I hope you had a good week post-Thanksgiving. Now, the lights of Hanukkah burn brightly on the horizon!
Last week, I shared the video clip of the COVID-era moral boost by Israeli musicians and artists called Katan Aleinu (We Got This). My friend Jessica Steinberg, who writes about culture for Times of Israel, wrote this article with translated lyrics and the full roster of contributors to the song. Enjoy!
One of Israeli’s best composers of religious music is Yonatan Razel. This is one of his most beloved songs, based on words from Parshat Vayishlah. It has more than 11 million views! Here is the text he sings:
“I am unworthy of all the kindnesses and of all the truth that You have performed for Your servant; for with my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps. Deliver me, please…”(Genesis 32:10-11).
There’s also a great Shlomo Carlebach melody set to the words about the Bible’s most famous wrestling match: “None but the LORD shall be exalted in that day” (Isaiah 2:11); “Jacob remained alone; and a man wrestled with him until dawn” (Genesis 32:24). Here’s Neshama Carlebach’s arrangement of her father’s song.
Are you ready for the Torah portion musical scavenger hunt? If you read the parshah and listen to the lyrics carefully, you’ll know why I chose these songs this week:
I’ll share the answers at our online havdalah.
Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom, and as always good health,
