Ruach Neshama is a collection of songs of soul and breath. These songs employ traditional texts, lyrical midrash and the meditative practice of the nigun—the wordless melody—to open our hearts to the ever-present guidance and compassion within. They strive to paint the wisdom and words of our ancestors on a canvas of body and nature, and to ask the question: What is my soul calling for? What teachings do Earth, Song, and Spirit offer me? 

Free sheet music found at arielwolpe.com/sheetmusic 

Many thanks to the incredible musicians who shared their voices on these tracks: to Kendra for being my sister in life, love and music, to Deborah for sweet harmonies and infinite padding, to Jon for relinquishing his time and office space for recording, to Gayanne for sharing my passion for musical connection to earth, and to my mother Valerie for her ongoing guidance in sound, song and spirit. Thank you to my Rising Song cohort Rebekka, Gedalia, Eitan, Batya, Rena, and Sam, for the never-ending inspiration, support and friendship that have lifted my spirit and my offerings to the world. To Don Godwin for mixing and editing these layered tracks, to Eliyahu Sills and Will Robertson for instrumental offerings, and to Josh Fleet for his logistical support. This album would not exist...  more
credits
released August 8, 2021 

All music composed by Ariel Root Wolpe, Hebrew text from Jewish liturgy and Tanakh. 
Music direction by Joey Weisenberg and Ariel Root Wolpe 
Harmony direction by Deborah Sacks Mintz 
Produced by Joey Weisenberg 

Recorded outside and in home-studios in Atlanta, GA, Philadelphia, PA, and Berkeley, CA. 
Engineered by Joey Weisenberg and Jon Mitchell 
Mixed and Mastered by Don Godwin 
Artwork and Layout by Sol Yael Weiss. 

Singers and Musicians: 
Ariel Root Wolpe - lead vocals, acoustic guitar 
Kendra Root Wolpe - vocals 
Deborah Sacks Mintz - vocals 
Valerie Root Wolpe - vocals 
Jon Mitchell - vocals, djembe (track #8) 
Joey Weisenberg - bass, percussion, guitar, baritone ukulele, piccolo, drum programming, vocals 
Will Robertson - bass (track #7) 
Eliyahu Sills - flute (track #2) 
Rising Song Institute Vocalists: Rena Branson, Rebekka Goldsmith, Eitan Kantor, Gedalia Penner, Sam Tygiel, Batya Levine, Gayanne Geurin (track #5) 

www.arielwolpe.com 
www.risingsong.org 

A Project of Hadar's Rising Song Institute: Cultivating Jewish spiritual life through song. 

"Ruach Neshama" sponsored by Wilderness Torah 
"Yedid Nefesh" sponsored by Ahavath Achim Synagogue 
"Hineni" sponsored by Adath Israel on the Main Line 
"Vatikach Miriam" sponsored by Congregation Or Hadash 
"Waking Up Nigun" sponsored by Har Zion Temple
license

Ruach Neshama

Waking Up Nigun

A reimagined cover of the Al hanisim folk tune for your Hanukah playlists!

Hannukah is coming and we are here to sanctify the darkness, welcome the light, heal, give gratitude, connect, reflect and grow. Welcome in the season of #miracles with us in song. How can we connect to the past while also reimagining and rediscovering it, in song and in story? Stirring vocal and guitar by rachel chang.

al hanisim (reimagined) cover

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EPISODE 326: The Fart Or Flight Response

Bonus Episodes

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

tune by Rabbi Menachem Creditor from Psalm 89:3

Recorded at Boston Passover Action Prep Meeting 4/17/16

lyrics:
Olam chesed yibaneh

We will build this world from love

Olam Chesed

Open the Gates - Preparing to enter the High Holy Days

B'Rosh Hashanah Yikateivon

Origin:
Words are from Yom Kippur liturgy
We're not sure of the origin for this melody, if you know please comment!
This is a recording from NSP's Yom Kippur Community Singing Session in 2019

Words:
Ki anu amecha, v'atah Eloheinu
Anu vanecha, v'atah avinu
Anu avdecha, v'atah adoneinu
Anu kehalecha, v'atah chelkeinu
Anu nachalatecha, v'atah goraleinu
Anu tzonecha, v'atah ro'einu
Anu charmecha, v'atah notreinu
Anu fe'ulatecha, v'atah yotzreinu
Anu rayatecha, v'atah dodeinu
Anu segulatecha, v'atah keroveinu
Anu amecha, v'atah malkeinu
Anu ma'amirecha, v'atah ma'amireinu

