Sung with Grace Gleason, Chol HaMoed Pesach 5781/2021

Love is not a receding horizon we reach for
Love is the ground, love is the ground on which we lay (x2)

Worthiness is not a mountaintop we strive toward
It is the field, it is the field in which we play (x2)

אַהֲבָה רַבָּה אֲהַבְתָּנוּ, ה’ אֱלקינוּ
חֶמְלָה גְּדולָה וִיתֵרָה חָמַלְתָּ עָלֵינוּ

Ahava raba ahavtanu Hashem Elokeinu
Chemla gedola viteira chamalta aleinu

[Translation: With abundant love You have loved us, Divine One
With overflowing compassion You have compassioned on us]

Ahava Raba (Love is the Ground)

Nign Shabbos V'Yom Tov (Chabad)

Guitar & melody vocals by Rachel Chang
5/23/2021

Nigun Tishrei by Nava Tehila

Sung with Rachel Chang on guitar and lead vocals

Kol Haneshama by R' Shir Yaakov Feit

Sung with Marni Loffman
Video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKrCAKUpsPU
Recording from the Rebbe's farbrengen here: https://www.chabad.org/therebbe/livingtorah/player_cdo/aid/2018699/jewish/Nigun-Hachana.htm

Nign Hachana/Rostover Nign/Rebbe Rashab's Nign (Chabad) – Nigun of Preparation

Sung with Rachel Chang on electric guitar and harmony

Return, return anew
To the breath that is moving through
To the repair that you're called to do
To the healing that's ripe for you

Return, Return Anew

Slow Down/Feel Your Feet

Sung with Grace Gleason in a tunnel in Riverside Park, Wappinger/Munsee Lenape land, Manhattan, 9/9/21

צָמְאָה לְךָ נַפְשִׁי כָּמַהּ לְךָ בְשָׂרִי
בְּאֶרֶץ-צִיָּה וְעָיֵף בְּלִי-מָיִם
 כֵּן בַּקֹּדֶשׁ חֲזִיתִךָ
 לִרְאוֹת עֻזְּךָ וּכְבוֹדֶךָ

Tzama lecha nafshi, kama lecha basari
B'eretz tsiya v'ayef bli mayim
Ken bakoidesh chazisicha 
Lirois uzcha uchvoidecha

My soul thirsts for You, my flesh longs for You 
(As one) in a desolate and weary land without water
So (I thirst) to see You in the Sanctuary
To behold Your strength and glory

- Psalm 63, 2-3

This song was first taught by Rebbe Menachem Mendel Schneerson on 28 Nissan, 5714 - 1954.

Chassidishe recording: https://www.chabad.org/therebbe/livingtorah/player_cdo/aid/690694/jewish/Tzama-Lecha-Nafshi.htm

Tzama Lecha Nafshi/My Soul Thirsts for You (Chabad) — Psalm 63

Modim Anachnu Lach (We Thank You) — Liturgy from the Amida

Ana B'khoakh — Kabbalat Shabbat Liturgy

We Choose To Live

Sung with Rachel Chang (guitar + vox) and Marni Loffman (vox)

Lyrics:
In doing and in dreaming
You’ve been dropping seeds behind you that will flower in due time
You will never know all the change that you help sow
But just know that it’s happening all the time
You will never know all the beauty you help grow
But just know that it’s happening all the time
All the time (x4)

In Doing & In Dreaming

Sung with Rachel Chang (guitar + vox)

Lyrics:

I’ve been trying to soften to this life
to let it touch me
'cause I know the fear that braces me is very old
but in my blood I feel the thrum of my ancestors on the run 
and boy sometimes it’s hard to tell it’s not today

But I would like to trust
I would like to believe I’m safe
I would like to let my body lead the way

I’ve been trying to open to this moment,
let it unfold 
cause I know the shame that narrows me is very old
but theres a child in my mind who loved and then got left behind
and boy sometimes it’s hard to tell it’s not today

But I would like to trust 
I would like to believe I’m safe
I would like to let intuition lead the way

May I let the cosmic ocean of love buoy me up
May I let the cosmic ocean of love wash over me
Da da daaaa…. 

Cause I would  like to trust 
I would like to believe I’m safe
I would like to let my body lead the way
I would like to trust 
I would like to believe I’m safe
I would like to let intuition lead the way

I Would Like To Trust

Ceasefire by Rena Branson ft. Molly Bajgot
Composed October 2023

Ceasefire, ceasefire now
Not in my name
Release the hostages
No one's safe till everyone is safe
No one's free till everyone is free

Rachel Chang - Guitar Arrangement
Joni Leibovic - Bass & Percussion Arrangement
Molly Bajgot - Vocals & Harmony Lines
Jenni Rudolph - Arranging & Post-Production
Rosanna Morris - Cover Art

For more background on this song, read here: 
https://tinyurl.com/ceasefiresong

Ceasefire

Composed by Reb Aharon Charitonov of Nikolayev, Ukraine. The 6th Chabad rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn (1880–1950), loved this nigun and chose its name.

