Meditative Jewish

jewish magic anxiety relief

Zemirot: Sacred Table Songs of Shabbat

Shabbat singing

A couple of holy yids, jammin' out during the weekly Tuesday night Shiur / Jam session last week... Download and throw this on your iPod!

Oseh Shalom

Shnat Netzer Ma'ayan's CD, recorded on 28th May 2016 in Jerusalem.

lean in

This is a demo track of a song my father Jerome Korman and I (Arielle Korman) wrote together. The lyrics in Hebrew come from Pirkei Avot 1:14 and the English is my translation. I have included all the lyrics below. Also, there will be a version of this song's sheet music in the Justice Choir Songbook Volume 1(you'll see the version is ever so slightly different). 

A word on the parts: There is a version of the melody in Hebrew and in English. I've sung through the song a few times to show the melody with and without the basic backing part. In one version, I've added a second harmony to the backing track. 

When singing this song in any context, please have fun with the parts! Sing harmonies, sing loudly, sing it out. Stay tuned for a full recording of the song for listening purposes!

1. 
Im ein ani li, mi li? 
U’chshe ani l’atzmi ma ani? 
Ve im lo achshav, ematai?
 Im lo achshav, ematai?

2.
If I am not for me, who will be?
If I am just for me, what does that make me?
And if not now, then when?
If not now, then when? 

Background:
Im lo achshav… Im lo achshav… Im lo achshav…
Im lo achshav, ematai?

(P.S: The Hebrew written in Hebrew: 
אִם אֵין אֲנִי לִי, מִי לִי. וּכְשֶׁאֲנִי לְעַצְמִי, מָה אֲנִי. וְאִם לֹא עַכְשָׁיו, אֵימָתַי)

If Not Now

Inspired by nomadic years, the wisdom of the body and nervous system, change, Somatic Reality: Bodily Experience and Emotional Truth by Stanley Kelemen, the Kohenet Hebrew Priestess community, and the Judaism of my ancestors. Received to the tune of Avinu Malkeinu, a traditional Jewish High Holidays prayer.

Deep gratitude to my teachers, community and bright and well ancestors: Taya Shere, Rabbi Jill Hammer, Ibrahim Baba, my parents, Zaide, Grandpa, the Romanian women, Kohenet and so many more. Thank you.

Lyrics:
Slow down, child, slow down
Slow down and listen to the wind
All comes together; all falls apart
Forming anew your beating heart

Slow down, child, slow down
Slow down and draw yourself near
The rocks are your keepers
Tell them your stories
Now it is safe to be here

A river flows from within you to where you will go
The current carries you home
Let your life unfold

Slow down, child, slow down
Slow down and you will receive
Life wants to meet you where you are
Not where you think you should be

A river flows from within you to where you will go
The current carries you home
Let your life unfold

Slow down, child, slow down
Slow down and you will be shown
The love that was always lifting you up
You are never alone

A river flows from within you to where you will go
The current carries you home
Let your life unfold

Slow down child, slow down (x4)

Slow down, child, slow down
Slow down and listen to the wind
All comes together; all falls apart
Forming anew your beating heart

Slow Down / The Mother's Response (Preview)

Archangel Meditation / Invocation: 
 
B'Shem Hashem 
B'Shem Hashem 

M'yimini Michael 
M'smoli Gavriel 
M'lfanai Uriel 
M'achorai Rafael 

V'al roshi 
V'al roshi 
Shechinat El 

Boachem L'Shalom 
Malachei Hashalom 
Malachei Elyon 

B'Shem Ima Ila'ah 
B'Shem Ima Ila'ah 


In the name of The Name
In the name of The Name 

On my right: Michael (Divine Messenger) 
On my left: Gabriel (Divine Strength)
In front of me: Uriel (Divine Light)
Behind me: Rafael (Divine Healing) 
Above my head: The Divine Presence of Shechina (She Who Dwells Within)

Come in Peace
Angels/ Messengers of Peace
Angels/Messengers of the most high 

In the name of the Cosmic Mother
In the name of the Cosmic Mother ....

