Prayers & songs for NSP's Rosh Hashanah 5781 morning service

Out of the Depths | Rosh Hashanah 5781

The After

#songwriter #woman #lost #searching #acoustic #womansongwriter 

Lyrics:
Where is my heart
Taking me now
Across an empty desert
Into an abandoned house
Endless rooms
Empty halls
cries of joy
sobs of pain

Where is my heart
Taking me now? (Taking me now!)

Lost in a dream…
I wish I was.
But instead…
I am trapped in this cage.
They called it life.
I call it imposed.
I wish I could leave 
But where would I go?
(Where would I go?)

Where is my soul
Leading me now?
Across a vacant highway
Into an empty hole
Dark recesses 
Endless space 
Screams of fear
Gasps of life

Where is my soul
Leading me now? (Leaving me now?)

Lost in a dream
I wish I was
But instead
I am trapped in this cage (trapped)
They call it life
I call it imposed 
I wish I could leave 
But where would I go?
(Where do I go?)

Where is my body
Pressing me now?
Against another human
Changing me again, again 
Formless mind
Empty soul
Voiceless pleas
End of life

Where is my body
Pressing me now? (Changing me now?)

Lost in a dream
I wish I was
But instead
I am trapped in this cage
They call it life
I call it imposed 
I wish I could leave 
But where would I go?
Where would I go
Where would I go?

but where would i go?

"Southern Cross" is an intimate journey through the landscapes of identity, belonging, and transformation. This folk collection weaves together six deeply personal songs that explore the spaces between cultures, the courage required for authentic living, and the power of love as resistance.
Southern Cross speaks to anyone who has ever felt caught between worlds, seeking wisdom from the stars while planting seeds of hope in uncertain ground. It's folk music for the soul's darker territories and brightest transformations.
The Seeds Gamble, is a powerful meditation on spiritual transformation and courage required for authentic growth. Seed/soil metaphors explore necessity of ego death for true becoming.

The Seed's Gamble

Nishmat Kol Chai - Joey Weisenberg And The Hadar Ensemble

Elohai Neshama by Sol Weiss

Daily praise song that celebrates all who live in the home of the divine (our sacred planet). Words from tradition, music by Aly Halpert. Creative consultation from Batya Levine.

Written for Linke Fligl, a queer Jewish chicken farm and cultural project in Millerton, NY, for their Sukkot gathering, 5779. (linkefligl.com)

Lyrics 
Hebrew(from traditional Jewish services)
Ashrei yoshvei veitecha, od y'hallelucha, selah!

English (by Aly Halpert)
I sing for you
I sing for what is holy and is true
I sing for all creation, for life and liberation
Everyday anew

Aly Halpert's Album

Ashrei

A slow song brought to you by the waters of the Webatuck swamp - Schagticoke / Mahican land. 

Water provides life. From the rain, the dew, the ocean, water heals and holds, and sings so many songs through us. I am grateful to the waters for being such a teacher, and invite you to honor them with this song.

The hebrew at the end is the traditional prayer said for a Mikveh, ritual immersion or bath:

Barukh atah Adonay Eloheynu ruach ha-olam, asher kidshanu b'mitzvotav v'tzivanu al ha-t'vilah.

Blessed are you, source of creation,  of the universe, who sanctifies us through mitzvot and has shown us immersion.

lizard popping bubbles

Great Waters

Nigunim, Vol. IV: Brooklyn Spirituals

Mozi's Nigun / Ana B'choakh by Joey Weisenberg

Origin:
Words are from Psalm 136
Melody is a traditional Hasidic one that Joey Weisenberg has popularized in recent years
This is a recording from NSP's Rosh Hashanah Community Singing Session in 2019

Words:
Hodu l'Adonai ki tov, ki l'olam chasdo
Hodu leilohei ha-elohim, ki l'olam chasdo
Hodu la-adonei ha-adonim, ki l'olam chasdo
L'oseih nifla-ot g'dolot l'vado, ki l'olam chasdo
L'oseih hashamayim bitvunah, ki l'olam chasdo 
L'roka ha-aretz al hamayim, ki l'olam chasdo
L'oseih orim g'dolim, ki l'olam chasdo
Et hashemesh l'memshelet bayom, ki l'olam chasdo
Et hayarei-ach v'chochavim l'memsh'lot balay'lah, ki l'olam chasdo
Sheb'shifleinu zachar lanu, ki l'olam chasdo
Vayifr'keinu mitzareinu, ki l'olam chasdo
Notein lechem l'chol basar, ki l'olam chasdo 
Hodu l'eil hashamayim, ki l'olam chasdo

