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Listen and learn! A track-by-track exploration of the music and lyrics from Joey Weisenberg's album Nigunim, Vol. VII: Songs of Ascent. Press play above to listen right here or download the album on Bandcamp to listen on your preferred device. Each song is accompanied by original source texts and related teachings, and select tracks include sheet music so you can play along at home!
GAM KI EILECH
גַּם כִּי־אֵלֵךְ בְּגֵיא צַלְמָוֶת
לֹא־אִירָא רָע כִּי־אַתָּה עִמָּדִ
ישִׁבְטְךָ וּמִשְׁעַנְתֶּךָ הֵמָּה יְנַחֲמֻנִי
תַּעֲרֹךְ לְפָנַי שֻׁלְחָן נֶגֶד צֹרְרָי
דִּשַּׁנְתָּ בַשֶּׁמֶן רֹאשִׁי
כּוֹסִי רְוָיָה
אַךְ טוֹב וָחֶסֶד
יִרְדְּפוּנִי כָּל־יְמֵי חַיָּי
וְשַׁבְתִּי בְּבֵית־ה' לְאֹרֶךְ יָמִים
Even in the darkest valley
I fear no harm, for You are with me
Your rod and Your staff—they comfort me
You spread a table for me in full view of my enemies
You anoint my head with oil
my drink is abundant
Only goodness and steadfast love
shall pursue me all the days of my life
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD for many long years
𝐺𝑎𝑚 𝑘𝑖 𝑒𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑘ℎ 𝑏𝑒-𝑔𝑒𝑖 𝑡𝑧𝑎𝑙𝑚𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑡
𝐿𝑜 𝑖𝑟𝑎 𝑟𝑎, 𝑘𝑖 𝑎𝑡𝑎ℎ 𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑑𝑖
𝑆ℎ𝑖𝑣𝑡𝑒𝑘ℎ𝑎 𝑢’𝑚𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑘ℎ𝑎 ℎ𝑒𝑚𝑎 𝑦𝑒𝑛𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑚𝑢𝑛𝑖
𝑇𝑎’𝑎𝑟𝑜𝑘ℎ 𝑙𝑒-𝑓𝑎𝑛𝑎𝑖 𝑠ℎ𝑢𝑙𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛 𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑒𝑑 𝑡𝑧𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑖
𝐷𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑎 𝑣𝑎-𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛 𝑟𝑜𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑘𝑜𝑠𝑖 𝑟𝑒𝑣𝑎𝑦𝑎
𝐴𝑘ℎ 𝑡𝑜𝑣 𝑣𝑎-𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑠𝑒𝑑
𝑦𝑖𝑟𝑑𝑒𝑓𝑢𝑛𝑖 𝑘𝑜𝑙 𝑦𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑖 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑦𝑎𝑖
𝑉𝑒-𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑡𝑖 𝑏𝑒-𝑣𝑒𝑖𝑡 𝐴𝑑𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑖 𝑙𝑒-𝑜𝑟𝑒𝑘ℎ 𝑦𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑚
Related teaching
אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק מַאי דִּכְתִיב גַּם כִּי אֵלֵךְ בְּגֵיא צַלְמָוֶת לֹא אִירָא רָע כִּי אַתָּה עִמָּדִי זֶה הַיָּשֵׁן בְּצֵל דֶּקֶל יְחִידִי וּבְצֵל לְבָנָה
Rav Yitzḥak said: What is the meaning of that which is written: “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me”? This is a person who sleeps in the shadow of a single palm tree, and in the shadow of the moon. Despite his dangerous position, he trusts God and is not afraid.
YA'ALEH KOLEINU
יַעֲלֶה תַחֲנוּנֵנוּ מֵעֶרֶב
וְיָבֹא שַׁוְעָתֵנוּ מִבֹּֽקֶר
וְיֵרָאֶה רִנּוּנֵנוּ עַד עָרֶב
יַעֲלֶה קוֹלֵנוּ מֵעֶרֶב
יַעֲלֶה, יַעֲלֶה, יַעֲלֶה, יַעֲלֶה קוֹלֵנוּ
Let our supplication rise from evening
and may our cry come from the morning
and may our song appear till evening
Let our voices rise from evening!
Rise, rise, rise, let our voices rise...
