Music Sweet Sweet Music
Tara Jones
Songs of the Siddur
The siddur (prayer book) that inspired the Songs of the Siddur is the siddur of the Reconstructionist Press, which is the siddur used at Temple Beth Israel of Eugene, Oregon. The siddurs used by the different branches of Judaism (from Orthodox to Renewal) vary greatly from one another. The Reconstructionist Siddur contains not only prayers and psalms but also non-biblical poetry and prose, commentary and transliterations and English translations of many of the (Hebrew) prayers.
With the exception of "Bedtime Shema," which is sung, as it's title suggests, at bedtime, Songs of the Siddur was inspired by the psalms, poems and prayers that are part of Shabbat morning service. They are presented here in the order they appear in the service.
Ten percent of the proceeds from the sale of these songs will be donated toTemple Beth Israel of Eugene, Oregon.
Drawn by Your Love (Mah Tovu)
This song is based on the words of "Mah Tovu" the prayer
that is the first of several blessings (Birhot Hashahar) that
open services on Shabbat morning. the house it speaks
of is the synagogue.
Drawn by your love
I come into your house.
Drawn by your love
I lay me down.
Drawn by your love
I fall in prayer.
Drawn by your love
My body I bend down.
Repeat.
I greet, I bless, I bend the knee,
Before the one who fashions me.
I greet, I bless, I bend the knee,
Before the one who fashions me.
Drawn by your love....
And as for me, my prayer is for you
Gentle one, oh gentle one.
And as for me, my prayer is for you.
May it be for you a time of desire.
Drawn by your love...
My body I bend down.
My body I bend down.
Blessed is the One
The morning blessings are followed by verses of praise
(Pesukey Dezimrah). These verses go on for many pages
in the siddur and the verses selected by the rabbi for the
congregation to either sing or recite varies from service to
sevice. I have yet however to attend a service that didn't include
Baruh She'amar (Blessed is the One) as the opening song
and Hallelujah as a final expression of exuberant gratitude
before the more contemplative Nishat Kol Hay
(Oceans of Song) that follows.
Blessed is the one
who spoke and all things came to be
Blessed is the one.
Blessed are you.
Repeat.
Blessed who created all in the beginning.
Blessed who created.
Blessed is your name.
Blessed is the one who determines and fulfills.
Blessed is the one.
Blessed are you.
Blessed is the one deals kindly with the world.
Blessed is the one.
Blessed are you.
Blessed who created...
Blessed is the one who responds with good to those in awe.
Blessed is the one.
Blessed are you.
Blessed who created...
Blessed is the one who lieves eternally and lasts forever.
Blessed is the one.
Blessed are you.
Blessed is the one who delivers and redeems.
Blessed is the one.
Blessed are you.
Blessed who created...
Blessed is the one
who spoke...
Repeat.
Blessed are you. Blessed are you.
Halleluyah (Psalm 150)
Call out to Yah in Heaven's holy place!
Boom out to Yah across the firmament!
Let every living thing, Yah's great praises sing.
Hallelu, Halleluyah!
Repeat.
Blast out for Yah, with piercing shofar note!
Pluck ou for Yah with lute and violin!
Let every living thing...
Throb out for Yah with drum and writhing dance!
Sing out for Yah with strings and husky flute!
Let every living thing...
Ring out for Yah with cymbals that resound!
Clang out for Yah wih cymbals that rebound!
Let every living thing...
Hallelu, Hallelujah!
Oceans of Song
This song was inspired by a summer morning spent
picking blueberries on a beautiful organic farm near my home.
Were our mouths oceans of song.
Were our tongues alive with exultation
like the waters waves.
Baruch ata adonai
Baruch ata adonai
Baruch, Baruch
Baruch ata
Baruch ata adonai
Baruch ata adonai
Repeat.
Were our lips filled full of praises
like the heavens dome.
Were our eyes lit up like the sun and moon.
Baruch...
Were our hands spread out like eagle's wings.
Were our feet as light as those of the gazelle.
We would never have sufficient praise for you.
Nor could we bless your name enough,
For even one small measure of the thousands upon thousands of the
Times of goodness when you acted for our ancestors and us.
For our ancestors and us.
Baruch....
Baruch, baruch, baruch atah. (Repeat two more times.)
Baruh atah adonai. Baruch atah adonai.
Hatzi Kaddish
The Hatzi Kaddish (short prayer) marks the transition between
the verses of praise and the Shema (and the blessings that
accompany it). As it name suggests, the Hatzi Kaddish is the
shortest of the many versions of this prayer thatare recited in
the morning service. The text that is used in my song is thus
part of all these other prayers as well including the most
well-known of them, the Mourner's Kaddish.
May God complete the holy realm
in your own lifetime.
In your days, and in the days
of all he house of Israel.
Repeat.
May God's great name be blessed forever.
May God's great name be blessed forever.
Forever and as long as worlds endure.
May it be blessed and praised and glorified.