Translation:
We are Your plantings, and You our gardener
We are Your creation, and You our origin
We are Your companions, an You our beloved
We are Your treasure, and You delight in us
We are Your people, and You are our sovereign
We solely favor You, and You recognize us
We are Your people, and You our holy source
We are Your children, and You our parent
We are Your helpers, and You our guiding spirit
We are Your body, and You our designer
We are Your images, and You our true essence
We are Your flock, and You our shepherd

Singing Team - YK Melodies

Ki Anu Amecha

Mishpacha Nigun (Molly Bajgot & Sol Yael Weiss)

A zemer (song) for Shabbat, a time of slowness, rest, and rejuvination. A zemer usually sung on Shabbat afternoon. Attributed to Dunash ibn Labrat, a 10th century Babylonian paytan (liturgical poet), whose name is spelled acrostically in verses 1,2,3 and 6.
sung by Mónica Gomery & Batya Levine

D'ror yikra l'ven im bat, v'yintzorchem k'mo vavat, n'im shimchem v'lo yushbat, sh'vu v'nuchu b'yom shabbat.

D'rosh navi v'ulami, v'ot yesha aseh imi, n'ta sorek b'toch karmi, she'e shavat b'nei ami.

D'roch purah b'toch batzrah, v'gam bavel asher gavrah, n'totz tzarai b'af v'evrah, sh'ma koli b'yom ekra.

Elohim ten b'midbar har, hadas shitah b'rosh tidhar, v'lamazhir v'lanizhar, sh'lomim ten k'mei nahar.

Hadoch kamai, el kanah, b'mog levav uvamginah, v'narchiv peh unmalenah, l'shonenu l'cha rinah.

D'eh chochmah l'nafshecha, v'hi cheter l'roshecha, n'tzor mitzvat k'doshecha, sh'mor shabbat kodshecha.

Translation:
 God will proclaim freedom for all God's children
And will keep you as the apple of God's eye
Pleasant is your name and will not be destroyed
Repose and rest on the Sabbath day.

Seek my sanctuary and my home.
Give me a sign of deliverance.
Plant a vine in my vineyard.
Look to my people, hear their laments.

Tread the wine-press in Bozrah,
And in Babylon that city of might
Crush my enemies in anger and fury.
On the day when I cry, hear my voice.

Plant, Oh God, in the mountain waste
Fir and acacia, myrtle and elm
Give those who teach and those who obey
Abundance peace, like the flow of a river.

Repel my enemies, Oh zealous God.
Fill their hearts with fear and despair.
Then we shall open our mouths,
And fill our tongues with Your praise.

Know wisdom, that your soul may live,
And it shall be a diadem for your brow.
Keep the commandment of your Holy One
Observe the Sabbath, your sacred day.

Dror Yikra - Ashkenazi Traditional

Composed by Sam Tygiel
Arranged and Sung by Rebekka Goldsmith

This nigun (wordless melody) is inspired by the story of Chana, upon the birth of her son Shmuel/Samuel. 

"I imagine Chana singing with Shmuel in her arms. She is singing the secrets she has discovered through her practice of prayer....through her suffering. She is singing him the secrets of the universe. The secrets of G?d. I close my eyes and sing, imagining I am her, that I have what to sing to this child...though I know he won't yet understand." - S. Tygiel

from Chana's prayer, 1 Samuel 2:2,9 -

אין־קדוש כיהוה כי אין בלתך ואין צור כאלהינו
Ein kadosh kashem, ki ein biltekha, v'ein tzur keloheinu 
There is no holy one like the YHWH, Truly, there is none beside You; There is no rock like our God.

ורשעים בחשך ידמו כי־לא בכח יגבר־איש
U'rshaim bakhoshekh yidmu, ki lo vakhoakh yigbar ish
But the wicked perish in darkness— For not by strength shall man prevail.


For more information:
https://www.sefaria.org/I_Samuel.1?la...

Chana's Song

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

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

Batya Levine

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