 "Beinoni" literally means one who is in-between. In the Tanya, the foundational text of Chabad written by the Alter Rebbe, a Beinoni is described as someone who continues to wrestle internally with harmful impulses, but doesn't act them out (as compared with Tzadikim, who no longer have those impulses at all, and Rashaim, who both have the impulses and act on them). I relate to the concept of the Beinoni more broadly, as someone who is able to dance with contradiction and complexity.

Der Beinoni (Chabad)

Harmonies by Eitan Kantor, Rebekka Goldsmith, Batya Levine, Gedalia Penner, and R' Ariel Root Wolpe

Linke Fligl Nign — Elohai Neshama

Flute by Sam Tygiel and harmony by R' Ariel Root Wolpe. Words from morning prayers in Pesukei DeZimra and the blessings before the Shema.

Healer of the broken-hearted / who counts the stars & calls each one by name (Psalm 147)

Harofei lishvurei lev um'khabesh l'atz'votam
moneh mispar lakokhavim l'khulam shemot yikra

הָ֣רוֹפֵא לִשְׁב֣וּרֵי לֵ֑ב וּ֜מְחַבֵּ֗שׁ לְעַצְּבוֹתָֽם
מוֹנֶ֣ה מִ֖סְפָּר לַכּֽוֹכָבִ֑ים לְ֜כֻלָּ֗ם שֵׁמ֥וֹת יִקְרָֽא

~

All are loved, all are clear, all are heroic
All work in awe to fulfill divine wants

Kulam ahuvim, kulam berurim, kulam giborim
V'khulam osim b'eima uv'yira r'tzon konam

כולם אהובים כולם ברורים כולם גיבורים
וכולם עושים באימה וביראה רצון קונם

HaRofei Lishvurei Lev (Healer of the Brokenhearted) — Psalm 147

Harmony and guitar by Rabbi Ariel Root Wolpe

Tzemach Tzedek (1789 - 1866), the third Chabad Rebbe, would purportedly break into this melody upon reaching these words in Hallel (a special set of prayers for festivals and the new moon). 

Listen to an old recording:
www20.chassidus.com/audio/enign/enign911.mp3

Words:
www.chabad.org/multimedia/media_…/Yemin-Hashem.htm

Yemin Hashem (Chabad)

Nign Hachana (Chabad) from Hadar's Rising Song Intensive 2019

Sung with Batya Levine

הָ֭רֹפֵא לִשְׁב֣וּרֵי לֵ֑ב וּ֝מְחַבֵּ֗שׁ לְעַצְּבוֹתָֽם
מוֹנֶה מִסְפָּר לַכּוֹכָבִים לְכֻלָּם, שֵׁמוֹת יִקְרָא

Harofei lishvurei lev um'chabesh l'atzvotam 
Moneh mispar lacochavim lechulam shemot yikra

Healer of the broken-hearted and tender of our wounds
You account for every star and call each one by name

Healer of the Brokenhearted/Harofei Lishvurei Lev — Psalm 147 + Interpretive Translation

Violin and production by Eitan Kantor, flute by Sam Tygiel

Ekh Du (Chabad) – Set to Psalm 19 for Shabbat Morning

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

Ana Adonai Hoshia Na (x2)
Ana Adonai Hatzlicha Na (x2)

O Hashem, please save us
O Mystery, grant us well-being

These are words from Hallel, which is a special prayer service on Rosh Chodesh and festivals (Pesach, Sukkot, Shavuot). Much of the service is focused on praise, but it includes this raw moment of crying out.

Ana Adonai Hoshia Na

Vocals and production by Baci Weiler

V’shamru v'nei Yisrael
et HaShabbat,
laasot et HaShabbat l’dorotam
b’rit olam.
Beini u’vein b’nei Yisrael
ot hi l’olam,
ki sheishet yamim asah Adonai
et hashamayim v’et haaretz,
u’vayom hashvi-i shavat vayinafash.

Those who wrestle with the Divine shall protect Shabbat,
observing Shabbat throughout the ages as an eternal covenant.
It is a sign for all time between Me and the children of Yisrael
For in six days Adonai made heaven and earth,
and on the seventh day ceased from work and was refreshed.

