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

🕊️

Movement Music

Time of Change - Keshira haLev Fife
We’re the ones we’ve been waiting for
We’re the ones we’ve been waiting for
It is upon us to dream beyond us
We’re the ones we’ve been waiting for
 
This is a time of change
Hold liminality
Let it rearrange us
May it turn us towards the sacred

Keshira's website: https://www.keshirahalev.com/

Photo by Jess Benjamin, taken at Let My People Sing! Summer Retreat 2023

Time of Change - Keshira haLev Fife

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

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

Evtach Velo Efchad - Arielle Lekach-Rosenberg


An easy-to-learn, slow, emotional gospel song with rich harmonies and freeform gospel solo. The original version of this song is in the public domain.

This song was arranged by Lisa Goettel for the Wholehearted Chorus. Please contact Lisa for permission to use this arrangement in recording or performance.

http://thebirdsings.com/songs

Hold On Just A Little While Longer

Upon my first month spent as a work scholar at Esalen Institute in 2005, our gifted group leader David Schiffman was inspired to write and share this short poem with us. A few years later I put it to music and began sharing it in groups. I shared the song with David before he passed away and sang it at his memorial. Since that time this song has been traveling far and wide, a healing song of potent simplicity. ~Lisa

This song is versitile - hymn-like, march-like and easy to learn.

Copyright Lisa G. Littlebird. Vocals on the track by Lisa G. Littlebird.

This is a recording used as a practice track for the Wholehearted Chorus of Monterey and Big Sur, CA, under the direction of Lisa G. Littlebird. Lyrics and individual part tracks can be found at:
http://thebirdsings.com/spirit-found-us

Spirit Found Us

"We Rise" was inspired by the powerful, prayerful resistance Batya Levine witnessed and experienced at Standing Rock. This song is an attempt to remember and to hold that model of resistance in our hearts and in our minds. 

We Rise…  humbly hearted
Rise...   won’t be divided
Rise...     with spirit to guide us
Rise!
(Chorus) (x2)
In hope, in prayer, we find ourselves here
In hope, in prayer, we’re right here!
We Rise… all of the children
Rise...     elders with wisdom
Rise...     ancestors surround us
Rise!
(Chorus)
We Rise…   up from the wreckage
Rise...     with tears and with courage
Rise…    fighting for life
Rise!
(Chorus & Repeat verse 1)

More from Batya and Let My People Sing here: https://soundcloud.com/user-478813445

Voice Memos

We Rise

A prompt from the IfNotNow swarm led me to write and record this demo. Listen and adapt and sing! The text is a Ladino proverb: Boz del puevlo boz del sielo. The voice of the people is the voice of the sky. I switch the v in "puevlo" to a b sometimes which was an accident but is in keeping with linguistic variations of Spanish and Ladino through space and time, so... go figure.



 Ⓒ Arielle Korman 2017

Boz del Puevlo

Melody by IfNotNow member Arielle Korman. 

Boz del puevlo, boz del sielo.
The voice of the people is the voice of the heavens.
-- Judeo-Spanish(Ladino) Proverb

Found in Devin Naar's book Jewish Salonica.

Boz del Puevlo / The voice of the people

This song came through in pieces over the course of many weeks. As I was writing and uncovering it I experienced it as a song that was demanding itself be heard, despite the discomfort it often provoked for me. It is relentlessly fiery - an expression of love as a fierce "no" our boundary, as a mother protecting her young. As I was writing it felt clear to me that this voice is essential and called for in our world now. In a world where it is all too easy to lose sight of how our actions and lifestyle impact others and where we often lurch into excess and greed at the expense of others, this song offers a voice of fierce boundary that can be helpful in waking us up and restoring balance.As I've been teaching it to Wholehearted Chorus, I have been encouraging my singers to make it their own, so it is personally meaningful for them. For me much of this song has been a response to climate grief, and some parts a response to the "me too" movement, along with a deeply personal journey of feeling the spirit of fierce, feminine power within. I wish to express my gratitude to Patra Lounsbury for making the connection of this energy with Sekhmet, the Egyptian goddess of fierce power, and for Deva Munay and all who supported this song's birth and my integration of Sekhmet's archetype within it. I would also like to thank Ben Gould for writing the men's part, and Annie Anton for her contribution of one of the melodic lines.

Original song by Lisa G. Littlebird, with contributions by and appreciations to Ben Gould & Annie Anton. Recorded by Lisa G. Littlebird with Ben Gould.

For lyrics, individual part tracks and more, visit: http://thebirdsings.com/sekhmet/

Song of Sekhmet by Lisa G. Littlebird

sim shalom, sim shalom, sim shalom, oooh sim shalom
lace peace and goodness and blessing on the world
grace, lovingkindness, compassion on us

Sim Shalom - Koach Baruch Frazier

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.