(Angel / Messenger invocation repeats) 
 
B'Shem Ahava 
B'Shem Ahava 

In the name of Love
In the name of Love

- Adapted from traditional Jewish bedtime prayer & Shabbat evening Shalom Aleichem liturgy- 

(Listen before sleep or anytime to invoke peace, grounding, healing and presence)

Melody / arrangement by: Yael Schonzeit
Sruti, drum, vocals, recording: Yael Schonzeit 

Yaelillah.bandcamp.com 
Yaelschonzeit.com

Archangel Meditation / Invocation

Song recordings from the class God Proclaims Freedom: Singing the Zemirot of Shabbat, at the 2018 Havurah Institute

Tzur Mishelo - India

Yah Ribon led by Galeet Dardashti, live from the participatory concert at Let My People Sing! 2018

LMPS 2018

Yah Ribon - Galeet Dardashti - LMPS 2018

I wrote this song inspired by this quote from the Apocrypha, Book of Enoch (9:7) “The angels taught the daughters of men incantations, exorcisms, the cutting of roots, and revealed to them healing plants.”

The angels revealed to us healing plants (x2)
The angels taught the daughters the cutting of roots (x2)

Erez v'ezov
Levanah v'rimon
Shaked v'tamar
peygam v'shoom

Cedar and hyssop
frankincense and pomegrante
almond and date palm
rue and garlic

 I love this quote because it speaks to knowledge acquired through direct transmission, through relationship, specifically to “the daughters of men” (which we know means anyone without access to institutional power/gender non-conforming/trans/femmes) –  people who are identified by who they belong to and who are clearly transgressing by hanging out with and learning from angels.  It also suggests that this knowledge is always/still available to us; that even though it can feel like the healing wisdom and practices of our ancestors have been lost or purposely hidden from us,  we can access this knowledge by connecting with “angels.” Who are these angels who reveal and teach this stuff (and can I follow them on instagram and take a workshop?) I don’t know, but in my dreams sometimes they are the trees and flowers themselves, generously sharing their magic and beauty everywhere we look. (fyi, originally, in the Apocrypha, this was not actually a celebration of learning about healing from angels as you can imagine!)

you can read more about jewish plant magic here: https://dorimidnight.com/resources/jewish-plant-magic-rooting-in-resources/?fbclid=IwAR1edzpNKBZMTcivRU6TsePiQuoUGNrzxBMsButomfTNbErAHO2D1aqQc3A

Erez V'ezov

Safra

Iraqi Yah Ribon/Lecha Dodi (George Mordechai)

Recorded by Aliza Abolafia and Rena Branson

Lecha Dodi (Rena Branson)

when i arrived you were already there

A new solo CD from AVIVA ( Jaffa Road lead singer Aviva Chernick)

Comprised primarily of transcendent vocals matched to light, instrumental textures, gentle harmonies and heavily spiritual in nature, these nine compositions are a combination of fully realized songs and musical ideas which simply take flight based on the sensual power of Aviva’s vocal prowess. 

Sung in both English and Hebrew, when i arrived you were already there enlists the support of Canadian World and Indie music heavyweights Ernie Tollar, Joel Schwartz, Chris Gartner, Rakesh Tewari, Aaron Lightstone, Naghmeh Farahmand and others, incorporating exotic instrumentation such as tabla, udu, xaphoon, oud, djembe and bansuri together with electric guitar, piano, bass and percussion.

From the whispered beginnings of “Eili” with elements of flute (xaphoon), electric guitar and trance-like percussion to the more hook-like “Bo’i Kalah” with its guitar-led chorus of singers and flute, you realize that this is not your typical presentation. Quite the opposite, Aviva’s vocals glue this album together, surrounded by flourishes of the familiar. From the highly introspective “L’Chun N’ran’na”, meandering along like a small river before picking up its pace, breaking into a full swirl to the very hymnal, choral characteristics of “Zeh Hayom”, upon which her voice floats softly above the stars, supported by multiple voices, building to a powerful, near-frenzied conclusion.

You need know nothing in advance to marvel at this release: an appreciation for world music, purity and the sheer beauty of a captivating vocalist sharing the intimacy of her first solo flight. She takes care of the rest. 

