This I know: 
That my body is a vessel for the song
Let the drum beat through me
Let the great bells ring through me
Sing through me

Vessel for the Song

threshold

we are good.
we are flawed.
we are the breath of an imperfect god.

returning to self. returning to source.
god is change. god is growth. the process, in all it's beauty and all it's mess, is god.

collage art by Chani Nicholas

we are good we are flawed

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)

Artist: Peter McKenna
I learned it from Adamah (Jewish Farming Fellowship) in 2014. 

Sung at a song circle on January 1, 2019 on Chinook land/Portland, OR.

Part 1:
There is so much magnificence in the ocean
The waves are comin' in
Waves are comin' in

Part 2:
Wash me away
So that all that's left is love
Great Spirit

Part 3:
Hallelujah
Hallelujah

Part 4:
Hallelu, Hallelujah (x3)

Magnificence (Peter McKenna)

Artist: Thee Silver Mount Zion Memorial Orchestra and Tra-La-La Band 
I learned at Adamah (Jewish Farming Fellowship) in 2014.

Sung at a song circle on January 1, 2019 on Chinook land/Portland, OR.

Lyrics:
When the world is sick
Can't no one be well
But I dreamt we were all beautiful and strong

When The World Is Sick (Thee Silver Mount Zion Memorial Orchestra and Tra-La-La Band)

Music: Miriam Margles
Words: Ary Solomon
I learned at Hava Nashira (singing retreat at OSRUI in Wisconsin) from Noam Katz. Original words are in Hebrew (zeh hayom asah adonai nagilah v'nis'm'cha vo) and have been changed (not a translation).

Sung at a song circle on July 20, 2019 on Chinook land/Portland, OR.

Lyrics:
Raise your eyes look up to the sky
Feel the rain as it falls down

*Note: I originally thought the music was by Noam Katz - thank you Baci Weiler for the correction!

Raise Your Eyes (Music: Miriam Margles, Lyrics: Ary Solomon)

Written in 2003 for a dear friend's wedding, it has since then, been sung for baby blessings, funerals, at the closing of groups, and even at other people's weddings.

Hold You in Our Circle

Artist: Sol Weiss

I learned this song from Sol at Let My People Sing 2019. They taught it during the trans/non-binary/queer mikveh just before we all jumped in.

Sung at a song circle on September 15, 2019 on Chinook land/Portland, OR.

Lyrics:
Great waters, great waters
Pour over me
For I am your child
Make me yours again

(Second verse:
Great waters, great waters
Pour over me
Heal my broken places
Make me whole again)

**Photo credit: Sarah Snyder!

Great Waters (Sol Weiss)

Artist: Miner
I learned this song at Let My People Sing 2019.

Sung at a song circle on September 15, 2019 on Chinook land/Portland, OR.

Part 1:
Let the wave wash over me
Let the wave wash over me
I am already under
Let the wave wash over me

Part 2:
There will be better days

**Photo credit: Sarah Snyder!

Let The Wave (Miner)

Sung with chickens at Linke Fligl, 10/1/20
http://linkefligl.com/

Great Waters (Sol Weiss)

Ary Solomon

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