עוֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם בִּמְרוֹמָיו הוּא יַעֲשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם עָלֵינוּ 
וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל וְעַל כָּל יוֺשְׁבֵי תֵבֶל
וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן

Oseh shalom bimromav
hu ya'aseh shalom aleinu
v'al kol yisrael v'al kol yoshvei tevel 
v'imru: amen

May the one who makes peace/wholeness on high bring peace/wholeness to us and to all of Yisrael (those who wrestle with G!d/Hashem/the Divine/Spirit)and to all the peoples of the earth. 
And we say: Amen

Oseh Shalom

Breathe breathe breathe in 
Breathe breathe out

Let it go, let it go, let it go

Trust in what's coming
Trust in your knowing
It's deeper and wider and holy


special thanks to Jess & Dan Pelberg Berlin for lighting the spark to find this song in me

Breathe

Traditional Breslov melody for a zemer, that is sung after havdallah. This song will be recorded on Batya's upcoming album.

This version is an unreleased recording from a project called "Frum Where" songs of love and yearning for Hashem from my upbringing. This project is near and dear to my heart, and it will be a 3 volume release of 27 songs sung by a small group of all queer and trans, ex-orthodox and raised-orthodox folks. This project is still in process and will be released in the future, b'sha'ah tova.

Vocals & Guitar by Batya Levine
Mixing & Mastering support from Don Godwin

בְּמוֹצָאֵי יוֹם מְנוּחָה, הַמְצֵא לְעַמְּךָ רְוָחָה
שְׁלַח תִּשְׁבִּי לְנֶאֱנָחָה, וְנָס יָגוֹן וַאֲנָחָה
יָאֲתָה לְךָ צוּרִי, לְקַבֵּץ עַם מְפֻזָּרִי
מִיַּד גּוֹי אַכְזָרִי, אֲשֶׁר כָּרָה לִי שׁוּחָה
עֵת דּוֹדִים תְּעוֹרֵר אֵל, לְמַלֵּט עַם אֲשֶׁר שׁוֹאֵל
רְאוֹת טוּבְךָ בְּבוֹא גוֹאֵל, לְשֶׂה פְזוּרָה וְנִדָּחָה
קְרָא יֶשַׁע לְעַם נְדָבָה, אֵל דָּגוּל מֵרְבָבָה
יְהִי שָׁבוּעַ הַבָּא, לִישׁוּעָה וְלִרְוָחָה
בַּת צִיּוֹן הַשְּׁכוּלָה, אֲשֶׁר הִיא הַיּוֹם גְּעוּלָה
עַתָּה תִּהְיֶה בְעוּלָה, אֵם הַבָּנִים שְׂמֵחָה
מַעְיָנוֹת אֲזַי יְזוּבוּן, וּפְדוּיֵי ה’ יְשׁוּבוּן
וּמֵי יֵשַׁע יִשְׁאֲבוּן, וְהַצָּרָה נִשְׁכָּחָה
נְחֵה עַמְּךָ כְּאָב רַחֲמָן, יְצַפְצְפוּ עַם לֹא אַלְמָן
דְּבַר ה’ אֲשֶׁר נֶאֱמָן, בַּהֲקִימְךָ הַבְטָחָה
וִידִידִים פְּלֵיטֵי חֶרֶץ, נְגִינָתָם יִפְצְחוּ בְמֶרֶץ
בְּלִי צְוָחָה וּבְלִי פֶרֶץ, אֵין יוֹצֵאת וְאֵין צְוָחָה
יְהִי הַחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה, כִּנְבוּאַת אֲבִי חוֹזֶה
וְיִשָּׁמַע בְּבַיִת זֶה, קוֹל שָׂשׂוֹן וְקוֹל שִׂמְחָה
חָזָק יְמַלֵּא מִשְׁאֲלוֹתֵינוּ, אַמִּיץ יַעֲשֶׂה בַּקָּשָׁתֵנוּ
וְהוּא יִשְׁלַח בְּמַעֲשֵׂה יָדֵינוּ, בְּרָכָה וְהַצְלָחָה
בְּמוֹצָאֵי יוֹם גִּילָה, שִׁמְךָ נּוֹרָא עֲלִילָה
שְׁלַח תִּשְׁבִּי לְעַם סְגֻלָּה, רֶוַח שָׂשׂוֹן וַהֲנָחָה
קוֹל צָהֳלָה וְרִנָּה, שְׂפָתֵינוּ אָז תְּרַנֵּנָה
!אָנָּא ה’ הוֹשִׁיעָה נָא! אָנָּא ה’ הַצְלִיחָה נָא

