This is a collection of songs that were shared at Let My People Sing!'s Summer Retreat 2023 that we are thrilled to be sharing with you, beloved community.

Artwork by Sivan Tratt

It is Upon Us to Dream Beyond Us: a taste of LMPS summer retreat 2023

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

What Ezekiel Saw, by Nomy Lamm


CHORUS: I looked up into the sky
I was lookin at the center of god’s insides
Looking for an angel to be my guide
Chills ran up and down my spine

There was a great big golden ring
And it was twisting and turning…

CHORUS

There was a second ring right there inside
The great big golden ring
And it was twisting and turning…

CHORUS

There were eyeballs on every side
of the second ring right there inside
of the great big golden ring
And it was twisting and turning…

CHORUS

There were wings upon wings
growing out the eyeballs on every side
of the second ring right there inside
of the great big golden ring
And it was twisting and turning…


CHORUS

Face of a lion an eagle a human a cow
on wings upon wings
growing out the eyeballs on every side
of the second ring right there inside
of the great big golden ring
And it was twisting and turning…

CHORUS

It was young and old and in between
a lion an eagle a human a cow
on wings upon wings
growing out the eyeballs on every side
of the second ring right there inside
of the great big golden ring
And it was twisting and turning…

CHORUS


Trumpets were blasting!
young and old and in between
a lion an eagle a human a cow
on wings upon wings
growing out the eyeballs on every side
of the second ring right there inside
of the great big golden ring
And it was twisting and turning…

Nomy's Bandcamp: https://nomylamm.bandcamp.com/
Nomy's Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-949519256
Nomy's website: https://www.nomyteaches.com/

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

What Ezekiel Saw: The Ophanim Song - Nomy Lamm

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

Lamma Bada Yatathanna - 10th Century Poem, Unknown Composer
Rhythm: Sama’i Thaqil 10/8
Doum es es Tak es Doum Doum Tak es es
D - - T - D D T - -

لما بدي يتثني
Lamma bada Yatathan-na
When my love appeared walking with a swinging gait
لما بدي يتثني
Lamma bada Yatathan-na
When my love appeared walking with a swinging gait
امان امان امان امان امان
Aman Aman Aman Aman Aman
(exclamation)
حبي جماله فتننا
7ebbi jama-lu fatan-na
Her beauty infatuated me
امان امان امان امان امان
Aman Aman Aman Aman Aman
(exclamation)
أومى بلحظ أسرنا
Awma bi LaHzu asarna
Something captured our hearts at a glance
أومى بلحظ أسرنا
Awma bi LaHzu asarna
Something captured our hearts at a glance
امان امان امان امان امان
Aman Aman Aman Aman Aman
(exclamation)
غصن ثنى حينما
Ghusnun thana Hin-amal
Like the branches that sway gracefully
امان امان امان امان امان
Aman Aman Aman Aman Aman
(exclamation)
وعدي و يا حيرتي
Wa’di wa ya Hirati
Oh my destiny, my dilemma
وعدي و يا حيرتي
Wa’di wa ya Hirati
Oh my destiny, my dilemma
ما لي رحيم شكوتي
Mali raHimu shakwaty
None will answer my appeal
بالحب من لوعتي
BilHoub-bi min law’aty
Who can heal me from my ardor of love
إلا مليك الجمال
Illa maleekul jamal
Other than the lady (Lordess) of beauty.
إلا مليك الجمال
Illa maleekul jamal
Other than the lady (Lordess) of beauty?
بالحب من لوعتي
Bil7oubbi min law3aty
Who can heal me from my ardor of love
إلا مليك الجمال
Illa maleekul jamal
Other than the lady (Lordess) of beauty?
إلا مليك الجمال
Illa maleekul jamal
Other than the lady (Lordess) of beauty?

April's website: https://aprilcentrone.com/

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

Lamma Bada Yatathanna - 10th Century Poem, Unknown Composer, led by April Centrone

Greif and Love by Sarina Partidge
Grief moving through me
Let my body
Feel the waves of love and grief

Grief, grief and love
Let me feel it all

Purchase this track & hear more music from Sarina: https://sarinapartridge.bandcamp.com/  
Support Sarina's work: Patreon.com/sarinapartridge 
Sarina's Website: https://sarinapartridge.com/

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

Grief and Love - Sarina Partridge

Ashreichem, piyyut from Persian tradition, sung by MJ Gilbert 
written in Judeo-Persian 
זְכוּתֶה תוּרֶה יֶה מוּשֶׁה
זְכוּתֶה גַ'מְעֵה חֲבֵרִים 
בָּר מָה רֶסַאן בְּשׂוֹרָה 
אָז אוֹמַאדַנֶה יְשׁוּעָה 
אַשְׁרֵיכֶם אַשְׁרֵיכֶם אַשְׁרֵיכֶם יִשְׂרָאֵל 
אָז צֶ'שְׁמֶה יֶה הָיֶיה יְשׁוּעָה 
אָוֹבֶּה הָייָאתִי בָּרוֹרִים 
בָּר מָה רֶסַאן בְּשׂוֹרָה 
אָז אוֹמַאדַנֶה יְשׁוּעָה 
אַשְׁרֵי אֲשֶׁר אַשְׁרֵי 
הַשִּׁירִים אֲשֶׁר לִשְׁלֹמֹה 
אַשְׁרֵיכֶם אַשְׁרֵיכֶם אַשְׁרֵיכֶם יִשְׂרָאֵל

Zekhuteh tureh ye Musheh
Zekhuteh jam’eh haverim
Bar mah resan besorah
Az omadaneh yeshu’ah
Ashreikhem, ashreikhem, ashreikhem Israel
Az cheshmeh yeh hayeh yeshu’ah
A-obe hayati barorim
Bar mah resan besorah
Az omadaneh yeshu’ah
Ashrei, asher ashrei 
Hashirim asher li-Shlomo
Ashreikhem, ashreikhem, ashreikhem Israel

By the merit of the Torah of Moses
By the merit of this gathering of friends
Send us the good news
Of the coming of our redemption.
Happy, happy, happy are you O Israel
From the wells of redemption we draw the water of life
Happy, happy, happy are you O Israel



Artwork by Sivan Tratt

Ashreichem - piyyut from Persian tradition, sung by MJ Gilbert

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.