Shabbat Shalom

Greetings All, David here,

Well I'm back after a break. Much to review, but Shabbat dawns.I therefore wish everyone a Shabbat Shalom and a good Shabbos.

Dov

Si observo el Shabat, Dios me protegerá.
Es una señal eterna entre Él y yo.

Está prohibido cargar objetos
emprender viajes, o hablar de
asuntos corrientes, de asuntos
comerciales y de temas del reino.
Sólo meditaré en la Torá de Dios,
que me dará sabiduría.

Releeré la Torá de Dios que
me hará más sabio.
En ella encontraré paz para mi alma.
Así como para la primera generación
mi santo Dios hizo un milagro,
otorgándoles pan doble, así mismo
duplicará mi comida cada viernes.

Dios dictó una ley religiosa que
prescribe la presentación del Pan
de Proposición.
Por eso, está prohibido torturarse,
según los sabios, excepto en el
Día del Perdón (Yom Kippur).

Es un día que impone respeto,
un día para deleitarse, de pan y
buen vino, de carne y pescado.
Los que estén alegres ese día
conseguirán la alegría.
Porque es un día en el que Dios
me llena de felicidad.

If I observe the Shabat, God will protect me
It is an eternal sign between Him and me.

It is forbidden to carry objects
undertake journeys or talk of everyday events,
commercial affairs and even things of the kingdom.
I will only meditate on the Torah of God,
which will give me wisdom.

I will re-read the Torah of God which will make me wiser.
In it I will find peace for my soul.
Just as for the first generation my holy God performed
a miracle, giving them double bread,
in the same way He will duplicate my food every Friday.

God gave us a religious law which prescribes
the presentation of the Bread of Proposition.
That is why its is forbidden to torture oneself
according to the wise men, except on the Day of
Atonement (Yom Kippur).

It is a day which demands respect,
a day to take delight,
in bread and good wine, in meat and fish.
Those who are happy on that day will find happiness
because it is a day when God fills me with happiness.



Abraham ibn Ezra
(Rabbi Abraham ben Meir ibn Ezra/Abenezra)
(Tudela, 1092 / Calahorra, 1167)

Shabbos thread for 29 Sivan

"For six days you may perform melachah, but the seventh day is a complete Sabbath, holy to the L-RD ... it is an eternal sign that in six days, the L-RD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed". -Exodus 31:15-17

Hi All, 

Another week and another Shabbat dawns, a chance to relax and refrain from work after a busy week. This means that it is time for another Shabbat thread, where people can share their hopes, worries, dreams, fears, a word of Torah, food and other stuff that we usually chat about over the Shabbat meal table. 

As readers will know, I've recently brought a min-grand piano. I'm not a rich bitch, I've just been saving for a while and done a few other jobs. plus my friends & family have chipped in a few pounds as well. I learned to play from a young age; being raised on a farm, the tv reception was crap and we used to entertain ourselves in other ways. Writing songs  is something I've been meaning to get back into, so whilst  I do enjoy playing old favourites as well as writing my own material; I have no illusions about making a career out of this, I just do it for my own personal satisfaction. I especially want to do this for Shabbat songs and hymns, so I'll kick off this thread with one. I don't have the music just yet as I'm still working playing it through on the piano to find the correct tune : 

Come now  O  Israel
It is time for Shabbat
The time to rest  & love
To reflect and pray
To eat our best meal on this finest day
Let us welcome the bride of Shabbat
Torah, Family, friends and community
May we all be one and one in unity

Light the candles now
Put your hands up
Sing  Shabbat Shalom
Sing the story
of our freedom
Sing, Shabbat  Shalom

We celebrate Shabbat
To Remember and Observe
Zakhor and Shamor!
Prayer, wine and bread
Kiddush and Challah
To be thankful for all we have
Torah, Family, friends and community
May we all be one and one in unity

You gave us Shabbat
Because you're the G-d of life
We're not here due to random chance
may we sing, celebrate and dance
Torah, Family, friends and community
May we all be one and one in unity

When we stand in Gan Eden,
Shall we not meet you face to face
With all our loved ones already there
Our Shabbat is just a portion of what
we'll see in that Holy Place
.
Torah, Family, friends and community
May we all be one and one in unity

Shabbat Shalom!

Bring back our boys : A song

Hi All, 

Another song for us to sing at present, as shared with us by a fellow commentator in the thread below. 

A father hopes, a mother trusts, a nation unites

Our day has turned to night

A cell phone rings, panic strikes, tell me what are we to do

Hashem, our only hope is you.

