Words written by Rabbi David Seidenberg, 
"Sosne Niggun" (Kind Melody) composed by Jonah Meadows Adel, zl"
Sung by Nili Simhai with Mat Tonti on guitar

הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יָשִיב לִבּינוּ אֶל הָאָרֶץ לְמַעַן נֵשֵב יָחַד עִמָהּ
בּשׁבְתהּ כּל שׁנַת הַשׁמִיטָה

"Harachaman hu yashiv libeinu el ha'aretz, l'ma'an neishev yachad imah, b'shovtah kol sh'nat hash'mitah"

"May the merciful One turn our hearts toward the land, so that we may dwell together with her in her sabbath-resting the whole year of Shmita."

This liturgy was born on the eve of the last Jewish sabbatical cycle, called the shmita year (erev 5775).  The blessing after meals is a traditional place in Jewish liturgy to mark sacred time, and eating is the one activity where everyone -- not just farmers -- can connect to the shmita year. Adding a harachaman for shmita to Birkat Hamazon right after the Shabbat Harachaman is a way to remember all aspects of the shmita year -- the land’s rest, our love and respect for the land, and our own liberation from want and greed. 

Our hope is that pairing these words with Jonah's niggun elevates his work in the world, to love the land and all God's Creations. We encourage you to also listen to him singing the original niggun by searching for Sosne Nign on SoundCloud and singing the tune all the other six years of the calendar.

In honor of Shmita Year 5782.

Shmita Harachaman (Updated)

With love, from our Teva family to yours.

This song was originally introduced to Nili Simhai when she heard it played on the streets of New Orleans by Brian Hudson.  The original words were written by Gwil Owen.

This shameless adaptation was written by Nili, with help from Nomi Lerman and Spencer Garfield, and first performed at the Monday night campfire at Teva in Ramah Darom.  Nomi is playing quitar, with an assist by Mat Tonti on mandolin towards the end.

Sweet Teva Lullaby

This is how we originally sang Harachaman in 5775!  To hear the updated one, look for Shmita Harachaman (updated)!

This harachaman was created with the intention that it could be said during every birkat hamazon of the shmita (sabbatical) year.

Words written by Rabbi David Seidenberg, "Sosne Niggun" composed by Jonah Meadows Adel, zl", sung by Nili Simhai

הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יָשִיב לִבּינוּ אֶל הָאָרֶץ לְמַעַן נֵשֵב יָחַד עִמָהּ
 בּשׁבְתהּ כּל שׁנַת הַשׁמִיטָה

"Harachaman hu yashiv libeinu el ha'aretz, l'ma'an neishev yachad imah, b'shovtah kol sh'nat hash'mitah"

 "May the merciful One turn our hearts toward the land, so that we may dwell together with her in her sabbath-resting the whole year of Shmita."

In honor of Shmita Year 5775.

Teva Learning Alliance

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