What’s in a name? Jacob wrestling at Yabok (Gen 32:23-33) Today’s story can say something, I think, to everyone, because it is about an ish tam, a simple, normal man, an average person, Jacob, in a normal family, that is to say, a dysfunctional one. If there’s anybody here who isn’t from a dysfunctional family, please […]
Vayishlach 5772 – Jacob wrestles, and becomes himself Read More »
Composition, lyrics and audio © Alexander Massey, 9 Nov 2011 Download the free sheet music (2 voices & piano) 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 amut, v’sham ekaveir; koh ya’aseh adonai li, v’choh yosif – ki hamavet, yafrid beini uveineich.
Your People Will Be My People (song of 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 Download the free sheet music (round for 3 voices & piano lead sheet) I love those old songs that have two melodies that overlap each other; one melody is like a fast patter song, and the other lyrical,
My tallit is one of my most personal and precious Jewish objects. It is what I wrap around me when I step into prayer – intimate, I-Thou encounter with God. When I had one handwoven for me by the wonderful Amy Smith at Blue Feet Studio, I wanted to personalise it so that it could have special
A tale of a tallit (Jewish prayer shawl) Read More »
Download the free sheet music (for 1 or 2 voices & optional piano) Adon Olam is one of those lyrics that everyone seems to know by heart, and many take great delight in fitting to popular tunes like ‘Auld Lang Syne’, ‘Summertime’, ‘Happy Birthday’, or even ‘Yellow Submarine’. But what is it about what, and
Adon Olam No.1 (Master Of The Universe) Read More »
Composition and audio © Alexander Massey 2011 Yedid Nefesh No.1 – Download the free sheet music (1 or 2 voices & piano) The poem of Yedid Nefesh is usually attributed to the 16th century kabbalist Rabbi Elazar Ben Azikri, although he never claimed authorship. The text is often sung at Kabbalat Shabbat, the service bringing
Yedid Nefesh No.1 (My Soul’s Beloved) Read More »
Inviting the angels to return soon … Kein LaShabbat Haba’ah – Composition, lyrics and audio © Alexander Massey, 30 July 2011 Download the free sheet music (round for 3 voices & piano) This piece is a chance to have some fun. The idea came to me one Saturday evening. I always feel a little pang
Kein LaShabbat Haba’ah (‘Yes’ To Next Shabbat!) Read More »
Congregational version (lower key, Dm) Solo version (tenor, Fm) Composition and audio © Alexander Massey 2011 – All Rights Reserved Download the free sheet music (duet & piano) With an unending love You have loved the house of Israel your people: You have taught us Torah and mitzvot, laws and precepts. Therefore, our God, when
Ahavat Olam (Unending Love) Read More »
© Alexander Massey, January 2008 Download the free sheet music (2 or 3 part round, with optional chords) This was written for the bar mitzvah of Daniel, one of the boys in my Jewish Renewal community the London Ruach Chavurah (January 2008). Daniel is a talented multi-instrumentalist, and I wanted to create a piece of
Nigun B’nei Mitzvah Read More »