B’motza’ei yom menucha hamtzei l’amcha r’vachah, shlach tishbi l’ne’enacha, v’nas yagon va’anacha. 
Ya’atah l’cha tzuri, l’kabeitz am m’fuzari, miyad goy achzari, asher karah li shuchah.
Eit dodim t’oreir eil, l’maleit am asher sho’eil, r’ot tuvcha b’vo goel, l’seh f’zurah nidachah.
K’ra yesha l’am n’davah, el dagul meirvavah, y’hi ha’shavua haba, l’yishua v’lirvachah. 
Bat tzion hashe’chulah, asher hi hayom g’ulah, meheira tih’yeh v’ulah, b’eim habanim smeicha.
Ma’ayanot azai y’zuvun, u’fduyei adonai y’shuvun, u’mei yeisha yish’avun, v’hatzara nishkachah.
N’cheih amcha k’av rachaman, y’tzaftzifu am lo alman, d’var adonai asher ne’eman, v’hakimcha havtacha.
Vi’didim p’leitei cheretz, niginatam yiftzichu b’meretz, b’li tz’vachah u’vli ferrets, ein yotzeit v’ein tz’vachah.
Y’hi hachodesh hazeh, kinvu’at avi chozeh, v’yishama b’vayit zeh kol sason v’kol simchah. 
Chazak y’malei mish’aloteinu, amitz ya’aseh vakashateinu, v’hu yishlach b’ma’aseih yadeinu bracha v’hatzlachah.
B’motza’ei yom gilah, shimcha nora alilah, sh’lach tishbi l’am segulah revach sason va’hanacha.
Kol tzahala v’rinah, s’fateinu az tirnana. Ana adonai hoshi’a na! Ana adonai hatzlichah na!

B'motzaei Yom Menucha - Breslov Melody, sung after Havdalah

recording of Od Yenuvun by Hannah Shefsky & Batya Levine, sung at the Saturday night participatory concert of Let My People Sing!

Od Yenuvun - Hannah Shefsky & Batya Levine (sung live at Let My People Sing!)

original recording, written by Hannah & Batya

Vocals - Hannah & Batya
Guitar - Hannah

Od Yenuvun - Hannah Shefsky & Batya Levine

Tarona - Noam Lerman & Batya Levine  (live from Let My People Sing!)

chochmot bachutz tarona
ba'richovot ti'teyn kola

oh wisdom, oh wisdom cries out in the streets
our voices fill the air

Written by Noam & Batya
Vocals - Noam Lerman, Batya Levine, Ilana Lerman, Mónica Gomery & Margot Seigel (core team of Let My People Sing!)

Tarona - Noam Lerman & Batya Levine

Vocals - Batya Levine
Percussion - Simcha Halpert-Hanson

I'm Gonna Get Through  - Batya Levine

Vocals - Batya Levine
Percussion - Simcha Halpert Hanson

Nechama - Batya Levine

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

Art by Brandon Boyd in Support of Standing Rock

Voice Memos

May I Be Empty/Full

Tu B'shvat Nign

Tu Bshvat Nign (akon) [with B part]

*for all the tender hearts <333*

hey, you're doin okay
it's gonna take time
it's gonna take time

the heart is a muscle contracting, expanding
feel the waves and learn the lessons
time, it's gonna take time

artwork by Tobe Fonseca

Lessons of the Heart

let the rain soak soak soak your clothes
let the rain seep seep into your bones
let the rain drench drench drench your soul
let it in

*with the help of a bat and an egret and the pond in a powerful summer storm*

storm song

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

Words from Friday night liturgy in Kabbalat Shabbat, when we welcome in the Shabbos Quing

Art by Danny Ferrell 
*depicting queers as royalty*
http://www.papermag.com/danny-ferrell-queer-royalty-2547954079.html

Lecha Dodi - Greeting the Shabbos Quing

singing resilience into beloveds - our selves, our loves, our communities, our interconnection

ani l'dodi v'dodi li
ha'ro'eh ba'shoshananim (bashoshanim ha'ro'eh)

source: song of songs 6:3
translation: I am to my beloved, and my beloved is to me, who shepherds in the roses

Ani Ldodi

asher lo hayam

this is a fragment of a longer phrase "asher lo hayam v'hu asahu" from psalm 95, which roughly translates as "g!d is/is of/has the sea and g!d made it"

collage by chani nicholas
https://chaninicholas.com/horoscopes/

Asher Lo (by Matthew Goldfield & Batya Levine)

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

there is a concept in Jewish thought, that in a person's life, they need to have both hishtadlus and bitachon, learning to balance the two.

hishtadlus is personal effort, bitachon is trust.

this song is a tribute to the power and endurance it takes to do our own unique work in this lifetime.

photo by batya levine

Hishtadlus Nigun

You can purchase the Elul album, which was compiled, recorded & edited by Anat Hochberg & Matt Goldfield here:
https://elulmusicproject.bandcamp.com/releases
This album features a beautiful collection of original songs for Elul by various contemporary Jewish musicians.