𝑌𝑎’𝑎𝑙𝑒ℎ 𝑡𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑢𝑛𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑢 𝑚𝑒𝑖’𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑣
𝑉𝑒-𝑦𝑎𝑣𝑜 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑢 𝑚𝑖’𝑏𝑜𝑘𝑒𝑟
𝑉𝑒-𝑦𝑒𝑖𝑟𝑎’𝑒ℎ 𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑛𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑢 𝑎𝑑 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑣
𝑌𝑎’𝑎𝑙𝑒ℎ 𝑘𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑢 𝑚𝑒𝑖’𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑣
𝑌𝑎’𝑎𝑙𝑒ℎ 𝑌𝑎’𝑎𝑙𝑒ℎ 𝑌𝑎’𝑎𝑙𝑒ℎ 𝑌𝑎’𝑎𝑙𝑒ℎ 𝐾𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑢...
Related text
The Hadar Ensemble's "Ya'aleh Koleinu" is adapted from a longer piyyut found in the liturgy of Yom Kippur. The authorship of this prayer is unknown. The three verbs, repeated throughout the prayer, יַעֲלֶה—וְיָבֹא—וְיֵרָאֶה are taken from the prayer “יַעֲלֶה וְיָבֹא” which is recited on Rosh Chodesh, and on all the Festivals. The full piyyut is here, and commentary is included if you click through to the original source.
יַעֲלֶה תַחֲנוּנֵֽנוּ מֵעֶֽרֶב.וְיָבֹא שַׁוְעָתֵֽנוּ מִבֹּֽקֶר. וְיֵרָאֶה רִנּוּנֵֽנוּ עַד עָֽרֶב:
יַעֲלֶה קוֹלֵֽנוּ מֵעֶֽרֶב. וְיָבֹא צִדְקָתֵֽנוּ מִבֹּֽקֶר. וְיֵרָאֶה פִדְיוֹנֵֽנוּ עַד עָֽרֶב:
יַעֲלֶה עִנּוּיֵֽנוּ מֵעֶֽרֶב. וְיָבֹא סְלִיחָתֵֽנוּ מִבֹּֽקֶר. וְיֵרָאֶה נַאֲקָתֵֽנוּ עַד עָֽרֶב:
יַעֲלֶה מְנוּסֵֽנוּ מֵעֶֽרֶב. וְיָבֹא לְמַעֲנוֹ מִבֹּֽקֶר. וְיֵרָאֶה כִפּוּרֵֽנוּ עַד עָֽרֶב:
יַעֲלֶה יִשְׁעֵֽנוּ מֵעֶֽרֶב. וְיָבֹא טָהֳרֵֽנוּ מִבֹּֽקֶר. וְיֵרָאֶה חִנּוּנֵֽנוּ עַד עָֽרֶב:
יַעֲלֶה זִכְרוֹנֵֽנוּ מֵעֶֽרֶב. וְיָבֹא וִעוּדֵֽנוּ מִבֹּֽקֶר. וְיֵרָאֶה הַדְרָתֵֽנוּ עַד עָֽרֶב:
יַעֲלֶה דָפְקֵֽנוּ מֵעֶֽרֶב. וְיָבֹא גִילֵֽנוּ מִבֹּֽקֶר. וְיֵרָאֶה בַקָּשָׁתֵֽנוּ עַד עָֽרֶב:
יַעֲלֶה אֶנְקָתֵֽנוּ מֵעֶֽרֶב. וְיָבֹא אֵלֶֽיךָ מִבֹּֽקֶר. וְיֵרָאֶה אֵלֵֽינוּ עַד עָֽרֶב:
May our supplication ascend from evening,and may our cry comefrom morning,and may our song appear till evening.
May our voice ascend from evening, and may our righteousness come from morning, and may our redemption appear till evening.
May our affliction ascend from evening, and may our pardon come from morning,and may our groaning appear till evening.
May our refuge ascend from evening, and may it come for His sake from morning,and may our atonement appear till evening.
May our deliverance ascend from evening,and may our purification come from morning,and may our supplication appear till evening.
May our remembrance ascend from evening,and may our gathering come from morning,and may our splendor appear till evening.
May our knocking ascend from evening, and may our exultation come from morning, and may our petition appear till evening.
May our sighing ascend from the evening, and may it come before You from morning,and may its effect appear to us till evening.
