Melody of the Month
Over the course of the year, our Director of Musical Engagement has been introducing new melodies to the congregation as a tool to enrich and enliven prayer life here at Kehillah Israel. These resources are here for Shlichei Tzibur and congregants alike, as we seek to find familiarity and confidence in these new melodies. Browse at your liking!
If you plan to incorporate these melodies into your prayer but are in need of assistance, feel free to sign up for 1-on-1’s with Ariel Wyner.
January: Pitchu Li Jacob’s Ladder
If you come to the Melaveh Malkahs with Jacob’s Ladder, then you know Pitchu Li. Sung in the Hallel service, this niggun also works great for Kedusha and Oseh Shalom.
Pitchu Li (Psalms 118:19-20)
Pitchu Li Sha’arei Tzedek Avo Vam Ode kah Zeh Hasha’ar La ה׳ Tzadikim Yavo’u Vo |
פִּתְחוּ־לִי שַׁעֲרֵי־צֶדֶק אָבֹא־בָם אוֹדֶה קָהּ׃ זֶה־הַשַּׁעַר לַה׳ צַדִּיקִים יָבֹאוּ בוֹ׃ |
(19) Open the gates of righteousness for me so that I may enter them and praise the LORD.
(20) This is the gateway to the LORD— the righteous shall enter through it.
February: Ya’aleh V’yavoh Miami Boys Choir (Yerachmiel Begun)
This melody is a staple for when Rosh Chodesh rolls around. Can be incorporated in many places, but of course resides in the Shacharit repetition, as well as during Rosh Chodesh bensching.
Ya’aleh V’yavo (Rosh Chodesh Prayer)
Ya’aleh v’yavo v’yagi’a v’yera’eh v’yeratzeh v’yishama v’yipaked V’yizacher zichroneinu ufikdoneinu v’zichron avoteinu, v’zichron Mashiach ben David avdecha, v’zichron Yerushalayim ir kodshecha v’zichron kol am’cha Beit Yisrael l’fanecha lifleita l’tova |
יַעֲלֶה וְיָבֹא וְיַגִּיעַ וְיֵרָאֶה וְיֵרָצֶה וְיִשָּׁמַע וְיִפָּקֵד וְיִזָּכֵר זִכְרוֹנֵנוּ וּפִקְדוֹנֵנוּ וְזִכְרוֹן אֲבוֹתֵינוּ, וְזִכְרוֹן מָשִׁיחַ בֶּן דָּוִד עַבְדֶּךָ וְזִכְרוֹן יְרוּשָׁלַיִם עִיר קָדְשֶׁךָ וְזִכְרוֹן כָּל עַמְּךָ בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, לְפָנֶיךָ לִפְלֵטָה לְטוֹבָה |
May our remembrances and merits arise, arrive, come, appear, be heard and recalled, with the merit of our ancestors and messiah son of David, Jerusalem Your holy city, and all of Your people, the house of Israel, before You for good.
March: Yomam Valailah Josh Warshawsky
We have been singing this song as a niggun in various contexts, from Kabbalat Shabbat to our GOT Shabbat dinners and more. Visit Josh’s website for full access to sheet music, translations, and more.
May: Shabbat for Starters by Cantor Meyer Davis, titled “Introductory Melody”
Leading up to Shavuot, we went through the counting of the omer (anyone make it all the way through?) by navigating through the Sefirot, or the 10 attributes of the Divine Presence. I recently led a Rosh Chodesh Jam with Beni Summers (who beautifully led our Kehillah in learning and Havdalah in May!), and he asked me to prepare a tune that connected to the Sefirah of Yesod, or Foundation.
When thinking about a melody that possesses the intrinsic trait of “foundation” or roots, I thought of one of the first melodies I ever learned, off the record “Shabbat for Starters” by Cantor Meyer Davis, titled “Introductory Melody.”
June: Sivan Nigun
July: Od Yishama
Below is a short clip of Ariel leading Od Yishama for the other prayer leaders while in Jerusalem. Ariel got to show his energetic spiritual path, bringing others along on his journey. This of course is not a new tune but sometimes to dig deeper spiritually, we need to do so on the a foundation that is strong.
Od Yishama (Jeremiah 33:10-11
Od yishama be’arei yehudah uve’chutzot Yerushalayim Kol sasson vekol simcha kol chatan vekol kalah |
עוֹד יִשָּׁמַע בְּעָרֵי יְהוּדָה וּבְחֻצוֹת יְרוּשָׁלַם קוֹל שָׂשׂוֹן וְקוֹל שִׂמְחָה קוֹל חָתָן וְק֣וֹל כַּלָּה |
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.
August: Nishmat Kol Chai
September: Aneinu
אֵין אֲנַחְנוּ עַזֵּי פָנִים וּקְשֵׁי עֹרֶף
לוֹמַר לְפָנֶיךָ
צַדִּיקִים אֲנַחְנוּ וְלֹא חָטָאנוּ
אֲבָל אֲנַחְנוּ חָטָאנוּ
We are not so brazen and stiff-necked
to say before You
“we are righteous and have not sinned.”
But we have sinned.
October: Ascension Nigun
This melody will be the theme of Yamim Noraim. Watch the video above and learn this nigun with me as we prepare, grow, and reach new heights together as a community!
November: Tefilat Haderech
A melody that has raised me during this quiet period is my dear friend and colleague, Marni Loffman’s “Tefilat Haderech” (the traveler’s prayer).
December: Ana El Na
In honor of our first ever Artist in Residency, Eitan Kantor from January 9-11th, here is Eitan’s fabulous Ana El Na, a healing prayer. We are all in need of healing, but especially in our darkest of times. Let this time of year be the healing we need as we strengthen ourselves into the New Year, and let this energy be a wellspring that propels us into the Spring will full hearts.