Awesome Days. During my childhood, I experienced compelling and inspiring Tefillot on the Yamim Noraim, Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, that have remained with me to this day. 
Our parents, Dr. Gershon and Trude Kranzler, a’h, traveled from Baltimore to Williamsburg NY so that we could be with our grandparents, and daven with Reb Yisroel Rosenbaum, the Baal Mussaf in Rav Nosson Horowitz’s Shteibel on Lee Ave. upstairs from the A&P grocery store. It was a small community, totally engaged, and spiritually intense. Many of the Mitpallelim, the congregants, were survivors of the Shoah who had suffered significant trauma and loss. The Shliach Tzibbur, the prayer leader, Reb Yisroel, represented his community with heart wrenching and joyful depth. As he was leading, he was being led. He tuned into his co-daveners with sensitivity, interpreting the prayers with beautiful traditional Nussach and exhilarating or anguished Chassidic Niggunim. Tears flowed, voices raised, eyes closed. Clapping and dancing, each member of the Kahal, the praying community, was immersed, praying as if their lives depended on it, and they were.
I never left my father’s side during these precious and formative Tefillot. I sat, often under his Tallit, hearing his soulful prayers, feeling his tears, wrapped in the sheer beauty of his relationship with Hashem with whom he was communicating his innermost yearning and hopes.
And then, there were unforgettable moments when my father, Reb Gershon, would bend over and whisper in my ear. “Elli, this is the next Tefillah, it’s going to be with this Niggun.” And he would hum the melody in my ear that Reb Yisroel was going to sing to Adam Yesodo or Vechol Maaminim.
This was our Teshuva. We were “Returning Home.” To Hashem and one another, to our Tefillot and the NIggunim of our Yamim Noraim.
It was the gift of a lifetime my siblings and I received from our parents. I experienced what happens when a community is fully engaged; everyone is responsible for each other’s spiritual well-being. We were powerfully and humbly united in striving and sensitive attunement to each other’s Avodah Shebelev, our heartfelt Tefillot.
With these imprints seared in my spiritual memory bank, I entered into the awesome challenge of being the Shliach Tzibbur at the Bayit over thirty years ago, at the request of our beloved Rav Avi Weiss. We have worked together, to build our davening with love, care and respect for our Tefillah BeTzibbur. There are moments, especially on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, when
we feel the power of our large Kehilla, joining in harmony and unity, serving Hashem together with sincerity and heartbroken joy.
Today, with deepest gratitude to Rabbi Steven Exler and our Rabbinic team, to the members of our community who participated in this recording and to the whole congregation with whom I have had the privilege of davening these many years, I share this recording of Tefillat Mussaf on Rosh Hashana. I pray these melodies will help each of you to Return Home.

לשוב הביתה Returning Home: This recording is intended for Hachana, preparation for these unique Yamim Noraim, these Awesome Days, with the prayer that soon we may return with our loved ones in full energy and health to our Bayit, to each other, to Hashem.
Immeasurable thanks to Ori Salzberg, Meaningful Media, for producing, recording, editing, mixing, and mastering this complete project. He has done so with great care, sensitivity, and skill, and I am forever grateful.
Thank you to the chorus of Bayit members who joined us in recording the niggunim that we harmonize together on the Yamim Noraim.
Vocals and Guitar - Elli Kranzler
Guitar, percussion, vocals – Ori Salzberg
Bass, Acoustic, Electric Guitar – Matan Goldberg
Cover Design – Eliyah Feldman, Avigail Schondorf

Returning Home - לשוב הביתה (Lashuv Habayta)

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Unetaneh Tokef – “Let us proclaim the great holiness of this day. It is awesome, even overwhelming. On this day Your kingship is lifted, Your throne is established with kindness and You sit on it in truth.” This central prayer of Mussaf, attributed to Rabbi Amnon of Mayence, speaks of Gd as judge, knower and witness who recalls and records all in the book of records. This book reads itself and the signature of every person is in it. The Great Shofar is sounded, a silent, gentle voice is heard, the angels proclaim, “Behold the Day of Judgement.” All mankind passes before Gd, individually, like sheep. Gd reviews the soul of every living being and records the decree of their judgment.
[Nussach and melody by S. Carlebach]

Unesaneh Tokef

Melech Elyon – Most high King, who dwells on high, mighty One on high, His strong hand is uplifted. He will reign forever our most high King.

Melech Elyon

Mechalkel Chaim – Sustainer of the living, with kindness. Gd is resurrector of the dead, a supporter of the fallen, healer of the sick. Who is like You, Merciful Father, Who remembers His creatures for life in His mercy? The Chasam Sofer explains that here we ask to be granted a life of mercy, one in which we live lives of compassion modeled for us by Gd. [Melody – S. Carlebach]

Mechalkel

Zochraynu – Remember us for life, You the King, Who desires life. Inscribe us please in the Book of life, for Your sake, Living Gd. [Melody]

Zochraynu

Chatzi Kaddish – The Half Kaddish. Traditional Nussach. Share in the power of many hundreds of congregants raising our voices in praise of Hashem, Exalted and Sanctified be His Great Name. This is a recording from the first night of Selichot when after singing and dancing our way into the energy of the Yamim Noraim at a preparatory concert, at 1 am we daven Selichot, prayers of supplication and return.

Kaddish (Slichos Live 2008)

Dr. Elli Kranzler, a well-known practicing psychiatrist, has been involved in composing and performing Jewish music since his teens. He has performed throughout the US and other countries. Elli is the Shliach Tzibbur at the Bayit. He was a member of Dveykus and Journeys and recorded the album, "Ki Ata Imadi - Because You are with Me" with his daughter, Ravital.

Kaddish (Slichos Live 2008)

Elli Kranzler

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