OD YISHAMA
עוֹד יִשָׁמַע בְּעַרֵי יְהוּדָה
וּבְחוּצוֹת יְרוּשָלַיִם
קוֹל שָשוֹן וְקוֹל שִמְחָה
קוֹל חָתָן וְקוֹל כָּלָה
קוֹל אָהוּב וְקוֹל רֵעָה
Yet again there shall be heard in the cities of Judah
and in the streets of Jerusalem
The voice of joy and the voice of gladness
The voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride
The voice of the lover and the voice of the friend
Od yishama b'arei Yehudah
uv'chutzot Yerushalayim
Kol sason v'kol simcha
Kol chatan v'kol kalah
Kol Ahuv v'kol re'ah
{Nigun}
SIMEINI
שִׂימֵנִי כַֽחוֹתָם עַל־לִבֶּךָ
כַּחוֹתָם עַל־זְרוֹעֶךָ
כִּי־עַזָּה כַמָּוֶת אַהֲבָה
קָשָׁה כִשְׁאוֹל קִנְאָה (x2)
רְשָׁפֶיהָ רִשְׁפֵּי אֵשׁ
שַׁלְהֶבֶתְיָה
שִׂימֵנִי כַֽחוֹתָם עַל־לִבֶּךָ
כַּחוֹתָם עַל־זְרוֹעֶךָ
שִׂימֵנִי כַֽחוֹתָם עַל־לִבֶּךָ
כַּחוֹתָם עַל־זְרוֹעֶךָ
מַיִם רַבִּים לֹא יוּכְלוּ לְכַבּוֹת אֶת־הָאַהֲבָה
אִם־יִתֵּן אִישׁ אֶת־כָּל־הוֹן בֵּיתוֹ בָּאַהֲבָה
בּוֹז יָבוּז
וּשִׂימֵנִי כַֽחוֹתָם עַל־לִבֶּךָ
כַּחוֹתָם עַל־זְרוֹעֶךָ
שִׂימֵנִי כַֽחוֹתָם עַל־לִבֶּךָ
כַּחוֹתָם עַל־זְרוֹעֶךָ
כִּי־עַזָּה כַמָּוֶת אַהֲבָה
Let me be a seal upon your heart
Like the seal upon your hand
For love is fierce as death
Passion is mighty as Sheol (x2)
Let me be a seal upon your heart
Like the seal upon your hand
Vast floods cannot quench love
If a man offered all his wealth for love
He would be laughed to scorn
Let me be a seal upon your heart
Like the seal upon your hand
Let me be a seal upon your heart
Like the seal upon your hand
For love is fierce as death
𝑆𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑖 𝑘ℎ𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑚 𝑎𝑙-𝑙𝑖𝑏𝑒𝑘ℎ𝑎
𝐾𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑚 𝑎𝑙 𝑧𝑒-𝑟𝑜𝑒𝑘ℎ𝑎
𝐾𝑖 𝑎𝑧𝑧𝑎ℎ 𝑘ℎ𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑡 𝑎ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑎ℎ
𝐾𝑎𝑠ℎ𝑎 𝑘ℎ𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑙 𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑎ℎ
𝑅𝑒𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑓𝑒ℎ𝑎 𝑟𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑝𝑒𝑖 𝑒𝑠ℎ 𝑠ℎ𝑎𝑙ℎ𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑡’𝑦𝑎ℎ
𝑆𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑖 𝑘ℎ𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑚 𝑎𝑙-𝑙𝑖𝑏𝑒𝑘ℎ𝑎
𝐾𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑚 𝑎𝑙 𝑧𝑒-𝑟𝑜𝑒𝑘ℎ𝑎
𝑆𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑖 𝑘ℎ𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑚 𝑎𝑙-𝑙𝑖𝑏𝑒𝑘ℎ𝑎
𝐾𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑚 𝑎𝑙 𝑧𝑒-𝑟𝑜𝑒𝑘ℎ𝑎
𝑀𝑎𝑦𝑖𝑚 𝑟𝑎𝑏𝑖𝑚 𝑙𝑜 𝑦𝑢𝑘ℎ𝑙𝑢 𝑙𝑒𝑘ℎ𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑡 𝑒𝑡 ℎ𝑎-𝑎ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑎ℎ
𝐼𝑚 𝑦𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑛 𝑖𝑠ℎ 𝑒𝑡 𝑘𝑜𝑙 ℎ𝑜𝑛 𝑏𝑒𝑖𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑎’𝑎ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑎ℎ
𝐵𝑜𝑧 𝑦𝑎’𝑣𝑢𝑧𝑢
𝑆𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑖 𝑘ℎ𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑚 𝑎𝑙-𝑙𝑖𝑏𝑒𝑘ℎ𝑎
𝐾𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑚 𝑎𝑙 𝑧𝑒-𝑟𝑜𝑒𝑘ℎ𝑎
𝑆𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑖 𝑘ℎ𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑚 𝑎𝑙-𝑙𝑖𝑏𝑒𝑘ℎ𝑎
𝐾𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑚 𝑎𝑙 𝑧𝑒-𝑟𝑜𝑒𝑘ℎ𝑎
𝐾𝑖 𝑎𝑧𝑧𝑎ℎ 𝑘ℎ𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑣𝑒𝑡 𝑎ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑎ℎ
Source text
(ו) שִׂימֵ֨נִי כַֽחוֹתָ֜ם עַל־לִבֶּ֗ךָ כַּֽחוֹתָם֙ עַל־זְרוֹעֶ֔ךָ כִּֽי־עַזָּ֤ה כַמָּ֙וֶת֙ אַהֲבָ֔ה קָשָׁ֥ה כִשְׁא֖וֹל קִנְאָ֑ה רְשָׁפֶ֕יהָ רִשְׁפֵּ֕י אֵ֖שׁ שַׁלְהֶ֥בֶתְיָֽה׃
(ז) מַ֣יִם רַבִּ֗ים לֹ֤א יֽוּכְלוּ֙ לְכַבּ֣וֹת אֶת־הָֽאַהֲבָ֔ה וּנְהָר֖וֹת לֹ֣א יִשְׁטְפ֑וּהָ אִם־יִתֵּ֨ן אִ֜ישׁ אֶת־כָּל־ה֤וֹן בֵּיתוֹ֙ בָּאַהֲבָ֔ה בּ֖וֹז יָב֥וּזוּ לֽוֹ׃
(6) Let me be a seal upon your heart, Like the seal upon your hand. For love is fierce as death, Passion is mighty as Sheol; Its darts are darts of fire, A blazing flame.
(7) Vast floods cannot quench love, Nor rivers drown it. If a man offered all his wealth for love, He would be laughed to scorn.
MODEH ANI
מודֶה אֲנִי לְפָנֶיךָ
מֶלֶךְ חַי וְקַיָּם
שֶׁהֶחֱזַרְתָּ בִּי נִשְׁמָתִי
בְּחֶמְלָה
רַבָּה אֱמוּנָתֶךָ
I am grateful before You
living and everlasting King
for You have restored my soul
with mercy
Great is Your faithfulness
𝑀𝑜𝑑𝑒ℎ 𝑎𝑛𝑖 𝑙𝑒-𝑓𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑘ℎ𝑎
𝑚𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑘ℎ 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑖 𝑣𝑒-𝑘𝑎𝑦𝑎𝑚
𝑆ℎ𝑒ℎ𝑒𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑧𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑎 𝑏𝑖 𝑛𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑖
𝑏𝑒-𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑚𝑙𝑎ℎ
𝑟𝑎𝑏𝑎ℎ 𝑒𝑚𝑢𝑛𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑘ℎ𝑎
Related text
Said immediately upon waking (or soon thereafter), Modeh Ani is a powerful affirmation that frames the mundane activities of everyday life as a Divine gift. How does this stance of gratitude square with the continuation of the Modeh Ani prayer, which focuses more on the fear/awe of the Infinite?
רֵאשִׁית חָכְמָה יִרְאַת יְהֹוָה, שֵֽׂכֶל טוֹב לְכָל־עֹשֵׂיהֶם, תְּהִלָּתוֹ עוֹמֶֽדֶת לָעַד: בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתוֹ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד:
The beginning of wisdom is fear of Adonoy, good understanding to all who perform [His commandments], His praise endures forever. Blessed [is His] Name, Whose glorious kingdom is forever and ever.