Esa Einai, El He'arim, El He'arim (I lift my eyes up to the heights) 

Mei'ayin Yavo Ezri, Ezri Me'im Hashem (From where comes my help? My Help is from G-d) 

We call to you, we pray out loud in a strong voice.

Please Hashem- Bring Back our Boys.

We all hear, we all read, we can't believe

Our day has turned to night.

How insane! We feel the pain, tell us what to do?

Hashem our only hope is you.

Esa Einai, El He'arim, El He'arim

Mei'ayin Yavo Ezri, Ezri Me'im Hashem 

We call to you, we pray out loud in a strong voice.

Please Hashem- Bring Back our Boys. X3

My heart is dancing in Jerusalem

“And to Jerusalem, Your city, may You return in compassion, and may You rest within it, as you have spoken.”

Jewish Liturgy

Hi All,

This song* is about those many communities which have return to Eretz Yisrael , namely Jews from Yemen, Iraq, Morrocco, Ethiopia & Russia. When me and Rachel (that is my twin sister) visited Israel last year, we both seriously thought about making Aliyah (that is return to Israel). Whilst we are still thinking about it,things have changed a bit in both of our lives, so neither of us are moving just yet. But we both along ,I think, will all of us here, are strong supporters of Israel and Zionists (this does not make us into rabid fanatics, nor does it mean we don't believe or want a lasting peace for both Israelis and Arabs). So long may Israel  live, prosper and be a light to the nations of this world. 

*Dancing in Jerusalem 

Words and Music by Sam Glaser 
©2012 Glaser Musicworks

Eli Eli

A poem by  Hannah Szenes, a paratrooper of the British Special Operations Executive , a Jewish heroine of World War II, who was killed after being captured in Hungary- and brutally tortured - during an effort to save Allied prisoners of war and organize Jewish resistance against the Nazi and Fascist Amalek.  This was later put to music.

Eli, Eli,
Shelo yigamer leolam,
Ha-hol v'ha-yam,
Rishrush shel ha-mayim,
Barak bashamayim,
Tfilat ha-adam.

(Translation)

My God , my God,

I pray that these things never end,

The sand and the sea,

The rush of the water,

The crash of the heavens,

The prayer of the heart.

Our story did not end, despite the  murderous slaughter  & genocide of the Shoah . Our people are free. We have our homeland back. We still live. 

Am Yisrael Chai !

Bendigamos!

Hi All, 

This is a song which is traditionally sung, by Sephardi Jews, after meals. Whilst I personally only do so during Shabbat, it is a lovely song to sing & I am determined to maintain as much of the tradition of the Sepharadim as possible (our family survived Iraqi ethnic cleansing, so it is something worth preserving). Find it being sung on this link here .

Below is the Ladino and then the  English translation : 

Bendigamos

Bendigamos al Altísimo,
Al Señor que nos crió,
Démosle agradecimiento
Por los bienes que nos dió.

Alabado sea su Santo Nombre,
Porque siempre nos apiadó.
Load al Señor que es bueno,
Que para siempre su merced.

Bendigamos al Altísimo,
Por su Ley primeramente,
Que liga a nuestra raza
Con el cielo continuamente,

Alabado sea su Santo Nombre,
Porque siempre nos apiadó.
Load al Senor que es bueno,
Que para siempre su merced.

Bendigamos al Altísimo,
Por el pan segundamente,
Y también por los manjares
Que comimos juntamente.

Pues comimos y bebimos alegremente
Su merced nunca nos faltó.
Load al Señor que es bueno,
Que para siempre su merced.

Bendita sea la casa esta,
El hogar de su presencia,
Donde guardamos su fiesta,
Con alegría y permanencia.

Alabado sea su Santo Nombre,
Porque siempre nos apiadó.
Load al Señor que es bueno,
Que para siempre su merced.
.הוֹדוּ לַיָי כִּי־טוֹב. כּי לְעוֹלָם חַסְדּוֹ

Let us bless

Let us bless the Most High

The Lord who raised us,
Let us give him thanks
For the good things which he has given us.
Praised be his Holy Name,
Because he always took pity on us.
Praise the Lord, for he is good,
For his mercy is everlasting.

Let us bless the Most High
First for his Torah,
Which binds our nation
With heaven continually,

Praised be his Holy Name,
Because he always took pity on us.
Praise the Lord, for he is good,
For his mercy is everlasting.

Let us bless the Most High,
Secondly for the bread
And also for the foods
Which we have eaten together.

For we have eaten and drunk happily
His mercy has never failed us.
Praise the Lord, for he is good,
For his mercy is everlasting.

Blessed be this house,
The home of his presence,
Where we keep his feast,
With happiness and permanence.

