Yotzer Yechidati - R’bi Moshe Zakut (Italy, 1620-1697)
Morocco | Baqashot Beshalah | Hijaz Mesharqi

Yotzer yechidati lo etenah dodai 
Echeseh be’ziv seter e’lion betzel Shadai

Gamar be’yom shishi et kol asher a’sah
Ra’a vehineh tov, kol machazeh Shadai

Limeyachaleh chasdo ganaz me’or tuvo
Mazhir ke zohar a’l harim veziv shadai

Kidesh behar Sinai et kol kahal ‘amo
Hamu lechibato gam bahamot Shadai

Moshe zechut hirba torah befiv natan
Kolo kekol mayim rabim kekol Shadai

Yom ze ani mekhin nafshi le’hod yeter
‘Al ken teshacher na el el ve’el Shadai

Ochil le’tsur el chay yigmor shanot hachol Lishbot beshabato az yaaloz Shadai.

To the creator of my being, I shall give my love
In the light of a sublime secret, I will hide in the shadow of Shadai 
He finished on Friday everything that he had done 
He saw that it was good, all of Shadai’s creation.
He strengthened the sick with the light of his goodness. 
The splendor of Shadai shines like a beacon on the mountains.
In Sinai, he blessed the whole community of his people
They hummed to his affection,  even the animals of Shadai.
Moshe multiplied the credits and gave Torah from his mouth. His voice was like the voices of water, like the voice of Shadai. 
For that day, I am preparing my soul to deep gratitude
That God may arise, El and El Shadai.
I pray that my rock, the living God,  may end the unsacred years. That He may sit in His Shabat. Then Shadai may exult.
Source:  אתר הפיוט והתפילה, שיר ידידות. Translation and Transliteration: Laura Elkeslassy.

Laura's Website: https://www.lauraelkeslassy.com/
Laura's Bandcamp: https://lauraelkeslassy.bandcamp.com/album/ya-ghorbati-live-concert

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

Yotzer Yechidati - R' Moshe Zakut, Morocco, Baqashot Bashelah, sung by Laura Elkeslassy

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.

I have published four poetry books in Romanian in my country and had poems in English and Spanish published in anthologies internationally. For now, I will use SoundCloud to record my poetry, as well as my kalimba and tongue drum music. I hope you will enjoy my work and support my poetic and musical endeavors.