This song came through in the forests of the Blue Hills, which is on the land of the Massachusett tribe. Sometimes it may seem that all of our leaves fall down, onto the forest floor, and our branches lie bare & exposed in the cold wind. Shedding tears and the things that no longer serve us, we are stripped down to our most basic selves. This leaves us vulnerable, and it naturally opens up a space for teshuva, a return to self. Because we are the water, earth, fire and wind, and we can call on these powers, to help us through.

LYRICS:
all the leaves have fallen down, have fallen down
all the leaves have fallen down, have fallen down

i am the water, earth, fire & wind
dig deep my roots and return again
i am the water, earth, fire & wind
return again

CREDITS:
from Elul: Songs for Turning, released September 7, 2017
Batya Levine: vocals
Anat Hochberg: vocals
Micah Shapiro: djembe, vocals
Album Art: Roz Freeman

Elul: Songs for Turning

All The Leaves

Yah Echsof is a Chassidic song of longing sung on Friday night of Shabbos.
Recorded for a friend upon request for her birthday, and shared here for whomever may find it meaningful.
Artwork by Batya Levine


Translation (by Rabbi Zalman Schachter​-Shalomi):
Yah! How I long for 
the bliss of the Shabbat, united in secret ​
with Your own fervent wish. Give way to Your own 
deep desire to love us. 
May Sabbath in Torah 
be our sacred bliss. ​
Share​ Her with us 
who desire to please You- Our deep thirst for union 
be met with delight

Holy Presence
filli​ng all time and space! Keep safe who keep Shabbat in their longing all week.
Like a deer that seeks water by the banks of the river, ​
We seek Shabbat, the secret of Your sacred Name! 
Grant​ us all week long 
Her shimmerin​g Presence,​ So our hearts and our faith be pure service to You!

Warml​y embrace us 
with Your kind compassio​n, Quench quickly our thirst for Your unending Grace. Give us the bliss drink from Eden's own river. Your praises we sing with joy on our face.
Let Jacobs gift to us-
 ec​ho all week long Infusing our lives 
with a Shabbes-f​illed trace.

Hail Shabbat, delight
of our souls and our Spirits. Ecstasy life-thro​b 
am awed by Your love, Secure that Your caring grants safety and nurture- You feed us sweet nectar from Your Source above. As You embrace us 
with Mothering​ comfort-
In You I take refuge ​
and pledge You my love.

Yah Echsof - by Rebbe Aharon of Karlin

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

how can I ...

be a little more soft today
feel a little more connected today
get a little more grounded today
be a little more free today 
___ a little more ____ today

A part of the melody inspired by and based on "Faith's Hymn" by Beautiful Chorus

How Can I

This melody is for liturgy that praises the eternal attribute of lovingkindess. 
This recording shows two different places it can be used, in liturgy that shares this core message. The first is in Hallel (a praise section of liturgy reserved for holidays and new moons) and the second is found in Psukei D'zimra on Shabbat & Festivals (the consistant praise section of liturgy that has special additions on shabbos & holidays, such as this song!)

Hodu Ladonia from Hallel (added section of praise for holidays & new moon)

hodu ladonai ki tov ki l'olam chasdo(leader) 
hodu ladonai ki tov ki l'olam chasdo (congregation responds) 
yomar na yisrael ki l'olam chasdo (leader)
hodu ladonai ki tov ki l'olam chasdo (cong. responds) 
yomar na beit aharon ki l'olam chasdo (leader)
hodu ladonai ki tov ki l'olam chasdo (cong. responds) 
yomru na yirei adonai ki l'olam chasdo (leader)
hodu ladonai ki tov ki l'olam chasdo (cong. responds)

Translation:
LEADER: give gratitude to hashem (spirit/g!d/life force/etc.), because they are good, because their chesed (lovingkindness) is eternal 
CONGREGATION: give gratitude to hashem (spirit/g!d/life force/etc.), because they are good, because their chesed (lovingkindness) is eternal!
LEADER: let yisrael(our people/g?d wrestlers) please say: their chesed (lovingkindness)is eternal!
CONG: give gratitude to hashem (spirit/g!d/life force/etc.), because they are good, because their chesed (lovingkindness) is eternal!
LEADER: Let the house of Aharon (the priests/witches/magic weavers/spirit workers) please say: their chesed (lovingkindness)is eternal!
CONG: give gratitude to hashem (spirit/g!d/life force/etc.), because they are good, because their chesed (lovingkindness) is eternal!
LEADER: Let those who are in fear/awe of YHVH (existence/hashem/all time and space)please say: their chesed (lovingkindness)is eternal!
CONGREGATION: give gratitude to hashem (spirit/g!d/life force/etc.), because they are good, because their chesed (lovingkindness) is eternal!

