Live recording of the Saturday night participatory concert at Let My People Sing! Summer Retreat 2024. All photos by Zachary Schulman.

Live! From LMPS: Summer 2024 Participatory Concert

Shabbat

Nu Ju Tunz

This set includes Nu & Be Svendsen, Nico Stojan & David Keno, Mochakk & Fernanda Ouro, Missy Elliot & Skrillex, Sam Smith, Todrick Hall, Eddie Kendricks, and others.

After Havdallah and Concert at the Let My People Sing retreat 2024.

Hold On My People @ Let My People Sing 7/13/24

Od Ynuvun, words - Psalm 92, music by Anat Halevy Hochberg & Noam Lerman

Od Ynuvun b’seivah
D’shenim v’ra’ananim yihiyu

Shetulim b’veit adonai,
B’chatztrot eloheinu yafrichu

Tzadik katamar yifrach
Ke’erez balvanon yisgeh

L’hagid ki yashar adonai
Tzuri v’lo avlata bo
עוֹד יְנוּבוּן בְּשֵׂיבָה 
דְּשֵׁנִים וְרַעַנַנִּים יִהְיוּ.

שְׁתוּלִים בְּבֵית ה' 
בְּחַצְרוֹת אֶלֹהֵינוּ יַפְרִיחוּ

צַדִיק כַּתָמָר יִפְרָח כְּאֶרֶז 
בַּלְּבָנוֹן יִשׂגֶּה. 

לְהַגִּיד כִּי יָשָׁר ה'
צוּרִי וְלֹא עַוְלָתָה בּוֹ

Translation:The righteous​ shall flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.Plant​ed in the house of the Lord, they shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit even in old age; they shall be fresh and full of sap; To declare that the Lord is upright; He is my Rock, in whom there is no unrighteo​us​ness. Trans​lation source: Jewish Publicati​on Society Bible (1917) (public domain)

Od Ynuvun - Anat Halevy Hochberg & Noam Lerman

Ufros, Text from Evening Prayerbook Liturgy, melody by Shir Meira Feit 
וּפְרוֹשׂ עָלֵינוּ סֻכַּת שְׁלוֹמֶךָ וְתַקְּנֵנוּ בְּעֵצָה טוֹבָה מִלְּפָנֶיךָ וְהוֹשִׁיעֵנוּ

U·fros a·lei·nu su·kat she·lo·me·cha
Ve·tak·nei·nu be·ei·tzah to·vah mil·fa·ne·cha ve·ho·shi·ei·nu

Spread over us the shelter of Your peace and guide us to better ourselves through Your good counsel.

Ufros - Shir Meira Feit

Laner Velivsamim, 17th century Sefardic Zemer for Motzei Shabbat, Text by R. Saadiah ben Amram

לַנֵּר וְלִבְשָׂמִים נַפְשִׁי מְיַחֵלָה
אִם תִּתְּנוּ לִי כּוס יַיִן לְהַבְדָּלָה

סֹלּוּ דְּרָכִים לִי פַּנּוּ לְנָבוכָה
פִּתְחוּ שְׁעָרִים לִי כָּל מַלְאֲכֵי מַעְלָה

עֵינַי אֲנִי אֶשָּׂא אֶל אֵל בְּלֵב כּוסֵף
מַמְצִיא צְרָכַי לִי בַּיּום וּבַלַּיְלָה

דֵּי מַחְסור תֶּן לִי מֵאוצְרות טוּבָךְ
כִּי לַחֲסָדֶיךָ אֵין קֵץ וְאֵין תִּכְלָה

יִתְחַדְּשָּׁה גִּילִי טַרְפִי וְטובָתִי
תָּסִיר יְגונותַי מַכְאוב וּמַאְפֵלָה


הִנֵּה יְמֵי מַעְשֶׂה מִתְחַדְּשִׁים תָּמִיד
יִתְחַדְּשָׁה בָּהֶם שָׁלום וְטוב סֶלָה
אָנָה

Laner Velivsamim nafshi m'yachelah,
Im tit'nu li kos yayin l'havdalah.