Singing Team - RH Melodies

Psalm 136 - Kane St Nigun

Vocal accompaniment and production by Baci Weiler

I will carry you through these changes
V'ad seva ani esbol
(When you turn grey, I'll still carry you/be patient with you/bear you) 
- Isaiah 46:4

(((It's odd to do this as a duet because to me, it's about learning to hold myself and have my own back, and sometimes feeling like the universe is holding me too.)))

I Will Carry You/V'ad Seva — Inspired by Isaiah 46:4

I wrote this song in the midst of shock and grief at the murder and loss of Gabrielle Gottlieb from the Romemu community and the world. She was a fan of my music and was kind whenever I saw her, asking my family about me, and watching. 

Gabrielle was a healer, an energy worker, a woman deeply aware of the power that lies in the body. She wasn’t just gentle, just kind— she was a warrior. Gabrielle was running in the last moments of her life, trusting her guts, trusting her body, and trying with all she had to find safety and freedom. Her loss remains a gaping hole in the world, and justice has still not been served. 

In this song, I keep in mind those in abusive relationships, those in unsafe homes, those parenting themselves in treacherous environments, and those whose traumas of abuse and sexual assault are bubbling to the surface in this time. I commit to working to create systems to address harm and create circles of love and care wherever I dwell. 

A word about trusting the body— as someone with a chronic disability, trusting my body completely is no simple task. My body needs a lot of help to keep working! If you’re singing this song and find that these words don’t sit right in the moment, I hope they might serve in other moments. And if not, I love you and see that pain. I wrote these words in deep gratitude to that thing that sits deep, deep within my body, under even the parts of my body that need help to function— that gut instinct that keeps me safe with all its might. 

Thank you to my partner Noam Lerman for joining me in song and strength!

Lyrics:

Days when I don’t trust my family
Days when I don’t trust my friends
I trust my body, deep down in my core 

Days when I don’t trust my leaders
Days when I don’t trust my teachers 
I trust my body, deep down in my core 

Days when I don’t trust my lover
Days when I don’t trust my God
I trust my body, deep down in my core

Oh my body, oy oy oy oy 
Oh my body oy oy oy oy
I trust my body, my shaking body
I trust my body, deep down in my core

Oh my body, oy oy oy oy 
Oh my body oy oy oy oy
I trust my body, my brilliant body 
I trust my body, deep down in my core 

Oh my body, oy oy oy oy 
Oh my body oy oy oy oy
I trust my body, down in my kishkes 
I trust my body, deep down in my core

I Trust My Body

Nishmat Kol Chai - Joey Weisenberg

Origin:
Words from morning liturgy
Melody by Rabbi Michel Twersky
Sung by Batya Levine
Art by Etai Rogers-Fett

Words:
Modeh/ah ani l'fanecha
Ruach chai v'kayam

Translation:
Thank You, Living God and Spirit
For giving me anoth​er day of awareness​

Modeh Ani - Im Eshkachech by R' Michel Twersky

Origin:
Melody by Nava Tehila
Sung by Batya Levine
Art by Naomi Weintraub & Etai Rogers-Fett

Tishrei Nigun - Nava Tehila

Lyrics: Modah Ani, a Jewish daily prayer/practice of gratitude. 
Music by Ary Solomon

Lyrics:
Modah, modah ani
L'fanecha
Ruach chai, ruach chai v'kayam
Ruach chai, ruach chai v'kayam

Modah Ani

The New Synagogue Project is building a spiritually vibrant, radically inclusive synagogue that reflects our vision for a world of justice, equity, and liberation. Our community is being created by and for families with kids, couples and single people, queer and trans people, disabled and chronically ill people, D/deaf and hard of hearing folks, interfaith families, Jews of color and white Jews, Jews from many religious and secular backgrounds, and anyone interested in exploring and experiencing Jewish life. 

We believe communal singing is an incredibly powerful way to pray, connect with each other and ourselves, and find healing. Singing infuses our services and gatherings, and we are always looking for new ways to create vibrant, songful experiences. Come sing with us!

Modeh Ani - Im Eshkachech by R' Michel Twersky

New Synagogue Project

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