SHIR HAMA'ALOT
שׁוּבָה ה' אֶת־שְׁבִיתֵנוּ
כַּאֲפִיקִים בַּנֶּגֶב
הַזֹּרְעִים בְּדִמְעָה
בְּרִנָּה יִקְצֹרוּ
שִׁיר הַֽמַּעֲלוֹת
בְּשׁוּב ה'
אֶת־שִׁיבַת צִיּוֹן
הָיִינוּ כְּחֹלְמִים
אָז יִמָּלֵא שְׂחוֹק פִּינוּ
וּלְשׁוֹנֵנוּ רִנָּה
הָלוֹךְ יֵלֵךְ וּבָכֹה
נֹשֵׂא מֶֽשֶׁךְ־הַזָּרַע
בֹּא־יָבוֹא בְרִנָּה
נֹשֵׂא אֲלֻמֹּתָיו
שִׁיר הַֽמַּעֲלוֹת
בְּשׁוּב ה'
אֶת־שִׁיבַת צִיּוֹן
הָיִינוּ כְּחֹלְמִים
אָז יִמָּלֵא שְׂחוֹק פִּינוּ
וּלְשׁוֹנֵנוּ רִנָּה
Restore our fortunes, Hashem
like watercourses in the Negev
Those who sow in tears
shall reap with songs of joy
A song of ascents
When the Lord restores
the fortunes of Zion
we see it as in a dream
our mouths shall be filled with laughter
our tongues with songs of joy
Though he goes along weeping carrying the seed-bag
he shall come back with songs of joy
carrying his sheaves
A song of ascents
When the Lord restores
the fortunes of Zion
we see it as in a dream
our mouths shall be filled with laughter
our tongues with songs of joy
𝑆ℎ𝑢𝑣𝑎 𝐴𝑑𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑖 𝑒𝑡 𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑢
𝑘𝑎’𝑎𝑓𝑖𝑘𝑖𝑚 𝑏𝑎𝑛𝑒𝑔𝑒𝑣
𝐻𝑎𝑧𝑜𝑟’𝑖𝑚 𝑏𝑒-𝑑𝑖𝑚𝑎ℎ
𝑏𝑒-𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑎ℎ 𝑦𝑖𝑘𝑡𝑧𝑜𝑟𝑢
𝑆ℎ𝑖𝑟 ℎ𝑎𝑚𝑎’𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑡𝑏𝑒-𝑠ℎ𝑢𝑣 𝐴𝑑𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑖
𝑒𝑡 𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑣𝑎𝑡 𝑡𝑧𝑖𝑦𝑜𝑛 ℎ𝑎𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑢 𝑘𝑒𝑐ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑚𝑖𝑚
𝐴𝑧 𝑦𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑒 𝑠𝑒-𝑐ℎ𝑜𝑘 𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑢𝑙-𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑢 𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑎ℎ
𝐻𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑘ℎ 𝑦𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑘ℎ 𝑢𝑣𝑎𝑘ℎ𝑜
𝑛𝑜𝑠𝑒ℎ 𝑚𝑒𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑘ℎ ℎ𝑎𝑧𝑎𝑟𝑎ℎ
𝑏𝑜 𝑦𝑎𝑣𝑜 𝑣𝑒-𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑎ℎ
𝑛𝑜𝑠𝑒𝑖 𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑣
𝑆ℎ𝑖𝑟 ℎ𝑎𝑚𝑎’𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑡
𝑏𝑒-𝑠ℎ𝑢𝑣 𝐴𝑑𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑖
𝑒𝑡 𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑣𝑎𝑡 𝑡𝑧𝑖𝑦𝑜𝑛 ℎ𝑎𝑦𝑖𝑛𝑢 𝑘𝑒𝑐ℎ𝑜𝑙𝑚𝑖𝑚
𝐴𝑧 𝑦𝑒𝑚𝑎𝑙𝑒 𝑠𝑒-𝑐ℎ𝑜𝑘 𝑝𝑖𝑛𝑢
𝑢𝑙-𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑢 𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑎ℎ
Related text
This song contains most of Psalm 126 but one and a half verses are missing:
אָ֭ז יֹאמְר֣וּ בַגּוֹיִ֑ם
הִגְדִּ֥יל ה׳ לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת עִם־אֵֽלֶּה
הִגְדִּ֣יל ה׳ לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת עִמָּ֗נוּ הָיִ֥ינוּ שְׂמֵחִֽים
Then shall they say among the nations,
“The LORD has done great things for them!”
The LORD will do great things for us and we shall rejoice.
