Cover of by Arik Labowitz

From Psalm 27, traditionally recited daily in the month of Elul leading up to the Jewish new year.

לׅׄוּׅׄלֵׅ֗ׄאׅׄ הֶ֭אֱמַנְתִּי לִרְא֥וֹת בְּֽטוּב־יְהֹוָ֗ה בְּאֶ֣רֶץ חַיִּֽים
קַוֵּ֗ה אֶל־יְ֫הֹוָ֥ה חֲ֭זַק וְיַאֲמֵ֣ץ לִבֶּ֑ךָ

Lulei hemanti lirot b'tuv HaShem b'eretz chayim
Kaveh el HaShem, chazak v'ya'ametz lib'cha
-Excerpt of Psalm 27:13-14

Oh how I trusted that I would see G-d's good in this living land
Open to the one, may your heart stay open to the one

Lulei He'emanti by Arik Labowitz (cover)

Sung with Rachel Chang (guitar + vox)

Lyrics:

I’ve been trying to soften to this life
to let it touch me
'cause I know the fear that braces me is very old
but in my blood I feel the thrum of my ancestors on the run 
and boy sometimes it’s hard to tell it’s not today

But I would like to trust
I would like to believe I’m safe
I would like to let my body lead the way

I’ve been trying to open to this moment,
let it unfold 
cause I know the shame that narrows me is very old
but theres a child in my mind who loved and then got left behind
and boy sometimes it’s hard to tell it’s not today

But I would like to trust 
I would like to believe I’m safe
I would like to let intuition lead the way

May I let the cosmic ocean of love buoy me up
May I let the cosmic ocean of love wash over me
Da da daaaa…. 

Cause I would  like to trust 
I would like to believe I’m safe
I would like to let my body lead the way
I would like to trust 
I would like to believe I’m safe
I would like to let intuition lead the way

I Would Like To Trust

Oseh Shalom
recorded by Nomi Lerman, Batya Levine & Margot Seigle
tune by Nava Tehila

Oseh shalom bimromav 
Hu ya'aseh shalom aleinu 
V'al kol Yisrael 
V'imru, v'imru amen.

SIVAN - Oseh Shalom

I wrote this song inspired by this quote from the Apocrypha, Book of Enoch (9:7) “The angels taught the daughters of men incantations, exorcisms, the cutting of roots, and revealed to them healing plants.”

The angels revealed to us healing plants (x2)
The angels taught the daughters the cutting of roots (x2)

Erez v'ezov
Levanah v'rimon
Shaked v'tamar
peygam v'shoom

Cedar and hyssop
frankincense and pomegrante
almond and date palm
rue and garlic

 I love this quote because it speaks to knowledge acquired through direct transmission, through relationship, specifically to “the daughters of men” (which we know means anyone without access to institutional power/gender non-conforming/trans/femmes) –  people who are identified by who they belong to and who are clearly transgressing by hanging out with and learning from angels.  It also suggests that this knowledge is always/still available to us; that even though it can feel like the healing wisdom and practices of our ancestors have been lost or purposely hidden from us,  we can access this knowledge by connecting with “angels.” Who are these angels who reveal and teach this stuff (and can I follow them on instagram and take a workshop?) I don’t know, but in my dreams sometimes they are the trees and flowers themselves, generously sharing their magic and beauty everywhere we look. (fyi, originally, in the Apocrypha, this was not actually a celebration of learning about healing from angels as you can imagine!)

you can read more about jewish plant magic here: https://dorimidnight.com/resources/jewish-plant-magic-rooting-in-resources/?fbclid=IwAR1edzpNKBZMTcivRU6TsePiQuoUGNrzxBMsButomfTNbErAHO2D1aqQc3A

Erez V'ezov

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: Unknown
I learned at Adamah (Jewish Farming Fellowship) in 2014 from Margot Seigle.

Sung at a song circle on March 16, 2019 on Chinook land/Portland, OR.

Part 1:
River take me away
Away to the ocean

Part 2:
Take, take me away
Carry me away on your current

Part 3:
Won't you please take me away
To the ocean, oh river

River Take Me Away (Unknown)

Artist: Unknown
I learned at Adamah (Jewish Farming Fellowship) in 2014. The song was brought to the Isabella Freedman community from Cara Michelle Silverberg who learned it at The Art of Mentoring (a workshop from the Vermont Awareness School). **please correct me if I'm wrong about any of this info!

Sung at a song circle on April 13, 2019 on Chinook land/Portland, OR.

Part 1:
Learn to live your life with all your heart, and
All your soul and all your mind, and
Love all humankind as you would love yourself

Part 2:
Learn to live your life
With all your heart
And all your soul and mind and 
Love all humankind

Part 3:
We've got happy lives to live
We've got open arms to give
We've got hope down deep inside
Because in love we do reside

Learn To Live Your Life (Unknown)

Artist: Aly Halpert

Sung at a song circle on June 22, 2019 on Chinook land/Portland, OR.

Part 1:
Loosen, loosen, baby
You don't have to carry
The weight of the world in your muscles and bones
Let go, let go, let go

Part 2:
Holy breath, and holy name
Will you ease, will you ease this pain

Loosen, Loosen (Aly Halpert)

Music: Orion Johnstone and Nehemiah Luckett
Lyrics: Based on the quote from Aboriginal activists in the 1970's:
"If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come because your liberation is bound in mine, then let us work together." 

I learned from Orion and Nehemiah when they were in Portland leading workshops in spring 2019. They wrote the song on Mt. Tabor in Portland that week. (PS the picture for this track was taken on Mt. Tabor!)

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

Part 1:
Then let us work together
Let us work together
O-o-o-oh
Let us work together

Part 2:
If you have come here to help me
You are wasting your time
O-o-oh
Let us work together

Part 3:
Let us work together
If you have come
Because your liberation is bound in mine
Let us work together

Let Us Work Together (Music: Orion Johnstone and Nehemiah Luckett, Lyrics: Aboriginal Activists)

Artist: Scott Kalechstein Grace
I learned from the IfNotNow soundcloud!

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

Lyrics:
I'm gonna let life move me
I'm gonna let life stir me deep
I'm gonna let life wake me from an ancient sleep
I'm gonna laugh all my laughter
I'm gonna cry all my tears
I'm gonna love the rain as deeply as the sun when it clears

Gonna Let Life Move Me (Scott Kalechstein Grace)

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.

Learn To Live Your Life (Unknown)

Ary Solomon

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