Held in honor, viewed with awe, embellished and revered.
And May he blessed name of holiness be hailed
Though it be higher than all the blessings
Though it be higher than all the songs
Though it be higher than all the praises
and consolations that we utter in this world.
And say, Amen.
May God complete the holy realm
in your own lifetime.
In your days, and in the days
of all he house of Israel.
Every Day
The siddur of the Reconstructionist Press includes
commentary, teachings, notes and poetry. "Every Day"
is based on a poem by Rabbi Sheila Peltz Weinberg
that appears in the section of the service devoted to
the Shema. (The poem is used with her permission.)
Every day, every day, every day
Creation is renewed.
Repeat
Wake up and see, wake up and see
Unfolding in the spreading light of dawn.
Wake up and see, wake up and see
The world and all it contains.
Coming into being new, fresh
Filled with goodness and love
Repeat
Wake up and see...
Every day....
Reflected in the great lights
We see a new day
Repeat
One precious day, one precious day
Eternity
Repeat
Every day...
Wake up...
Wake up and see, wake up and see the world and all it contains.
Shema
Shema yisrael adonay eloheynu
Shema yisrael adonay ehad
Repeat.
Ve'ahavta et adonay eloheha
Ve'ahavta et adonay eloheha
Repeat
Behol levaveha uvhol nafsheha
Behol levaveha uvhol me'odeha
Repeat.
Repeat entire song.
Shema yisrael adonay eloheynu
Shema yisrael adonay ehad
Repeat.
Listen
Listen. Listen. Shema.
Listen. Listen. Shema.
Yisrael, yisrael adonay eloheynu.
Listen. Listen. Shema!
Listen. Listen. Shema!
Yisrael, yisrael adonay ehad.
Adonay ehad.
Adonay ehad.
Adonay ehad.
Listen. Listen.
Repeat entire song.
Listen. Listen. Shema!
Listen. Listen. Shema!
Listen. Listen. Shema!
Open the Passageways
This song is based on yet another poem of Rabbi Weinberg
that is offered in the siddur as an introduction to the Amidah,
the prayer that follows the Shema in the morning service.
(The poem is used with her permission)
Dear God, dear God
Open the blocked passageways to you.
Repeat.
As you open the blossoms in spring
Even as you open the heavens in storm
Open us to feel your great awesome, wonderful presence.
Repeat.
Roll away, roll away the heavy stone from the well
As your servant Jacob did when he beheld his Rachel.
As you open...
Help us, help us open the doors of trust
Open the doors that have been shut by fear, pair and rejection.
As you open...
Dear God
Repeat.
Amidah
Open my lips beloved one
and let my mouth declare your praise.
Open my lips beloved one
and let my mouth delcare your praise.
Repeat.
God of Abraham
God of Issac
God of Jacob
Blessed are you.
God of Sarah
God of Rebeccah
God of Rachel
Blessed are you.
God of Leah
Blessed are you.
Open my lips...
God of Leah
God of Rachel
God of Rebeccah
Blessed are you.
God of Sarah
God of Jacob
God of Issac
Blessed are you.
God of Abraham
Blessed are you.
God of Sarah
Blessed are you.
Open my lips...
Let my mouth declare your praise.
Let my mouth declare your praise.
Hallow Creation
The Aleynu is one of the last prayers of the morning service.
It follows the torah service during whih the rabbi and/or members
of the congregaton read the parsha, the week's reading from the torah.
"Hallow Creation" is based on a poem by Rabbi Rami M. Shapiro that is
offered in the siddur as an alternative version to the traditional Aleynu.
(The poem is used with his permission.)
Aleynu, Aleynu, Aleynu, Aleynu
Repeat.
Hallow creation with our lives.
It is up to us.
Meet the world, embrace the whole.
It is up to us.
Repair the world and bind our lives
to the truth.
Repair the world and bind our lives
to the truth.
We bend the knee and shake off the stiffness
That keeps us from the subtle graces of Life
And the supple gestures of Love.
Repeat.
Hallow creation...
Aleynu, Aleynu, Aleynu, Aleynu
Repeat.
Aleynu. Aleynu.
Bedtime Shema
In addition to being part of the morning Shabbat service,
the Shema is a prayer that Jews are commanded (by God)
to recite every morning and evening. The Bedtime Shema
is an extended version of the traditional Shema prayer that is,
as its name suggests, recited at bedtime.
Blessed are you eternal one our God
the sovereign of all worlds.
Who makes the weight of sleep
to fall upon our eyes
and slumber on our eyelids
May it be your will eternal one our God
that you help me to lie down in peace
And you help me to arise in peace.
And do not let my thoughts
make me afraid, nor my bad dreams
nor my worries
May my bed be safely guarded in your presence.
And may you give light to my eyes lest I should not wake.
I lie down. I sleep. I awake.
I lie down. I sleep. I awake.
Blessed one. Dear one. My God
Blessed are you....
That you help me to lie down in peace.
And you help me, to arise in peace.