Why do you think these lines are absent? Is the instrumental music between verses in the song a fitting replacement?
Cf. Joey's song "Eit Le'ehov" which draws on the following verse from the Book of Kohelet...
עֵ֤ת לִבְכּוֹת֙ וְעֵ֣ת לִשְׂח֔וֹק
עֵ֥ת סְפ֖וֹד וְעֵ֥ת רְקֽוֹד
A time for weeping and a time for laughing
A time for wailing and a time for dancing
MIMA'AMAKIM
מִמַּעֲמַקִּים קְרָאתִיךָ ה׳
אדוני שִׁמְעָה בְקוֹלִי
From the depths I cry out to you
Hashem, listen to my voice
𝑀𝑖’𝑚𝑎’𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑘𝑖𝑚 𝑘𝑒’𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑖𝑘ℎ𝑎 𝐻𝑎𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑚
𝐴𝑑𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑖 𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑚𝑎ℎ 𝑣’𝑘𝑜𝑙𝑖
Related texts
וְאָמַר רַבִּי יוֹסֵי בְּרַבִּי חֲנִינָא מִשּׁוּם רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר בֶּן יַעֲקֹב: אַל יַעֲמוֹד אָדָם בְּמָקוֹם גָּבוֹהַּ וְיִתְפַּלֵּל, אֶלָּא בְּמָקוֹם נָמוּךְ וְיִתְפַּלֵּל. שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״מִמַּעֲמַקִּים קְרָאתִיךָ ה׳״.
With regard to the halakhot of prayer, Rabbi Yosei, son of Rabbi Ḥanina, said in the name of Rabbi Eliezer ben Ya’akov: A person should not stand in a high place and pray; rather, he should stand in a low place and pray, as it is stated: “I called to You, Lord, from the depths” (Psalms 130:1).
An early demo of this song included the rest of the second verse from Psalms 130...
(א) שִׁ֥יר הַֽמַּעֲל֑וֹת מִמַּעֲמַקִּ֖ים קְרָאתִ֣יךָ ה'׃ (ב) אדוני שִׁמְעָ֪ה בְק֫וֹלִ֥י תִּהְיֶ֣ינָה אָ֭זְנֶיךָ קַשֻּׁב֑וֹת לְ֝ק֗וֹל תַּחֲנוּנָֽי׃
(1) A song of ascents. Out of the depths I call You, O LORD.
(2) O Lord, listen to my cry; let Your ears be attentive to my plea for mercy.
The plain meaning of the text is that this supplication is audible and that the Divine should choose to hear it. Three times a day in the Amidah prayer we say that G!d is שמע תפילה, the One Who hears prayers. Do you think one must literally cry out loud for the Divine to hear? Rebbe Nachman, who often talks about the incredible power of whispered prayers and silent screams, says the lowdown shout from Psalms 130 is somehow even more quiet and hidden than that...
וְעֵצוֹת הֵם בְּחִינַת עֹמֶק הַלֵּב, הַיְנוּ כְּשֶׁנִּתְקַלְקֵל וְנוֹפֵל הָאֱמוּנָה, עַד שֶׁאֵין מוֹעִיל אֲפִלּוּ קוֹל צְעָקָה, שֶׁהוּא קוֹל בְּלֹא דִּבּוּר כַּנַּ"ל, אֲזַי צְרִיכִין לִצְעֹק מִן הַלֵּב לְבַד, בִּבְחִינַת (איכה ב׳:י״ח): צָעַק לִבָּם אֶל ה', שֶׁהוּא צַעֲקַת הַלֵּב לְבַד, בְּלִי קוֹל, בִּבְחִינַת (תהילים ק״ל:א׳): מִמַּעֲמַקִּים קְרָאתִיךָ ה' – מֵעֻמְקָא דְּלִבָּא. וְעֹמֶק הַלֵּב זֶה בְּחִינַת עֵצוֹת, בִּבְחִינַת (משלי כ׳:ה׳): מַיִם עֲמֻקִּים עֵצָה בְּלֵב אִישׁ.
[These] counsels are the depths of the heart. When faith is so blemished and fallen that even the cries, the wordless screams, are of no avail, one has to cry out from the heart alone, as in “Let their heart cry out to God” (Lamentations 2:18). This is the heart alone crying out, without the voice, as in “Out of the depths I call out to You, O God!” (Psalms 130:1)—from the heart’s depths. And the depths of the heart are counsels, as in “The counsels in man’s heart are deep waters” (Proverbs 20:5).