Veshameru

Our Power

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

In fall 2019, I asked the Rising Song Residents to improvise with me and play with trying to figure out a second part for this Sukkot tune. It took me a year to finally land on one, but now I can't sing with a group, so I asked my mom to record it with me! The ~*vision*~ is that people huddled in a sukkah together can take turns leading the call-and-response part or improvising in between the choruses. Looking forward to the day when we can do that together!

Sung with my mom (who prefers to be anonymous!), Gedalia Penner, Rebekka Goldsmith, Eitan Kantor, Batya Levine, R' Ariel Root Wolpe, Joey Weisenberg, and Sam Tygiel

Vesamachta B'chagecha (Rejoice on Your Holydays!)

ולא היתה חצר בירושלים שאינה מאירה מאור בית השואבה
V'lo hayta chatzer b'yerushalayim she'eina me'eira mei'or Beit Hashoeva
"[From the worn-out pants and belts of the priests they made wicks and with them they kindled the lamps.] And there was not a courtyard in Jerusalem that was not illuminated by the light of the Beit Hashoevah." -Mishna Sukkah, 5:3 (Mishna = the oldest written code of Jewish law, also has a lot of stories in it)

Simchat Beit Hashoeva = ancient water-drawing festival that took place over Sukkot

Sung with Margot Seigle and chickens at Linke Fligl, 10/1/20

Or Beit Hashoeva (R' Shir Yaakov Feit/Mishna Sukkah 5:3)

Sung with chickens at Linke Fligl, 10/1/20
http://linkefligl.com/

Linke Fligl Nigun

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

Vesamachta Bechagecha (Chabad)

Haneiros Halalu (Chabad) — Melody for after Chanukah candle-lighting

Violin, vocal accompaniment, and production by Eitan Kantor

Haneiros Halalu

https://fb.watch/3eSSURrJSb/

We will not underestimate 
our power any longer—
we know that together, we are strong.
Like drops of water shape the rocks 
as they rush down the falls,
we know that together,
we are strong.

שִׁירָה חֲדָשָׁה שִׁבְּ֒חוּ גְאוּלִים לְשִׁמְךָ עַל־שְׂפַת הַיָּם יַֽחַד כֻּלָּם הוֹדוּ
Shira chadasha shibchu ge'ulim l'shimcha al sfat hayam, 
yachad kulam hodu
"With newborn song, liberated people praised Your name on the lip of the sea. All were one in thanks." -Jewish Liturgy

May it be so.

Production by Eitan Kantor
Art by Sol Yael Weiss
Music and English Lyrics by Rena Branson
Hebrew Lyrics from Jewish Liturgy

Virtual Choir:

Aly Halpert
Anat Halevy Hochberg
Ari Yovel
R' Ariel Root Wolpe
Ariel Shapiro
Arielle Rivera Korman
Aviva Chernick
Batya Levine
Binya Kóatz
Caryn Shebowich
Chloe Telfeyan Glickman
Cole Krawitz
Dori Midnight
Eitan Kantor
Gedalia Penner
Grace Gleason
Itai Gal
JB Levine
Pastor John Bergen
C' Jessi Roemer
K' Keshira haLev Fife
Margot Seigle
Marigo Farr
Mariyama Scott
Marques Hollie
May Ye
Molly Bajgot
R' Mónica Gomery
Nissa Mai Rose
Nnedinma Umeadi
R' Noam Lerman
Patrece Dixon
Rachel Chang
Rebecca Peretz-Lange
Rebekka Goldsmith
Reem Rosenhaj
Reuben Shachar Rose
Riv Ranney Shapiro
Rowan K. Ching
Sadie Gold-Shapiro
Shana Salzberg
Sol Yael Weiss
Yaara Perczek
Yasha Shapiro
Zuriel Biran

Our Power (Video Version)

אֱכוֹל בְּשִׂמְחָה כִּי כְבָר רָצָךְ
Echol b'simcha ki kvar ratzach

Eat in joy, you are already wanted
You're divinely desired
Eat in joy, you are already wanted
Your being is wanted

Line from "Menucha v'Simcha" ("Rest & Joy"), a medieval zemer/song for Shabbat, traditionally sung on Friday nights

You Are Already Wanted/Ki Kvar Ratzach (line from Shabbat song)

ליהודים היתה אורה, ושמחה, וששון, ויקר.
כן תהיה לנו

Layehudim hayta orah v'simcha v'sasson vikar
Ken t'hiyeh lanu

For the Jews (lit. for the grateful people) there was light & joy & celebration & honor--so may there be for us!

Megillat Esther 8:16 / Havdala liturgy

Rena Branson

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