These are my own gleanings from the book by Joel Lurie Grishaver, Stories We Pray: insights into the inner-work of Jewish worship (2012, Torah Aura Productions). I hope they encourage you to buy the book. I have paraphrased in order to clarify my own understanding, but there are also direct quotations from the book. The notes […]
These are my own gleanings from a profound book (both spiritually and practically by Zalman Shachter-Shalomi, The Gates of Prayer: Twelve Talks on Davennology (2011, Albion / Andalus, Boulder). I hope they encourage you to buy the book. I have paraphrased in order to clarify my own understanding, but there are also direct quotations from
The Gates of Prayer: Twelve Talks on Davennology – notes on Reb Zalman’s book Read More »
Notes on the essay by Abraham Joshua Heschel in Review of Religion vol. 9 no. 2, January (1945) 1. Prayer as an answer “We do not refuse to pray; we abstain from it.” “We cannot make Him visible to us, but we can make ourselves visible to Him. So we open our thoughts to Him.” “To
‘Prayer’ – A.J. Heschel (1945) Read More »
Music and audio © 21 May 2023 Alexander Massey – All Rights Reserved Buy the sheet music (voice & piano, 2 copies) – $4.95 “May the words of my mouth, and the song in my heart, be pleasing to you, my God, my Rock and my Redeemer.” (Ps 19:14) These words are used at the
Yih’yu L’ratzon – May the words of my mouth Read More »
Here are a few songs that can help people make sacred space together. The commentaries give some useful ideas about kavanah – focus and intentionality. Ashrei Yoshvei Veitecha – ‘Happy are those who dwell in your house’ Elohai N’shamah (Ber. 60b) – ‘My God, the soul You have given me is pure.’ (easy 3 part
Making sacred space together Read More »
Music and Audio © 2022 Alexander Massey – All Rights Reserved BUY the sheet music (voice & piano, including lead sheet) – $4.95 Psalm 27, verses 1 & 4 ;הוָה, אוֹרִי וְיִשְׁעִי–מִמִּי אִירָא .יְהוָה מָעוֹז-חַיַּי, מִמִּי אֶפְחָד :אַחַת, שָׁאַלְתִּי מֵאֵת-יְהוָה– אוֹתָהּ אֲבַקֵּשׁ ;שִׁבְתִּי בְּבֵית-יְהוָה, כָּל-יְמֵי חַיַּי .לַחֲזוֹת בְּנֹעַם-יְהוָה, וּלְבַקֵּר בְּהֵיכָלוֹ Translation God is my light
Adonai Ori / Achat Sha’alti – Psalm 27 Read More »
These are my favourites! Comins, Mike (2010) Making Prayer Real: leading Jewish voices on what prayer is difficult and what to do about it [Inner meanings & practices.] Grishaver, Joel Lurie (2012) Stories We Pray: insights into the inner work of Jewish worship [A hugely rich resource for imagination, kavanah-intentions and meanings to make the prayers
Books on Jewish prayer practice and meditation Read More »
Music and recording © Alexander Massey 18 July 2020 – All Rights Reserved BUY the sheet music (3 vces & guitar) – $2.95 A musical meditation on the morning blessing for moving mindfully through the world. A familiar translation is: “Blessed are you, O Lord, our God, king of the universe, who makes firm the steps of
Hameichin Mitzadei Gaver (‘… who makes our steps firm’) Read More »
‘God is in the detail’: a composer’s perspective on crafting modern Jewish sacred music – part 7/7 Pt-1 Pt-2 Pt-3 Pt-4 Pt-5 Pt-6 Pt-7 (Bibliography) Bibliography Printed articles
Composing Jewish sacred music – part 7/7 Read More »
‘God is in the detail’: a composer’s perspective on crafting modern Jewish sacred music – part 6/7 Pt-1 Pt-2 Pt-3 Pt-4 Pt-5 Pt-6 Pt-7 (Bibliography) PARDES (‘paradise’) In order to be able to answer those questions, lyricists and composers must
Composing Jewish sacred music – part 6/7 Read More »