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Light is Returning - by Charlie Murphy, 1980s Pagan songwriter
Light is returning,
even though this is the darkest hour.
No one can hold back,
the dawn.

Light Is Returning

Inspired by nomadic years, the wisdom of the body and nervous system, change, Somatic Reality: Bodily Experience and Emotional Truth by Stanley Kelemen, the Kohenet Hebrew Priestess community, and the Judaism of my ancestors. Received to the tune of Avinu Malkeinu, a traditional Jewish High Holidays prayer.

Deep gratitude to my teachers, community and bright and well ancestors: Taya Shere, Rabbi Jill Hammer, Ibrahim Baba, my parents, Zaide, Grandpa, the Romanian women, Kohenet and so many more. Thank you.

Lyrics:
Slow down, child, slow down
Slow down and listen to the wind
All comes together; all falls apart
Forming anew your beating heart

Slow down, child, slow down
Slow down and draw yourself near
The rocks are your keepers
Tell them your stories
Now it is safe to be here

A river flows from within you to where you will go
The current carries you home
Let your life unfold

Slow down, child, slow down
Slow down and you will receive
Life wants to meet you where you are
Not where you think you should be

A river flows from within you to where you will go
The current carries you home
Let your life unfold

Slow down, child, slow down
Slow down and you will be shown
The love that was always lifting you up
You are never alone

A river flows from within you to where you will go
The current carries you home
Let your life unfold

Slow down child, slow down (x4)

Slow down, child, slow down
Slow down and listen to the wind
All comes together; all falls apart
Forming anew your beating heart

Slow Down / The Mother's Response (Preview)

Yismechu v'malchuscha shomrei shabbos v'korei oneg

They will delight in your all empowering sovereignty - those who tend and care for shabbos and call it a joyous celebration
(translation by batya)

Vocals - Batya Levine
Percussion - Simcha Halpert-Hanson

Yismechu - Batya Levine

Tu Bshvat Nign (akon) [with B part]

Written on a summer morning at Eden Village Camp, sung by Aly Halpert, Anat Hochberg, Ilan Korman, & Leah Shoshana Cowen, recorded on an iphone voice memo.

original text:
modah/modeh ani l'fanecha, ruach chai v'kayam 
(I am grateful before you, eternal living spirit)

additional english lyrics:
I was made for this morning
I was made to be here
All the life inside me is a gift
so we may heal

I was made for this morning
I was made to be here
All the life around me is a gift
so I may heal

Modah Ani (Voice Memo Recording)

Yismechu, words from Shabbat liturgy, melody by Batya Levine sung at Let My People Sing! 2018.

(Sung & transliterated in Ashkenazi pronunciation of Hebrew)
Yismechu b'malchuscha shoimrei shabbos v'korei oneg

Translation: They will rejoice in your Sovreignty/Interconnected-Reality, those who guard/honor/keep sacred shabbat and call it a true celebration.

LMPS 2018

Yismechu - Batya Levine - LMPS 2018

Daily praise song that celebrates all who live in the home of the divine (our sacred planet). Words from tradition, music by Aly Halpert. Creative consultation from Batya Levine.

Written for Linke Fligl, a queer Jewish chicken farm and cultural project in Millerton, NY, for their Sukkot gathering, 5779. (linkefligl.com)

Lyrics 
Hebrew(from traditional Jewish services)
Ashrei yoshvei veitecha, od y'hallelucha, selah!

English (by Aly Halpert)
I sing for you
I sing for what is holy and is true
I sing for all creation, for life and liberation
Everyday anew

Aly Halpert's Album

Ashrei

brich rachamana malka d'alma mar'ei d'hai pita
thank you, thank you, 
thank you for this beautiful food, 
may it nourish us to build a world that's whole.
*a close translation of the aramaic: blessed is the merciful one, sovereign of the world, creator of this bread.*
**art (woodburned challah board) by batya levine**

Brich Rachamana (aftermeal blessing)