Praised be his Holy Name,
Because he always took pity on us.
Praise the Lord, for he is good,
For his mercy is everlasting.
Give thanks to the L-rd, for He is good. His love is eternal 

 .

Psalm 8 -Angel in blue marble

Hi All, 

The picture below  is -of course -one of our own planet earth,  as taken during the Apollo 17 space missions. For me I often call the earth an 'angel in blue marble, as a stunning example of the creation of the Almighty. 

When I see pictures like this, I cannot help but think of one of David's songs,  Psalm 8 , which is my response to those who remain sceptical about G/d or his role in cosmology -

To the conductor, on the gittith, a song of David.		א. לַמְנַצֵּחַ עַל הַגִּתִּית מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִד:
O Adonai, our Master, how mighty is Your name in all the earth, for which You should bestow Your majesty upon the heavens.		ב. יְהֹוָה אֲדֹנֵינוּ מָה אַדִּיר שִׁמְךָ בְּכָל הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר תְּנָה הוֹדְךָ עַל הַשָּׁמָיִם:
Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings You have established strength because of Your adversaries, in order to put an end to enemy and avenger.		ג. מִפִּי עוֹלְלִים | וְיֹנְקִים יִסַּדְתָּ עֹז לְמַעַן צוֹרְרֶיךָ לְהַשְׁבִּית אוֹיֵב וּמִתְנַקֵּם:
When I see Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and stars that You have established,		ד. כִּי אֶרְאֶה שָׁמֶיךָ מַעֲשֵׂה אֶצְבְּעֹתֶיךָ יָרֵחַ וְכוֹכָבִים אֲשֶׁר כּוֹנָנְתָּה:
what is man that You should remember him, and the son of man that You should be mindful of him?		ה. מָה אֱנוֹשׁ כִּי תִזְכְּרֶנּוּ וּבֶן אָדָם כִּי תִפְקְדֶנּוּ:
Yet You have made him slightly less than the angels, and You have crowned him with glory and majesty.		ו. וַתְּחַסְּרֵהוּ מְעַט מֵאֱלֹהִים וְכָבוֹד וְהָדָר תְּעַטְּרֵהוּ:
You give him dominion over the work of Your hands; You have placed everything beneath his feet.		ז. תַּמְשִׁילֵהוּ בְּמַעֲשֵׂי יָדֶיךָ כֹּל שַׁתָּה תַחַת רַגְלָיו:
Flocks and cattle, all of them, and also the beasts of the field;		ח. צֹנֶה וַאֲלָפִים כֻּלָּם וְגַם בַּהֲמוֹת שָׂדָי:
the birds of the sky and the fish of the sea, he traverses the ways of the seas.		ט. צִפּוֹר שָׁמַיִם וּדְגֵי הַיָּם עֹבֵר אָרְחוֹת יַמִּים:
O Adonai, our Master, how mighty is Your name in all the earth!		י. יְהֹוָה אֲדֹנֵינוּ מָה אַדִּיר שִׁמְךָ בְּכָל הָאָרֶץ:

Eurovisions past

Hi ALL,

Hannah here, after yesterday's Eurovision song contest,  it was disappointing that Israel never made this years final. Oh for the days of quality, such as Dana International !! (:

Hope

Hi All,

It is a nice sunny day here in the UK, so to keep the mood light and happy, here is jolly tune from my favorite Israeli band, the Fountainheads (us Jews know how to sing, dance and have fun!) :

Day Dreaming...

Performed by Shani Lachmish

Lyrics by Shani Lachmish

Music composed and arranged by Amit Ben Atar


עוד תהיות על עתיד רחוק

לקרבו אל מעבר לפינה

מפחד של בדידות אל בטחון בקיומך

עוד רגע אנוח בחיקך

כמעט מוחש...

בתמונת שלמות אני איתך, איתך


תחבקני עד בלי די

הישאר בזרועותיי

וביחד הלוואי נאבד

כבשת את מחשבותיי

והרגשת בוודאי

אתה ואני, אולי, אחד


התלחש לי באזניי?

בשדה רוץ אחרי

ונחלום חלום מדי מתוק

אהובי תבוא אלי

כי חיכיתי כל חיי

עד כלות הכוחות

זיכרונות, ריח עבר רחוק

פחד בדידות עמוק

אבל... הספקות שבי כבו

בליבי הוודאות איתך, איתך


התעוררות להווה פשוט

ועם כל זאת אני מחכה לך

תחושת נוכחותך היא במרחק של נגיעה

עוד רגע אני אפגוש בך

עדיף לבד

עד היחד שנועד איתך, איתך

More questions about the distant future
Into him around the corner
Afraid of loneliness to the security of your existence
A minute rest in your lap
Almost imperceptible ...


