This article outlines many of the customs that have grown up around death in Jewish communities. Many of the practices follow halachah, rulings from the Rabbis of the Talmud, or subsequent decisions from rabbinic authority. As in all Jewish life, the level of observance – or deferring to a rabbinic ruling – varies considerably. Those […]
Jewish customs around death and mourning Read More »
Jewish religious wedding ceremonies are actually quite simple in structure and content, and this page sets out the main elements. However, simplicity should not be confused with superficiality. It is far better not to plan a religious wedding ceremony hastily, rush through it on the day, or just ‘go through the motions’. I would always
Jewish Wedding Ceremony – the elements Read More »
There is a lot to think about in preparing for your wedding day. On this page, we focus solely on the ceremony itself, and what I will need to know, in order to help you make the ceremony a success. (So we’re not going to cover questions about the venue, clothing decisions, stag or hen nights,
Jewish Wedding Ceremony Checklist Read More »
We have much beautiful music to choose from when putting together a Jewish wedding. Here is just a small selection of the main choices that are available; each text has many different musical versions. I am a seasoned professional singer and instrumentalist, and have been cantorial prayer leader for numerous services and communities; and as a published composer in the
Jewish Wedding Music Choices Read More »
Written and first performed for the Oxford Unitarians service at Harris Manchester College, Yom Hashoah 5774/2014 Composition and audio © Alexander Massey 23 January 2014 In English: In Hebrew: Essa Einai / I lift my eyes – BUY the sheet music (Eng & Heb) – $4.95 Many commentators have seen this psalm as expressing total
I lift my eyes to the mountains (Ps 121) Read More »
Mi Adir – Composition and audio © Alexander Massey, 13 Nov 2013 BUY the sheet music (1 or 2 vces & pno) – $4.95 BUY the sheet music (solo voice & string quartet) – $14.95 (full score + string parts) Mi Adir is a text that is traditionally used at a Jewish wedding as the couple processes
Solo – Composition and audio © Alexander Massey 2012 Duet – Composition and audio © Alexander Massey 2012 The sheet music is available in any key for £3.50 GBP (please contact me if you want a different key from the ones shown here) BUY the sheet music (solo & pno, Fmaj) – $4.95 BUY the
Ruth 1:16-18 Composition, lyrics and audio © Alexander Massey, 9 Nov 2011 BUY the sheet music (solo & pno) – $4.95 BUY the sheet music (duet & pno) – $6.75 (3 copies @ $2.25) Vatomeir Rut al-tifgi-bi, l’azveich lashuv meiachara’ich: ki el asher teilchi eileich, uva’asher talini alin – ameich ami, veilohayich elohai; ba’asher tamuti
Your People Will Be My People (Ruth) Read More »
Background For ritual purposes, legal proceedings within Jewish law, and certificates, proselytes usually drop the use of their biological parents’ names, and adopt the names ben / bat avraham v’sarah (son / daughter of Abraham and Sarah). This appears to be almost universal minhag , expectation and assumption across all denominations. However, there is nothing in
Jewish parent names for a proselyte / convert Read More »
Midrash on Psalm 81 (1-4, 8, 11) Composition, lyrics and audio © Alexander Massey, 12 Sep 2011 BUY the sheet music (3 vces lead sheet) – $6.75 (3 copies @ $2.25) BUY the sheet music (3 vces & pno) – $9 (4 copies @ $2.25) I love those old songs that have two melodies that
Simcha Song (Ps 81) Read More »