Solu d'rachim li panu l'navuchah,
Pitchu sh'arim li kol malachei malah.

Einai ani esa el El b'lev kosef,
Mamtsi tzorchai li bayom uvalayla.

Dei machsor ten li me'otzrot tuvach,
Ki lakhasadecha ein ketz v'ein tichlah.

Yitchad'sha gili tarfi v'tovati,
Tasir y'gonotai, mach'ov um'afelah.


Hineh yamei ma'seh mitchad'shim tamid,
Y'chad'shah bahem shalom v'tov selah...
Anah…

For the candle and the spices my soul yearns, if you shall give me a cup of wine for Havdalah.

Laner Velivsamim - Sefardic Zemer for Motzei Shabbat (led by Anat Halevy Hochberg)

Well I don’t know where this road is leading
And I don’t know how I got here, Still
I shout in joy, for the voice I’m heeding
Says I know I will
I know I will

Now I don’t know where this body’s going
For the night is dark and I feel the chill
But I shout in joy ‘cause a warm wind blowing
Says I know I will
I know I will

Parts 1 & 2:
I will I will I will I will I know I will

Bass:
Will I will I will uh-huh I know I will

Descant:
I will, yes I know I will
I will, yes I know

I Will - Dodie Whitaker

הִנֵּה אֵ-ל יְשׁוּעָתִי, אֶבְטַח וְלֹא אֶפְחָד כִּי עָזִּי וְזִמְרָת יָ-הּ ה’, וַיְהִי לִי לִישׁוּעָה. וּשְׁאַבְתֶּם מַֽיִם בְּשָׂשׂוֹן, מִמַּעַיְנֵי הַיְשׁוּעָה לַה’ הַיְשׁוּעָה, עַל עַמְּךָ בִרְכָתֶֽךָ סֶּֽלָה. ה’ צְבָאוֹת עִמָּֽנוּ, מִשְׂגָּב לָנוּ אֱלֹקֹי יַעֲקֹב סֶֽלָה ה’ צְבָאוֹת, אַשְרֵי אָדָם בֹּטֵֽחַ בָּךְ. ה’ הוֹשִֽׁיעָה, הַמֶּֽלֶךְ יַעֲנֵֽנוּ בְיוֹם קָרְאֵֽנוּ. לַיְּהוּדִים הָיְתָה אוֹרָה וְשִׂמְחָה וְשָׂשׂוֹן וִיקָר, כֵּן תִּהְיֶה לָּֽנוּ. כּוֹס יְשׁוּעוֹת אֶשָּׂא, וּבְשֵׁם ה’ אֶקְרָא:
Hinei El y'shuati, evtach v'lo efchad. Ki ozi v'zimrat Yah Adonai vay'hi li lishuah. Ush'avtem mayim b'sason mimaay'nei hay'shuah. L'Adonai hay'shuah, al am'cha virchatecha, selah. Adonai tz'vaot imanu, misgav lanu, Elohei Yaakov, selah. Adonai tz'vaot, ashrei adam botei-ach bach! Adonai hoshiah; haMelech yaaneinu v'yom kor'einu. LaY'hudim hay'tah orah v'simchah v'sason vikar; kein tih'yeh lanu. Kos y'shuot esa, uv'shem Adonai ekra:

Havdalah, Blessing over the wine/grape juice: 
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה’, אֱלֹקֵינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא פְּרִי הַגָּֽפֶן. 
Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, borei p'ri hagafen.

Havdalah, Blessing over the spices: 
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה’, אֱלֹקֵינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא מִינֵי בְשָׂמִים.
Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, borei minei v'samim.

Havdalah, Blessing over the flame: 
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה’, אֱלֹקֵינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, בּוֹרֵא מְאוֹרֵי הָאֵשׁ
Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, borei m'orei ha-esh.