Picture of perfection I'm with you , with you
We embraced indefinitely
Stay in my arms
And together wish we lose
I've Captured my thoughts
And feeling must

You and I , perhaps, one
I whispered headphone ?
After the race field
And dreaming a dream too sweet

My love come to me
Been waiting all my life
Fingers to the bone
Memories , the smell went away from
Fear of loneliness deep

But ... the doubts in me Turn
Certainty in my heart with you, with you

Awakening the present simple
And yet I'm waiting for you
Sense your presence is just touching
Another moment I'll meet you
Better Alone
To Rule designed with you, with you

Shabbat Shalom!

Hello all,

Another week gone and  another Shabbat almost here.So Shabbat Shalom to you all! And a Chag Purim! I shall be busy for most of the weekend , so not sure when I will be able to fit in any posts,  although I do know one or two of you wanted me to explain 'this Purim business'  and others wanted to discussion David Cameron's speech to the Israel Parliament, but on the whole,  I will probably be off the blogging for a while. But  whilst  I'm away ... a song

A D'var Torah -Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh

This is a traditional Jewish song which we the Kav household sing after our Friday night Shabbat meal, whose title is taken from Exodus Chapter 3  vs14.  When Moses asked the Almighty who he should say had sent him to liberate the Jewish nation from slavery in Egypt, he replied 'Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh' (Exodus 3,14). This is commonly translated into English as 'I am that I am', but a more literal translation is 'I shall be that I shall be' or 'Who was , Who is'.

Maimonides, in his guide for the perplexed,  provides an explanation for this  difficult to understand description as follows: 

"When God appeared to our Teacher Moses, and commanded him to address the people and to bring them the message, Moses replied that he might first be asked to prove the existence of God in the Universe, and that only after doing so he would be able to announce to them that God had sent him. For all men, with few exceptions, were ignorant of the existence of God; their highest thoughts did not extend beyond the heavenly sphere, its forms or its influences. They could not yet emancipate themselves from sensation, and had not yet attained to any intellectual perfection. Then God taught Moses how to teach them, and how to establish amongst them the belief in the existence of Himself, namely, by saying Ehyeh asher Ehyeh, a name derived from the verb hayah in the sense of "existing," for the verb hayah denotes "to be," and in Hebrew no difference is made between the verbs "to be" and "to exist." The principal point in this phrase is that the same word which denotes "existence," is repeated as an attribute. The word asher, "that," corresponds to the Arabic illadi and illati, and is an incomplete noun that must be completed by another noun; it may be considered as the subject of the predicate which follows. The first noun which is to be described is ehyeh; the second, by which the first is described, is likewise ehyeh, the identical word, as if to show that the object which is to be described and the attribute by which it is described are in this case necessarily identical. This is, therefore, the expression of the idea that God exists, but not in the ordinary sense of the term; or, in other words, He is "the existing Being which is the existing Being," that is to say, the Being whose existence is absolute. The proof which he was to give consisted in demonstrating that there is a Being of absolute existence, that has never been and never will be without existence." 

The song's English lyrics  can be translated as  follows :

'WHO WAS and WHO IS, desire Your people, listen to my prayer from your holy abode 

Chorus: Behold I yearn for Your Temple, to see the greatness of Your strength, splendor, and glory (2x) Have mercy, my Only One, Who spares those who oppose you, shorten my exile, for I lean on You 

Chorus: Behold I yearn for Your Temple, to see the greatness of Your strength, splendor, and glory (2x)

WHO WAS and WHO IS, desire Your people, listen to my prayer from your holy abode 

Chorus: Behold I yearn for Your Temple, to see the greatness of Your strength, splendor, and glory (2x) Have mercy, my Only One, Who spares those who oppose you, shorten my exile, for I lean on You Chorus: Behold I yearn for Your Temple, to see the greatness of Your strength, splendor, and glory (2x)'

This version is lead by the late and great Ofra Haza, a well know Israeli-Yemenite Jewish singer

Younger viewerss will have to excuse the '70's fashion!

This version is helpful because it has English sub-titles  :

A Sephardi song - Morena me Ilaman

This is an old Sephardi love poem, put to music. I won't translate, as a literal translation gets lost in English. Enjoy the rhythm of the song; I've include 2 videos as the tunes are slightly different, but I enjoy both.

Morena me llaman,
yo blanca naci,
de pasear, galana,
mi color perdi.

D'aquellas ventanicas,
m'arronjan flechas.
Si son de amores,
Vengan derechas.

Vestido de verde

y de alteli.
Qu'ansi dize la novia
con el chelibi.

Escalerica le hizo
de oro y de marfil.
Para que suba el novio