These are my own gleanings from a book by Zalman Shachter-Shalomi & Netanel Miles-Yepez, A Merciful God: stories and teachings of the holy rebbe, Levi Yitzhak of Berditchev – translated and retold with commentary (2010, Albion-Andalus). I hope they encourage you to buy the book. I have paraphrased in order to clarify my own understanding, […]
A Merciful God – notes on the book by Shachter-Shalomi & Miles-Yepez Read More »
Music & audio © 2024 Alexander Massey – All Rights Reserved Download the free sheet music (voice & piano) On Shabbat morning, as part of the Amidah blessings, we sing prayers in a call and response. Every prayer tradition has different texts for the parts that the leader recites, so I had to choose which
Kedushah (Blessing the holy name of God) Read More »
Music & audio © 2024 Alexander Massey – All Rights Reserved Download the free sheet music (voice & piano) This piyut (poem) by Solomon Ibn Gabirol (11th century) can be a great way to sing ourselves awake. At dawn I seek you, my rock and my refuge; I lay before You my morning and evening
Shachar Avakeshcha (At Dawn I Seek You) Read More »
Music & audio © 2023 Alexander Massey – All Rights Reserved Download the free sheet music (voice & piano or guitar) נֵר יְהוָה, נִשְמַת אָדָם חֹפֵשׂ, כָל-חַדְרֵי-בָטֶן אֱלהַי נְשָמָה שֶנָתַתָ בִי טְהורָה הִיא כִי-אַתָה, תָאִיר נֵרִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהַי, יַגִיהַ חָשְכִי Verse 1: The soul of a person is the candle of God, that searches the
Neir Adonai No.1 (Candle of God) Read More »
The annual cycle of Torah readings is traditionally split into 54 portions, as well as special readings for Festivals and Fasts. Here’s what I’ve written (and sometimes composed) in relation to some of those readings. 2 Noach – Moving beyond binaries 7 Vayeitzei Jacob’s ladder – dreaming awake (Jacob #1) Jacob and Lavan – learning
Parshot – Divrei Torah Read More »
<< Previous post in the Jacob series: #3 Wrestling at Yabbok – doing the inner work There are four episodes close together in Jacob’s life that can tell us something about the nature of his—and our—spiritual journey. I’ve been reading—and writing about—these four episodes through the lens of Four-Worlds consciousness, as taught in kabbalah: Assiyah,
Jacob meets Esau – putting God at the centre (Jacob #4) Read More »
<< Previous post in the Jacob series: #2 Jacob and Lavan – learning to make a good ending Coming soon. >> Next in the Jacob series: #4 Jacob meets Esau – putting God at the centre
Wrestling at Yabbok – doing the inner work (Jacob #3) Read More »
<< Previous post in the Jacob series: #1 Jacob’s ladder – dreaming awake Running away is not a solution In my commentary on the ladder dream (Jacob #1), we’ve seen Jacob go through an important spiritual transformation using Four-Worlds consciousness. But that’s not the end of his spiritual journey, only one stage in it. Jacob’s spiritual
Jacob and Lavan – learning to make a good ending (Jacob #2) Read More »
The ‘Jacob series’ There are four episodes close together in Jacob’s life that can tell us something about his—and our—spiritual journey. The awakening that Jacob experiences in his ‘ladder dream’ (the subject of this post) fortifies him for his challenging face-off with Lavan (Jacob #2), which helps prepare him for the inner work he will
Jacob’s ladder – dreaming awake (Jacob #1) Read More »
These are my own gleanings from a the book by Zalman Shachter-Shalomi & Yair Hillel Goelman (translated and edited), Ahron’s Heart: the prayers, teachings and letters of Ahrele Roth, a Hasidic reformer (2009, Ben Yehuda Press). I hope they encourage you to buy the book. I have paraphrased in order to clarify my own understanding,
Ahron’s Heart – notes on the book by Shachter-Shalomi & Goelman Read More »