MILT'S NIGUN - YEDID NEFESH
[Shabbat Piyyut attributed to R' Elazar Azikri]
יְדִיד נֶפֶשׁ, אָב הָרַחְמָן
מְשךְ עַבְדָךְ אֶל רְצונָךְ
יָרוּץ עַבְדָךְ כְמו אַיָל
יִשְתַחֲוֶה מוּל הֲדָרָךְ
כִּי יֶעְרַב לוֹ יְדִידוּתָךְ
מִנּפֶת צוּף וְכָל טָעַם
Beloved of my soul, merciful father
Draw your surrendered to your will rendered
Your surrendered will run like a gazelle
He will bow before your splendor
For to him, your love is sweeter
Than the dripping honeycomb and any taste at all
𝑌𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑑 𝑛𝑒𝑓𝑒𝑠ℎ, 𝐴𝑣 ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑚𝑎𝑛
𝑚𝑒𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑘ℎ 𝑎𝑣𝑑𝑎𝑘ℎ 𝑒𝑙 𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑧𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑘ℎ
𝑌𝑎𝑟𝑢𝑡𝑧 𝑎𝑣𝑑𝑎𝑘ℎ 𝑘𝑒𝑚𝑜 𝑎𝑦𝑎𝑙
𝑦𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑡𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒ℎ 𝑚𝑢𝑙 ℎ𝑎𝑑𝑎𝑟𝑎𝑘ℎ
𝐾𝑖 𝑦𝑒’𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑣 𝑙𝑜 𝑦𝑒𝑑𝑖𝑑𝑢𝑡𝑎𝑘ℎ
𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑜𝑓𝑒𝑡 𝑡𝑠𝑢𝑓 𝑣𝑒𝑘ℎ𝑜𝑙 𝑡𝑎’𝑎𝑚
KUMI
קוּמִי צְאִי מִתּוךְ הַהֲפֵכָה
רַב לָךְ שבֶת בְּעֵמֶק הַבָּכָא
וְהוּא יַחֲמול עָלַיִךְ חֶמְלָה
קוּמִי רֹנִּי בַלַּיְלָה
לְרֹאשׁ אַשְׁמֻרוֹת
שִׁפְכִי כַמַּיִם לִבֵּךְ
נֹכַח פְּנֵי אדוני
קוּמִי לְכִי רַעְיָתִי
יָפָתִי וּלְכִי־לָךְ
כִּי־הִנֵּה הַסְּתָיו עָבָר
הַנִּצָּנִים נִרְאוּ בָאָרֶץ
עֵת הַזָּמִיר הִגִּיעַ
וְקוֹל הַתּוֹרנִשְׁמַע בְּאַרְצֵנוּ
Arise! Escape from the midst of the chaos
Long have you sat in the valley of tears
And He will grant mercy, mercy upon you
Arise, cry out in the night
At the beginning of the watches
Pour out your heart like water
In the presence of the Lord
Arise, my darling
My fair one, come away
For now the winter is past
The blossoms have appeared in the land
The time of pruning has come
The song of the turtledove
Is heard in our land
𝐾𝑢𝑚𝑖 𝑡𝑧’𝑖 𝑚𝑖𝑡𝑜𝑐ℎ ℎ𝑎-ℎ𝑎𝑓𝑒𝑘ℎ𝑎
𝑟𝑎𝑣 𝑙𝑎𝑘ℎ 𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑡 𝑏𝑒-𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑘 ℎ𝑎-𝑏𝑎𝑘ℎ𝑎
𝑉𝑒-ℎ𝑢 𝑦𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑚𝑜𝑙 𝑎𝑙𝑎𝑦𝑖𝑘ℎ 𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑚𝑙𝑎ℎ
𝐾𝑢𝑚𝑖 𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑖 𝑣𝑎-𝑙𝑎𝑖𝑙𝑎
𝑙𝑒-𝑟𝑜𝑠ℎ 𝑎𝑠ℎ𝑚𝑢𝑟𝑜𝑡
𝑆ℎ𝑖𝑓𝑒𝑘ℎ𝑖 𝑘ℎ𝑎-𝑚𝑎𝑦𝑖𝑚 𝑙𝑖𝑏𝑒𝑘ℎ
𝑛𝑜𝑘ℎ𝑎𝑐ℎ 𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑒𝑖 𝐻𝑎𝑠ℎ𝑒𝑚
𝐾𝑢𝑚𝑖 𝑙𝑒𝑘ℎ𝑖 𝑟𝑎𝑦𝑎𝑡𝑖
𝑦𝑎𝑓𝑎𝑡𝑖 𝑢’𝑙𝑒𝑘ℎ𝑖 𝑙𝑎𝑘ℎ
𝐾𝑖 ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑒𝑖 ℎ𝑎-𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑣 𝑎𝑣𝑎𝑟