Hodu Ladonai from Psukei D'zimra on Shabbat & Yom Tov (festivals)

hodu ladonai ki tov ki l'olam chasdo
hodu lei'lohei ha'elohim ki l'olam chasdo
hodu l'adonai ha'adonim ki l'olam chasdo
l'osai nifla'ot gedolot levado ki l'olam chasdo
l'osai ha'shamayim bi'tvunah ki l'olam chasdo
l'roka ha'aretz al ha'mayim ki l'olam chasdo
l'oseai orim gedolim ki l'olam chasdo
et ha'shemesh l'memshelet bayom ki l'olam chasdo
* [the liturgy continues, but this recording ends with these words, I've included the next line in the liturgy because they are liturgically linked, but there are more verses after that as well]
et ha'yareach v'kochavim l'memsilot ba'laila, ki l'olam chasdo 
(and it continues on...)

Translation: 
offer gratitude to YHVH (existance/g?d/life force...) because they are good, because their chesed (lovingkindness) is eternal
offer gratitude to the unifying power that is within all powers, because it's chesed (lovingkindness) is eternal
offer gratitude to the *boss* (in a positive sense of the word) of all bosses, because their chesed is eternal
to the one who is responsible for miracles and wonder, because their chesed is eternal
to the one weaves the heavens with understanding, because their chesed is eternal
to the spreading of earth over waters, because their chesed is eternal
to the former of great light/luminaries/illumination, because their chesed is eternal
the sun that reigns in the day,  because their chesed is eternal
[this song ends with the words above, but I included the next line because liturgically they go together]
the moon and stars that reign at night,  because their chesed is eternal


**** All translations are the way that I understand this liturgy, in which I strive to stay to true to the words, and include my own understanding of them ****

Hodu Ladonai (liturgy from Hallel & Shabbat/Yom Tov)

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)

I have a deeply reverent relationship with Birkas Kohanim and it feels *very* edgy for me to even make, let alone share a recording of it. This prayer feels too potent, too powerful, too real for internet listening. It's meant to be done in ritual, in person, in community, with deep attention and channeling. And yet... with yirah(reverence/fear/awe) & emunah(faith) I'm choosing to share this recording - knowing that so many don't or haven't had access to this ritual - with the intention of it being a tool for learning, a healing salve, and a small taste of this ritual - especially in these times when we can't gather as we used to. 
In this recording I sing the "call" of the prayer, as if I am the shaliach tzibur (prayer leader) and I do not do the "answer" which would be done by the Kohanim in the congregation. I also say "ado-shem" instead of "adonai" to avoid saying the name of G!d in this recording. The melody is a traditional Ashkenazi melody I grew up with. 

Birkas Kohanim, The Priestly Blessing, is a ritual that goes back to Temple times when Kohanim (priests) would use this ritual to bless the people. In many Jewish communities today it is still practiced - traditionally by those with Kohen lineage for the congregation. It is often referred to as “nesiat kapayim,” meaning the raising of hands or as “duchenen,” a Yiddish word, referring to the platform Kohanim often stand on when they bless the congregation.  Birkas Kohanim is (I believe)one of the only rituals left from temple times that we still practice today as it was done then.

Every yuntif, my mom and I would make sure to get to shul in time for Birkas Kohanim, no matter what. Her father, my Zaydie, was a Kohen, and on Pesach, he would walk around to the various shuls in town to make sure they had a Kohen to do Birkas Kohanim. If they didn’t, he would stay and do Birkas Kohanim with them. He wanted everyone to get those potent blessings. I have vivid memories of being blessed by my Zayde, my uncle, and all the Kohanim at shul each year. In Ashkenazi tradition, it is only done on the shalosh regalim (three pilgrimiage holidays) and the yamim noraim (high holidays). From a young age I could feel the immense spiritual power of this ritual as it reverberated through my body and soul, and I still do...every time. 

Text from Shmot/Numbers 6:23-17
Traditional Ashkenazi melody
The words used are from the Torah, they are the words Hashem/Spirit/Godexx commanded the Kohanim to use to bless Bnai Yisrael.

יְבָרֶכְךָ ה' וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ
Yivarechicha adonai v’yishmirecha
May G!d bless you and protect you

יָאֵר ה' פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וִיחֻנֶּךָּ
Ya’er adonai panav eilecha vi’chuneka
May G!d illuminate their face for you and be gracious to you

יִשּא ה' פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וְיָשם לְךָ שָׁלום
Yisah adonai panav eilecha v’yasem licha shalom
May G!d turn their face towards you and establish peace for you

Batya Levine

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