix  

To download the PDF file for this chant, click Planting Seeds of Joy and Light PDF. For the musical notation, see The Magic of Hebrew Chant, page 278.

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

V’nahal Adonecha tashkayn
Ki Imcha m’kor Chayyim. B’orech niray or


And from the River of Your bliss you will give them drink.
For with you is the Source of Life, In Your Light we see light. (Psalm 36:9-10)

The spiritual practice that I return to again and again is cultivating an awareness of that river which is constantly and continually flowing into me from the Source. The best way that I’ve found to drink from that River of Bliss, is to bring my attention to the breath.

I use my imagination to attune to the Reality of the Divine flow which is pouring in to this world. I imagine that river as Light pouring in through the breath. When I am fully bathed in that Supernal Light, then I am able to perceive that light everywhere. On the inhale, I drink from the River of Bliss. On the exhale, I spread this awareness into the world, sharing the Light.

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.

• River of Bliss 1  
• River of Bliss 2  
• River of Bliss Mix  

To download the PDF file for this chant, click River of Bliss PDF. For the musical notation, see The Magic of Hebrew Chant, page 276.

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

Ahavti ki yishma Adonai et koli tachanunai

I Love, because God hears my voice, my supplications. (Psalm 116:1)
[Click (or tap) to see the entire Psalm 116 in Hebrew and English (JPS 1985).]

How do I become a lover? How can I grow my love? This mysterious and powerful phrase from this Psalm begins with the word “ahavti” I love… but it doesn’t tell us the object of that love. I interpret this to mean that what will follow is the prerequisite for becoming a lover. When I feel perfectly heard, when my voice is received and my yearnings are acknowledged, then something in my straining heart relaxes. When I let go of the struggle to be heard, then my heart becomes spacious, open and responsive.

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.

• Ahavti 1  
• Ahavti 2  
• Ahavti 3  
• Ahavti (mix)  

To download the PDF file for this chant, click Ahavti PDF.