𝐻𝑎-𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑧𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑚 𝑛𝑖𝑟𝑢 𝑣𝑎-𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑡𝑧
𝐸𝑖𝑡 ℎ𝑎-𝑧𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑟 ℎ𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑎
𝑉’𝑘𝑜𝑙 ℎ𝑎-𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑚𝑎 𝑏𝑒-𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑧𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑢
Related texts
The lyrics for "Kumi" are adapted from several texts: Lecha Dodi from the Shabbat evening liturgy, Lamentations and the Song of Songs. Explore the original sources below and consider how the juxtaposition of these different texts influences the song's meaning. Notice which parts of the original verses were omitted or adapted.
מִקְדַּשׁ מֶלֶךְ עִיר מְלוּכָה
קוּמִי צְאִי מִתּוֹךְ הַהֲפֵכָה
רַב לָךְ שֶׁבֶת בְּעֵמֶק הַבָּכָא
וְהוּא יַחֲמוֹל עָלַיִךְ חֶמְלָּה
O Holy Place of the King, city of sovereignty
Arise, escape from the midst of the chaos
Long have you sat in the valley of tears
And He will grant mercy, mercy upon you
ק֣וּמִי ׀ רֹ֣נִּי בליל [בַלַּ֗יְלָה]
לְרֹאשׁ֙ אַשְׁמֻר֔וֹת
שִׁפְכִ֤י כַמַּ֙יִם֙ לִבֵּ֔ךְ
נֹ֖כַח פְּנֵ֣י אדושם
שְׂאִ֧י אֵלָ֣יו כַּפַּ֗יִךְ
עַל־נֶ֙פֶשׁ֙ עֽוֹלָלַ֔יִךְ
הָעֲטוּפִ֥ים בְּרָעָ֖ב
בְּרֹ֥אשׁ כָּל־חוּצֽוֹת
Arise, cry out in the night
At the beginning of the watches
Pour out your heart like water
In the presence of the Lord!
Lift up your hands to Him
For the life of your infants,
Who faint for hunger
At every street corner.
(י) עָנָ֥ה דוֹדִ֖י וְאָ֣מַר לִ֑י ק֥וּמִי לָ֛ךְ רַעְיָתִ֥י יָפָתִ֖י וּלְכִי־לָֽךְ׃ (יא) כִּֽי־הִנֵּ֥ה הסתו [הַסְּתָ֖יו] עָבָ֑ר הַגֶּ֕שֶׁם חָלַ֖ף הָלַ֥ךְ לֽוֹ׃ (יב) הַנִּצָּנִים֙ נִרְא֣וּ בָאָ֔רֶץ עֵ֥ת הַזָּמִ֖יר הִגִּ֑יעַ וְק֥וֹל הַתּ֖וֹר נִשְׁמַ֥ע בְּאַרְצֵֽנוּ׃
(10) My beloved spoke thus to me, “Arise, my darling; My fair one, come away! (11) For now the winter is past, The rains are over and gone. (12) The blossoms have appeared in the land, The time of pruning has come; The song of the turtledove Is heard in our land.
An early demo of "Kumi" adapted and included additional verses from Lecha Dodi as a coda before bringing it back to the first line of the song:
ק֥וּמִי א֖וֹרִי כִּ֣י בָ֣א אוֹרֵ֑ךְעוּרִי עוּרִי שיר דַּבֵּרִי
Get up, my light! For your light has come!
Wake up! Wake up! A song, speak out!
קוּמִי צְאִי מִתּוךְ הַהֲפֵכָה
Arise! Escape from the midst of the chaos
Does this addition/omission change the impact of the song? How?