This is a beautiful rendition of my favorite liturgical poem. Basya, I feel blessed to have heard this.

Release Me Nigun

Ana El Na Refa Na La אֵל נָא רְפָא נָא לָהּ

A series of niggunim—or (mostly) wordless melodies—emerging from somewhere in the dance between my heart, the ancestors, and the land in which I dwell. Unembellished recordings of tunes you’re welcome to make your own or sing with others, to express joy, praise, longing, and wonder wherever you go.

Taproot Nigun

Recorded live at Love Song Gathering, in Marshall NC 2022

Nurtured (Love Song Gathering 2022)

Little Song is a nigun (wordless melody) that is a soft, simple call and response / echo song that has often served as a way to sing out messages or add in words. This version was born when Ilana Lerman was driving to Washington DC to lead a songleader training at an IfNotNow action along with me and a powerful team of many songleaders, where she put the movement's messaging and demands to this tune. Since then, more of us have added words, the song growing every time. This melody is a powerful vehicle for sharing a message and grounding in our hearts. With these words, we hope the song can both be a gentle support to all of us in times of devastation and a strong loud voice in calling out for an end to the war.

With our prayers for healing this broken world and bridging the distance between us that can feel so cavernous, for grieving the terror of violence and oppression and a world that makes us believe they are necessary, for finding our way through together — we call for a ceasefire now: protect lives on all sides, end the siege on Gaza. 

How to use the song:

This melody can accelerate and pick up energy or slow down and get soft, is easy to learn, and is a call and response song, making it impactful for sharing a message. The last note of each line is drawn out to overlap with the response. When using in groups or at actions, the main words have been "Ceasefire Now," "Not in our name" and "No more genocide." You are welcome to use the words that feel right for the moment and add your own. Other possibilities include: Never again is now / Safety for all now / Let Gaza live / etc. 


Lyrics:

Ceasefire Now
to the tune of "Little Song" by Sol Weiss with added words from Ilana Lerman, Sol Weiss and many voices in the Ceasefire movement. 

Cease fire now (ceasefire now)
Cease fire now (ceasefire now)
Cease fire now (ceasefire now)
Cease fire now (ceasefire now)

Not in our name (not in our name)
Not in our name (not in our name)
Not in our name (not in our name)
Not in our name (not in our name)

Bring them home now (bring them home now)
Bring them home now (bring them home now)
Bring them home now (bring them home now)
Bring them home now (bring them home now)

Put the weapons down (put the weapons down)
Put the weapons down (put the weapons down)
Put the weapons down (put the weapons down)
Put the weapons down (put the weapons down)

Cease fire now (ceasefire now)
Cease fire now (ceasefire now)
Cease fire now (ceasefire now)
Cease fire now (ceasefire now)

Not in our name (not in our name)
Not in our name (not in our name)
Not in our name (not in our name)
Not in our name (not in our name)

*V’ ahavta (v'ahavta)
L’arecha (l'arecha)
K’mocha (k'mocha)
K’mocha (k'mocha)

Cease fire now (cease fire now)
Cease fire now (cease fire now)
Cease fire now (cease fire now)
Cease fire now (cease fire now)

*וְאָֽהַבְתָּ֥ לְרֵעֲךָ֖ כָּמ֑וֹךָ
Hebrew translation "and you shall love your neighbor as you love yourself" (Vayikra 19:18)

Sung by: Matt Goldfield, Molly Bajgot, Ilana Lerman, Helen Bennett & Sol Weiss
November 2023

Ceasefire Now (tune of Little Song)

Listen to the music the Kitchen sings for the High Holidays and prepare for your own celebration - with us in San Francisco or wherever you bring in the New Year.

Or Zarua

This call to faithful action is based on a quotation by Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel and speaks back to the shallow 'thoughts and prayers' and inaction of American politicians in face of ongoing mass shootings and gun violence. It is intended to be used in faith-based protests and marches, or as a sending song in churches and synagogues.

Sheet music is available for free on my website: http://www.paulvasile.com/products/pray-with-our-feet

It's not enough to offer thoughts and prayers.
It's not enough to say that we care. 
It's not enough to hope that things will change. 
We've got to pray with our feet,
pray with our feet, pray with our feet 
and get out, out on the street.

Music: Paul M. Vasile, LovedIntoBeing Music ©2018

Pray With Our Feet

Basya Schechter: Tal

Spell Songs

Papa Kéba

Origin:
Words & Melody were written by Orion Johnstone
This is a recording from NSP's Rosh Hashanah Community Singing Session in 2019

Words:
Healing is possible
May it be so
Healing is happening
May it be so
And we  believe what we need most 
Are the hearts of each other right here

Wholeness is possible...
Liberation is possible...
Forgiveness is possible...
Transformation is possible...

Singing Team - RH Melodies

Healing is Possible - Orion Johnstone

ושמחת בחגך והיית אך שמח
Vesamachta bechagecha vehayita ach sameach
You shall rejoice on your festivals​ and be fully joyous.
(Deuteronomy 16: 14a, 15b)

Basya Schechter: Tal

MyJewishLearning

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