09 Hashkiveinu

K'mei Nahar

Tzur Mishelo - Peter Avniel Salzman z''l (sung by Magevet) - contemporary

Tzama Nafshi - composer unknown, Ashkenazi

Harachmaneet - Eitan Kantor

Lyrics by Ibn Gvirol & Melody by Arielle Korman 

Shachar avakeshcha, tzuri u’misgabi
E’eroch lefanecha shachri v’gam arvi
Lifnei gedulatcha, e’emod v’ebahel
Ki eincha tireh chol machshevot libi
Ma zeh acher yuchal halev v’halashon 
La’asot u’mah koach ruchi b’toch kirbi 
Hineh l’cha titav zimrat enosh al ken 
Odcha b’od tihyeh nishmat Eloha bi 

(Somewhat Interpretive) English Translation— Arielle Korman

Dawn— I seek you, my rock and my fortress 
I unfurl before you my Shacharit (morning) and Aravit (evening) prayers 
Before your greatness I stand in my fear 
For your eye sees all the thoughts of my heart.
What is it that my heart and tongue are capable of 
doing? What is the strength of this spirit within me?
Here— a human’s song will be good to you.
I thank you, while the spirit of God is still within me. 

שַׁחַר אֲבַקֶשְׁךָ,
צוּרִי וּמִשְׂגַּבִּי
אֶעְרֹך לְפָנֶיךְ
שַׁחְרִי וְגַם עַרְבִּי
 
לִפְנֵי גְדֻלָּתְךָ
אֶעְמֹד וְאֶבָּהֵל
כִּי עֵינְךָ תִרְאֶה
כָּל מַחְשְׁבוֹת לִבִּי
 
מַה זֶה אֲשֶׁר יוּכַל
הַלֵּב וְהַלָּשׁוֹן
לַעְשׂוֹת וּמַה כֹּחַ
רוּחִי בְּתוֹךְ קִרְבִּי
 
הִנֵּה לְךָ תִיטַב
זִמְרַת אֱנוֹשׁ עַל כֵּן
אוֹדְךָ בְּעוֹד תִּהְיֶה
נִשְׁמַת אֱלוֹהַּ בִּי

Shachar Avakeshcha - Lyrics by Ibn Gvirol & Melody by Arielle Korman

Modah/Modeh Ani is a prayer said upon waking up in amazement that the spirit has returned from the dream world to the body! There are so many beautiful and joyful melodies for this prayer, but sometimes waking up and discovering oneself alive, while beautiful, is also kind of eerie and bizarre. Here's my slightly emo Modah Ani for you to try out when the right moment hits <3 

I thank you, vital and present Ruler/Spirit of the Universe, for you returned my spirit to me with compassion. Your faithfulness is abundant. 

מודה אני לפניך מלך חי וקיים, שהחזרת בי נשמתי בחמלה, רבה אמונתך
מודה אני לפניך רוח חי וקיימת שהחזרת בי נשמתי בחמלה רבה אמונתיך

Modah/Modeh ani lefanekha/lefanayikh, Ruach/Melech chai v'Kayam/Kayemet, shehekhezart/a bi nishmati b'chemla raba emunatekha/emunatayikh.

Modah Ani (in Existential Dread)aka Emo-dah Ani

Sanctuary Song.mp3

Melody derived from the Ashkenazi trop (cantillation) for Eicha (the text we read on Tisha b'Av, a Jewish day of mourning)

Hebrew text from opening phrase of Eicha (sung in Ashkenazi trop, with Ashkenazi pronunciation)
אֵיכָה יָשְׁבָה בָדָד, הָעִיר רַבָּתִי עָם--הָיְתָה, כְּאַלְמָנָה
Eicha yashva vadad, ha'ir rabasi am haysa k'almanah
[Translation: How is she sitting alone, the city who was once full of her people, how she is like a widow]

Oh weary one, lay your head down and rest your aching bones on the ground
Oh fearful one, lay your head down and let your body breathe on the ground
Oh hopeless one, lay your head down and rest your heavy heart on the ground
Oh yearning one, lay your head down and sing your song into the ground
Oh rageful one, lay your head down and let your tears flow into the ground
Oh weary one, lay your head down and rest your aching bones on the ground
Oh ANCIENT ONE, as we lay our heads down, please lay with us on the ground

Artwork from 14 Century German Book of Eicha

Harachmaneet - Eitan Kantor

Kol Tzedek