Listen Sh’ma Yisrael How should I listen? What do you want me to hear? Adonai Eloheinu What are you? Who are we to call you ours? Adonai Echad You are One. Why do you seem so Other? V’ahavta… v’hayah… vayomer… Love. The rest will follow. Enough said. © 2022 Alexander Massey
These are my favourites! Comins, Mike (2010) Making Prayer Real: leading Jewish voices on what prayer is difficult and what to do about it Grishaver, Joel Lurie (2012) Stories We Pray: insights into the inner work of Jewish worship Rosenberg, Arnold S. (1997/2004) Jewish Liturgy as a Spiritual System: a prayer-by-prayer explanation of the nature …
Traditional words and music, arranged for voice and piano by Alexander Massey © 2022 This day, give us strength. Amen. This day, give us blessing. Amen. This day, show us greatness. Amen. This day, be good to us. Amen. This day, hear our prayer. Amen. This day, give us an upright way of life. Amen. …
Traditional words and music, arranged for voice and piano by Alexander Massey © 2022 Why is this night different from all the other nights … … that on all other nights we eat both chametz and matzah, on this night, we eat only matzah? … that on all other nights we eat many vegetables, on this night, maror? …
Traditional words and music, arranged by Alexander Massey © 2022 [We thank you] For the miracles, for the deliverance, for the mighty deeds and saving acts, as well as for the wars which you waged for our ancestors, in days of old, at this season.
Traditional words and music arranged by Alexander Massey for voice and piano © 2022 Hayom, Hayom (Rosh Hashanah) Al Hanisim (Chanukah) Mah Nishtanah (Pesach)
All of these pieces have been composed for and/or sung at services or events commemorating the Shoah / Holocaust. Adonai Roi (Ps 23) – Setting of the original Hebrew for voice and guitar (‘The Lord is my shepherd’) B’makom she’ein anashim (Pirkei Avot 2:5) – “In a place where there is no humanity, strive to …
Music and audio © 2021 Alexander Massey (You can download the sheet music for free.) Galut – ‘exile’ – has been a recurring theme through Jewish history. We have been expelled from many countries over the centuries. I don’t ascribe to the idea that Jerusalem belongs exclusively to Jews any more than it does to …
YouTube version. Better recording coming soon. In the meantime, here is the sheet music (free). Music and audio © Alexander Massey 24 August 2021
3-part round Music and audio © Alexander Massey 10 June 2021 Recording coming soon. In the meantime, here is the sheet music (free).