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

Achat Shaalti, traditional Ashkenazi tune by S Mernick

Karov

We Are Good, We Are Flawed, by Batya Levine

This is one (of many) phrases that is said to someone who is in mourning in the Jewish tradition.  And after experiencing personal and communal loss in the last few weeks, these words have been swirling around me. With help from the ancestors, this song came through. --kbf

words to the song:
המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים
HaMakom yenachem et'chem 
b'toch shar avay'lay 
Tzion vee'Yerushalayim.
May you be comforted 

May you be comforted with the mourners of Tzion
And the mourners of Yerushalayim
May you be comforted with mourners everywhere
May you be comforted

****The artwork, which features cloves, salt, tulip petals, straw flowers, glitter, sand dollar, a melach card, and the hebrew words "HaMakom yenachem et'chem" was lovingly created by Rachel Kipnes

Hamakom Yenachem Etchem | May You Be Comforted

אלהי נשמה שנתתה בי
טהורה היא

Elohai neshamah shenatatah bee 
tehorah hee 

"God, the soul that You have given me is pure."

From "Avodat Lev: Service of the Heart" by members of the ADAMAH Fellowship. Buy it here: http://isabellafreedman.org/store/avodat-lev:-service-of-the-heart-(cd)-adamah/dp/4798

Co-produced by Shir Yaakov Feit and Kassia Arbabi.



Elohai Neshama by Rabbi Shefa Gold - אלהי נשמה

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

Original song ©Shireen Amini. This is a song created for sharing freely in community.  If you perform or record the song for income,  contact Shireen for permission. Please support the composer's forthcoming studio release of this song!  https://shireenamini.com/

This is a song about taking in support from others in our times of need. Inspired by Resmaa Menakem’s iconic book My Grandmother’s Hands, I first learned this song from Shireen at Song Village in 2022 where I remember my heart opening so wide I just wept in the loving arms of our big, singing community.

Recorded by Lisa Littlebird for Wholehearted Chorus on guitar and vocals with permission from the composer.  Male voice in vocals generated with ConvertKit AI.

For more information: https://thebirdsings.com/gather-your-resilience/

Gather Your Resilience by Shireen Amini - ALL PARTS

Ufros, Text from Evening Prayerbook Liturgy, melody by Shir Meira Feit 
וּפְרוֹשׂ עָלֵינוּ סֻכַּת שְׁלוֹמֶךָ וְתַקְּנֵנוּ בְּעֵצָה טוֹבָה מִלְּפָנֶיךָ וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ

U·fros a·lei·nu su·kat she·lo·me·cha
Ve·tak·nei·nu be·ei·tzah to·vah mil·fa·ne·cha ve·ho·shi·ei·nu

Spread over us the shelter of Your peace and guide us to better ourselves through Your good counsel.

Ufros - Shir Meira Feit

Diner Pines

Tehom Nigun by Mónica Gomery

Chai Ani by Dovid Zeller

This is a chant grounded in the resilience, courage, and hope of our Jewish ancestors, reminding us that when we fight for life and for justice, we are weaving ourselves with all justice-fighters who came before us. No fight is too big for our fierce and courageous hearts. 

As the story goes: In 1939, Nazis surrounded a group of Jews from Lublin, Poland, backed up against barbed wire and ordered them to sing to their own execution. One man began to sing: "Mir veln zey iberlebn, iberlebn, iberlebn” —"We will outlive them.” The song took hold among the entire people, who, as they awaited their deaths, began to dance. They danced with joy, with resilience, with a life that could not be destroyed by fascism, militarism, or genocide. The commander saw this resilience. He recognized their defiance. They continued, even as the SS troops charged at them. Most lost their lives that day. And some lived to tell this story. We are here. We will outlive them. We will join forces and voices with others to fight so we can all outlive them, together (thank you, Jews for Racial & Economic Justice!). 

Vocals: Avra Shapiro
Melody: Avra Shapiro
Arrangement: Avra Shapiro & Nadav Simon 
Bass: Matt Coglianese
Drums: Nadav Simon
Violin: Mallory Linehan
Production and Mixing: Nadav Simon
Mastering: Steve Marek 
Recorded and Mastered at Cybernetic Meadow
Art by Micah Bazant (poster can be bought here: https://www.micahbazant.com/buy-art/we-will-outlive-them).

Mir Veln Zey Iberlebn

Yedid Nefesh (fka Avra K'Davra)

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