Music & audio © 2024 Alexander Massey – All Rights Reserved 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 rite I was going to set. The text […]
Music & audio © 2024 Alexander Massey – All Rights Reserved 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 prayers. Before Your greatness, I stand and tremble,
Shachar Avakeshcha Read More »
Music & audio © 2023 Alexander Massey – All Rights Reserved נֵר יְהוָה, נִשְמַת אָדָם חֹפֵשׂ, כָל-חַדְרֵי-בָטֶן אֱלהַי נְשָמָה שֶנָתַתָ בִי טְהורָה הִיא כִי-אַתָה, תָאִיר נֵרִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהַי, יַגִיהַ חָשְכִי 1: The soul of a person is the candle of God, that searches the deepest parts of ourselves. [Prov. 20:27] Ch: My God, the soul
Neir Adonai (No.1) Read More »
Music and audio © 2 Dec 2023 Alexander Massey – All Rights Reserved אֱלהַי נְשָמָה שֶנָתַתָ בִי טְהורָה הִיא נֵר יְהוָה, נִשְמַת אָדָם חֹפֵשׂ, כָל-חַדְרֵי-בָטֶן כִי-אַתָה, תָאִיר נֵרִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהַי, יַגִיהַ חָשְכִי Ch: My God, the soul you have given me is pure. [Berachot 60b, morning prayer] 1: The soul of a person is the
Neir Adonai (No.2) Read More »
Invocation for strength, and songs of hope Adonai, Adonai No.2 – Invoking God’s 13 attributes of mercy – connecting directly with those qualities that we want to experience, and embody them, emphasising the warmth of God’s love. Adonai Roi (Ps 23) – Yah is my shepherd … Ana B’choach – A mystical poem, using seven
Jewish songs in a time of crisis Read More »
Here is the programme that Matthew Faulk and I performed on 26 June 2023 to the Oxford group of the Council of Christians and Jews. Good evening, and welcome. Many of tonight’s song lyrics are from texts shared by Jews and Christians: there are seven psalms, two passages from Exodus, and one from Jeremiah. From
CCJ Oxford Soirée (June 2023) Read More »
Music and audio © 1 May 2023 Alexander Massey “Seek the peace—the shalom—of the city, and pray to God for it: for in its shalom, you shall all have shalom.” (Jer. 29:7) In Hebrew, the word ‘peace’ is shalom. The first letter of shalom is shin, which, for us, represents fire, and the final letter
V’dirshu et shalom ha’ir – Seek the peace of the city Read More »
Music & Audio @ 7 Dec 2022 Alexander Massey – All Rights Reserved שְׁלַח-אוֹרְךָ וַאֲמִתְּךָ, הֵמָּה יַנְחוּנִי יְבִיאוּנִי אֶל-הַר-קָדְשְׁךָ, וְאֶל-מִשְׁכְּנוֹתֶיךָ ;Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me .let them bring me to your holy mountain, and to your dwelling place Yearning is an essential part of a full spiritual life. The
Sh’lach Or’cha (Ps 43:3) Read More »
Music & audio © 29 Sept 2022 Alexander Massey – All Rights Reserved A mystical poem, using seven different names of God, chanted at times of crisis in the Jewish community. We beg You, by the strength of Your right hand, untie the knot of our sins. Accept the prayer-song of Your people, strengthen us,
Music & Audio © 4 Nov 2022 Alexander Massey – All Rights Reserved I believe in the sun, even though all around be dark. I believe in God, even though he be silent. I believe in love, even when love must hide. [English lyrics: Alexander Massey] The original text on which this song is based