Farr Nigun

Blessed Motion - 7:2:19, 11.01 PM

Niggun Simcha/Anim Zemirot/Yifrach Beyomov - Chabad melody

Vahaviotim Niggun - composer unknown

Galeh

Sosne Nign by Jonah Meadows Adels z''l (recorded by Hebrew College)

Tune: an adaptation of the song 'Galeh' by Moshe Shur
Concept from Joseph Berman, Words by Joseph Berman & Batya Levine for the Neilah service on Yom Kippur

Open, open up the gates for 
All who gather here
Open up the gates for
all who seek your presence

Open, open up the gates of
Kindness and compassion
Open up the gates of
Wholeness and peace 
 
Open, open up the gates of 
Freedom and justice
Open up the gates of
Liberation

Open, open up the gates of
Change and release
Open up the gates of 
Transformation

Open, open up the gates of 
Healing and forgiveness 
Open up the gates of
Reconciliation

Open, open up the gates of
Listening and patience 
Open up the gates of 
Humility 

Open, open up the gates of 
Prayer and wisdom 
Open up the gates of
Intuition

Open, open up the gates of 
Equity and honor
Open up the gates of
Dignity
 
Open, open up the gates of
Torah and blessing
Open up the gates of
Gratitude and learning 

Open, open up the gates of
Love and connection
Open up the gates of 
Giving and receiving

Open, open up the gates of 
Trust and pleasure
Open up the gates of
Abundance

Open, open up the gates of    
Joy and resilience 
Open up the gates of 
Liberation

Open Up the Gates - Melody: 'Galeh' by Moshe Shur// english words by Joseph Berman & Batya Levine

Poem by Lila Serene, translated by Lila & her mom Ana Goldenberg.
Melody by Margot Seigle
Recorded on the 24th of Iyar 5780 // Netzach shebe Yesod 
Yiddish pronunciation support from Noam Lerman 

This poem is about trusting the babies choosing to be conceived and born in this pandemic to be bringing with them the gifts and wisdom that are most needed.

naye lebn

dayne 
zise oygn farshpreyt
fris tsit fun eybikeyt arop
greyt, hungeric
oysgisn bagleybtkyte azoy vi honic dekn mid harts 
onton a bissle fargenign azoy vi vesne regn 
gebakt in der shmek fun frish likht
du bist punkt genoy gekumen aher 
biz a hor ven du kumft iz der merste veytikeyt
un ich tsuher zich 
hent aroysraysn tfilin fun lipn farstitert 
doziker beyner fartriknt megn beygn gehnuk niderik
kushn dos erd gehnuk tsertlekh
zayn bagrisn ba der mikdesh
fun vos du host gekumen aher tsulernen.

translation: 

new life.

Your 
Wide sweet eyes 
Fresh plucked from eternity 
Ready hungry 
pouring trust like syrup over tired hearts 
a sprinkling of joy like spring rain steeped in the scent of fresh light 
you are right on time
right when you're needed most 
and I am listening
palms pressing prayers through trembling lips
may these drying bones bend low enough 
to kiss this earth gently enough 
to be received at the altar 
of what you've come here to teach.

Naye Lebn

Ladino Lullaby first sung to me by my father, David Migel Eyal Chai z'l.



Durme, durme hermosa donzella
durme, durme sin ansia y dolor

Heq tu amante (que) tanto dezea
ver tu sueño con grande amor

Hay dos años que sufre mi alma
por ti, joya, mi linda dama

Siente, siente al son de mi guitarra
siente, hermosa, mis males cantar

Sleep now, beautiful maiden.
Sleep with neither anxiety nor pain.

I am your lover, wishing only to see you dream,
watching with great love.

For two years my soul has suffered
For you, my jewel, my beautiful lady

Listen, song of my guitar
Listen, my lady, to my sad song

Sleep now, beautiful maiden.
Sleep with neither anxiety nor pain.

Durme Durme with Arielle Rivera Korman and Noam Lerman

"Loosen" album: https://alyhalpert.bandcamp.com/album/loosen
For more: https://alyhalpert.com

Aly writes songs for community, collective liberation, & visioning different worlds. 

For contact, email akhalpert @ gmail.com

Modah Ani (Voice Memo Recording)

Aly Halpert

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