Havdalah, Blessing of separation:
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה’, אֱלֹקֵינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, הַמַּבְדִיל בֵּין קֹֽדֶשׁ לְחוֹל, בֵּין אוֹר לְחֹֽשֶׁךְ, בֵּין יִשְׂרָאֵל לָעַמִּים, בֵּין יוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי לְשֵֽׁשֶׁת יְמֵי הַמַּעֲשֶׂה. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה’, הַמַּבְדִיל בֵּין קֹֽדֶשׁ לְחוֹל.
Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam, hamavdil bein kodesh l'chol, bein or l'choshech, bein Yisrael laamim, bein yom hash'vi-i l'sheishet y'mei hamaaseh. Baruch atah Adonai, hamavdil bein kodesh l'chol.

Translation:
Behold, the God who gives me triumph! I am confident, unafraid; for Adonai is my strength and might, and has been my deliverance. Joyfully shall you draw water from the fountains of triumph, deliverance is Adonai's; Your blessing be upon Your people! Selah. Adonai Tz'vaot is with us; the God of Jacob is our haven. Selah. Adonai Tz'vaot. happy is the one who trusts in You. O Adonai, grant victory! May the Sovereign answer us when we call. The Jews enjoyed light and gladness, happiness and honor. So may it be for us. I raise the cup of deliverance and invoke the name of Adonai:

We praise You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, Creator of the fruit of the vine. We praise You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, Creator of varied spices.
We praise You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all, Creator of the lights of fire.
Praise to You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of all: who distinguishes between the holy and ordinary, between light and dark, between Israel and the nations, between the seventh day and the six days of work. Praise to You, Adonai who distinguishes the holy and ordinary.

Havdala (Modzitz & Debbie Friedman melodies)

Tishrei Nigun - Nava Tehila

By the wonderful and talented Rabbi Shefa Gold

Kosi Revaya

Safra

Iraqi Yah Ribon/Lecha Dodi (George Mordechai)

Tune: an adaptation of the song 'Galeh' by Moshe Shur
Concept from Joseph Berman, Words by Joseph Berman & Batya Levine for the Neilah service on Yom Kippur

Open, open up the gates for 
All who gather here
Open up the gates for
all who seek your presence

Open, open up the gates of
Kindness and compassion
Open up the gates of
Wholeness and peace 
 
Open, open up the gates of 
Freedom and justice
Open up the gates of
Liberation

Open, open up the gates of
Change and release
Open up the gates of 
Transformation

Open, open up the gates of 
Healing and forgiveness 
Open up the gates of
Reconciliation

Open, open up the gates of
Listening and patience 
Open up the gates of 
Humility 

Open, open up the gates of 
Prayer and wisdom 
Open up the gates of
Intuition

Open, open up the gates of 
Equity and honor
Open up the gates of
Dignity
 
Open, open up the gates of
Torah and blessing
Open up the gates of
Gratitude and learning 

Open, open up the gates of
Love and connection
Open up the gates of 
Giving and receiving

Open, open up the gates of 
Trust and pleasure
Open up the gates of
Abundance

Open, open up the gates of    
Joy and resilience 
Open up the gates of 
Liberation

Open Up the Gates - Melody: 'Galeh' by Moshe Shur// english words by Joseph Berman & Batya Levine

By Molly Bajgot & Noah Weinberg. 
Elul music project by Anat Hochberg & Matt Goldfield

Elul: Songs for Turning

Od Y'nuvun: Ripening in its Time

JEWISH COMMUNAL SINGING FOR HEALING AND LIBERATION
Let My People Sing! is a cultural project expanding the ancient and transformative practice of Jewish communal singing. We gather in multi-racial, multicultural and genderful Jewish community, uplifting songs and leaders historically and ongoingly pushed to the margins. Together, we transmit and reclaim diasporic Jewish singing traditions, celebrate original music emerging from our communities, and create heart-centered gatherings where we can all be leaders and learners of song.