As we resist this racist system
We will persist with courage in our hearts
And as we build, build, build with each other ---we will grow and we will thrive 

As we resist this racist system
Tho we persist with rage in our hearts
Oh we will breathe, breathe, breathe with each other -- and we’ll remember, we are still alive

As we resist this racist system
We will persist with joy in our hearts
And as we build, build, build with each other --- we’ll let truth and justice be our guide

As we resist this racist system
Tho we persist with grief in our hearts
Oh we will breathe, breathe, breathe with each other --- and we’ll remember, we are still alive


Lyrics and music: Koach Baruch Frazier | Vocals: Koach Baruch Frazier and Batya Levine

As We Resist

sung by R' Mónica Gomery, Batya Levine, and Ilana Lerman

Achat Shaalti, traditional Ashkenazi tune by S Mernick

Nishmat Kol Chai - Joey Weisenberg And The Hadar Ensemble

romemu | aly halpert and molly bajgot

For Pittsburgh and Squirrel Hill. In service of our healing and collective freedom in the midst of intense white nationalist violence in the form of transphobia, racism, sexism, and anti-semitism.  As a reminder that more police and "security" do not make us safer, especially for those of us who hold multiple targeted identities.  We will only win when we are all together.

Lyrics:
we are a beautiful people
though our hearts are broken
we sing for justice, and wholeness

we are a beautiful people
though our hearts are broken
we know that we are not alone
right here we are home

you have taken a universe
you have taken a mountain
our voices echo in the hills

they will not divide us
we will not abide this
we know that together we'll be free
mourning tragedy
our safety is with each other

we are a beautiful people
though our hearts are broken
we sing for justice, and wholeness

we are a beautiful people
though our hearts are broken
we know that we are not alone
right here we are home

toch emunei am segulah (repeated)

hebrew translation: 
from lecha dodi, a prayer greeting shabbes:
among those who hold faith, a treasured nation

gratitude to Chana Rusanov for hebrew lyrics and translation.
gratitude for Rachel Beck for leading me on my own journey against anti-semitism for seven years now
gratitude for Dove Kent, JFREJ, and so so many other brilliant teachers leading us towards solidarity
gratitude for our allies who take the time and effort to see the realities of systemic anti-semitism
gratitude for life, for existence, and the capacity to heal.

Aly Halpert's Album

Beautiful People (Toch Emunei)

Ein Od Milvado

Modah/Modeh Ani is a prayer said upon waking up in amazement that the spirit has returned from the dream world to the body! There are so many beautiful and joyful melodies for this prayer, but sometimes waking up and discovering oneself alive, while beautiful, is also kind of eerie and bizarre. Here's my slightly emo Modah Ani for you to try out when the right moment hits <3 

I thank you, vital and present Ruler/Spirit of the Universe, for you returned my spirit to me with compassion. Your faithfulness is abundant. 

מודה אני לפניך מלך חי וקיים, שהחזרת בי נשמתי בחמלה, רבה אמונתך
מודה אני לפניך רוח חי וקיימת שהחזרת בי נשמתי בחמלה רבה אמונתיך

Modah/Modeh ani lefanekha/lefanayikh, Ruach/Melech chai v'Kayam/Kayemet, shehekhezart/a bi nishmati b'chemla raba emunatekha/emunatayikh.

Modah Ani (in Existential Dread)aka Emo-dah Ani

Melody derived from the Ashkenazi trop (cantillation) for Eicha (the text we read on Tisha b'Av, a Jewish day of mourning)

Hebrew text from opening phrase of Eicha (sung in Ashkenazi trop, with Ashkenazi pronunciation)
אֵיכָה יָשְׁבָה בָדָד, הָעִיר רַבָּתִי עָם--הָיְתָה, כְּאַלְמָנָה
Eicha yashva vadad, ha'ir rabasi am haysa k'almanah
[Translation: How is she sitting alone, the city who was once full of her people, how she is like a widow]

Oh weary one, lay your head down and rest your aching bones on the ground
Oh fearful one, lay your head down and let your body breathe on the ground
Oh hopeless one, lay your head down and rest your heavy heart on the ground
Oh yearning one, lay your head down and sing your song into the ground
Oh rageful one, lay your head down and let your tears flow into the ground
Oh weary one, lay your head down and rest your aching bones on the ground
Oh ANCIENT ONE, as we lay our heads down, please lay with us on the ground

Artwork from 14 Century German Book of Eicha

Yashva Vadad // Oh Weary One (a mourning lullabye for the weary)

Mi Chamocha 
Traditional Indian Melody
Arranged and Produced by Shir Yaakov Feit
Recorded by Sol Weiss, Margot Seigle & Aly Halpert

מִ י כָ מכָ ה בָ אֵ לִ ים ה'. מִ י כָ מכָ ה נֶאְ דָ ר בַ ּקדֶ ׁש. נורָ א תְ הִ ּלות
עשה פֶ לֶ א מַ לְ כּותְ ָך רָ אּו בָ נֶיָך. ּבוקֵ עַ יָם לִ פְ נֵי משֶ ה. זֶה אֵ לִ י
עָ נּו וְ אָ מְ רּו יְהֹוָ ה יִמְ לְך לְ עלָ ם וָ עֶ ד וְ נֶאֱ מַ ר. כ ִ י פָ דָ ה ה' אֶ ת
יַ עֲ קב. ּוגְ אָ לו מִ יַ ד חָ זָק מִ מֶ ּנּו בָ רּוְך אַ תָ ה יְהֹוָ ה גָ אַ ל יִ שרָ אֵ ל

Mi chamocha baeilim Adonai. Mi kamocha ne’dar bakodesh. Nora t’hilot
osei fele. Malchut’cha rau vanecha, bokeia yam lifnei Moshe, zeh eili anu
v’am’ru: Adonai yimloch l’olam va’ed. V’ne’e-mar: Ki fada Adonai et
Ya’akov, u’g’alo miyad chazak mimenu. Baruch atah Adonai, ga’al yisrael.

Who is like you, Adonai, among all powers of the world? Who
is like you, glorious in holiness, Awesome in praises, doing
wonders? You redeem the one who wrestles, and make us whole
in the face of what overwhelms

Mi Chamocha - Shir Yaakov

Our Power

Grateful for this little melody coming to me from the pages of my siddur one summer morning.

Ma tovu ohalecha Yaakov, mishk’notecha Yisrael
How lovely are your tents [people of] Jacob; your sanctuaries [people of] Israel.

Nishmat Kol Chai - Joey Weisenberg And The Hadar Ensemble

Ramah Darom Musica