Anyone who was in NFTY or a Jewish youth group in the lates 2000s/early 2010s has probably been in a service where Fix You by Coldplay was used in the place of Mi Shebeirach. Heal Us Now, by Leon Sher, is wrapped up in a lot of teen choir nostalgia for me as well. Put them together, and it’s a healing mash up that has just the reflective quality I’ve been holding onto at this point in the pandemic.

Fix Us

In honor of Trans Awareness Week, here's two pieces that speak to me personally around my experience as non-binary in Jewish space combined into one. It is both beautiful and broken, haunted and holy to feel lost in my own body and yet sacred for it at the same time.

Broken and Beautiful, Haunted and Holy

Lyrics: 

woah... 

Bring on the evening, let the stars light our way
Bring on the evening and its shining array
Time will move on, and the seasons will change 
I will be strong, won't be scared of the strange
Bring on the evening - and let go of the day

woah...

Vit’vunah m’shaneh itim, m’shaneh itim
Umachalif et haz’manim, haz’manim
Um’sadeir et hakochavim, um’sadeir et hakochavim
Bring on the evening - and let go of the day

woah...

Baruch atah, Adonai hama'ariv aravim

Ma’ariv Aravim (Bring on the Evening)

Lyrics: 

What a great love You have loved us
Such a deep love from You

Ahavah rabah ahavtanu
Adonai Eloheinu
Chemlah g’dolah, Chemlah g’dolah
Viteira chamalta aleinu

Let us learn, let us teach
Let us understand what is good
Let us give, let us preach
Mercy and love in return

Remind us why we are here
To build bridges, not broker in fear

(Chorus)

Never scold, never shame
Let us not stumble and fall
Having trust in the Name
Of salvation for all

Bring us together as one
Give us the strength to do what must be done

(Chorus)

Baruch Atah Adonai habocheir b’amo Yisrael b’ahavah

Ahavah Rabah (A Great Love)

Lyrics:

When the sun is setting on Friday night 
And can barely be seen
I sit at home and anxiously wait for
My beautiful queen
My girl’s like nothing else you’ve ever known
I give her all I’ve got
She’s my royalty, she gives me rest when I, I cannot

So come on over, let your soul shine bright as the night sky
Have a glass with me until we have to say goodbye

Boi, boi Hamalkah 
Boi, boi hakallah
Boi, boi hashabbat 
Shalom aleichem malechei hashalom

Just like a perfect bride, Shabbat all dressed in white
is honest, reliable, and true
I’ll sing every single single song I’ve ever learned
Just to honor you

Pre-chorus
Chorus

Set the table, light the candles 
‘Cause here I come
Making time for you is nothing 
Compared to your love
And like the angels now descending with peace from above on the earth 
There’s nothing more that I look forward to each week
Than coming home to you

Chorus

Shabbat HaMalkah

Kol HaN'shamah (Joey Weisenberg)

Shalom Rav (Jeff Klepper/Dan Freelander)

Mi Chamocha/Miriam’s Song (Debbie Friedman)

Avinu Malkeinu (Max Janowski)

Ahavah Rabah (Ben Ellerin)

This song sets some beautiful text from Psalm 51 in a simple yet powerful way. Originally recorded on guitar, I had an incredible accompanist with me to change the feeling of the piece, creating a new heart in me.

Lev Tahor (Dan Nichols)

I arranged a version of How Far I’ll Go including the text of Mi Chamocha, because Miriam also stood at the edge of the waters, wondering why. Happy to have my friends and colleagues, Emily Hoolihan and Becky Mann sing this with me! Matt Teitelman, who is part of this Nava Tehilah season, is playing percussion, and I’m on the ukulele. This was used in Thursday morning Shacharit April 4, 2019, on the HUC Jerusalem campus.

How Far I'll Go/Mi Chamocha

Happy Tu B’Av! A little celebration of love for this holiday.

Can’t Help Falling in Love/Dodi Li

they/he 
Cantor, HUC-JIR DFSSM class of 2023

Cantor Jordan Goldstein

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