Cantor Josh and I recorded this outside at Hava Nashira 2022 in Rena Branson's session, where we recorded music to send to folks who are currently incarcerated. This tune is an original composed by Marni Loffman in late 2021, as a form of music medicine during a period of difficult emotions. This song is a prayer, a reminder, an affirmation and a protest. We remember that we are not solely defined by our external circumstances, that are context does not have the power to take our ability to heal from us, or our ability to find wholeness. A reminder that we have agency, power and the strength for healing, even in the simple act of getting through a single moment.

Thank you to Cantor Josh Breitzman from Beth Elohim for the harmonies, beautiful vocals and encouragement!

You Are Strong Enough Ft. Cantor Josh Breitzer

The priestly blessing, one of the most ancient prayers from the times of temple of Solomon. A prayer of protection and wholeness.Inner & outer Peace.
Melody by Jai Uttal after a re - encounter in the Galilee with the Bhakti( hindu term for devotion) power of Hebrew. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYiCECUo84Y

11 Shalom

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

Thanksgiving Dinner returns for the 14th year in a row - a song every Thanksgiving with whatever friends can contribute.

This year(2018), Pepper Brooks joins the fold with "Places (Canada)".  A song about places - kind of.

Written by Ben Quick and Pepper Brooks, Produced by Ben Quick

Lyrics

(Whispered)
Places
So Many Places

(Hook)
There are many different places
Its a big reason why we have maps
The world is full of lots of places
I don’t care if you’re upset by that fact  

(Verse)
I remember being three
Had a grownup sit me down to explain things to me
He said there’s something you don’t know about life
Now listen up kid - cuz I won’t say this twice
If you have to go somewhere that location must have a name
Otherwise all of everything would just sorta be the same
So to tell things a part we break them up into places
Like for example Canada is a place - - - - - -  but overalls are not
(But you can wear overalls to go places)

(Hook)
There are so many different places that all exist
It is way too many places for me to make a list
I started to try to but then I ran out of time
So I had to enlist the help of a friend of mine

(Pepper Brooks)
Yo
Pepper Brooks in the Hizzy
It's time to get busy
Here we go - 1 -2, 3 - 4

(Entire verse is just a list of Cheeses)

(Spoken)
Pepper: Wait did you say places or cheeses?
Ben: It was places
Pepper : Oh
Ben: I mean, we can do cheeses I guess

(Whispered)
Cheeses
So many cheeses

(Hook)
There are so many places where you can get cheese
You can get it at the deli or find it on the street
If you find it on the street sometimes it has dirt
But all you gotta do  is wipe it off on your shirt


Street Cheese (repeat)
Its cheese you find on the ground

Places (Canada)

A new melody for Dayenu that you can use for the whole thing!

Dayenu! A New One :)

Recent congregational originals by Erin McGaughan, Worship Arts Director at Seattle Unity Church.  erinmcgaughan.com for charts
copyright 2018.

Baruch Hashem Adonai Erin live

Achat Sha'alti

Let yourself fall into the seesawing of this melody and fall into a soft movement or body release through its repitition. Inspired by the feeling of journeying and embodied practice.

Achat Sha'alti

Chava Mirel

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