This d’var is based on Lev. 6:1-6. The aish tamid The first six verses of this morning’s Torah reading announce that these are the rules concerning the olah—the sacrificial offering in which all the meat is burnt so that its smoke ‘ascends’ to God. But, in fact, the early rabbis, and key commentators ever since, […]
Pesach and the aish tamid / continuous fire (Tzav & Pesach) Read More »
D’var Torah on Ex. 33:12-23 At Pesach[1] we are called to go ‘up’, physically and metaphorically, to journey beyond our narrowness, and dare to live in our fullness. By the time of today’s reading[2], we’ve travelled into the desert, complained many times, received the Torah, ten commandments, and detailed instructions for building the mishkan, prayed
“Let me see Your glory!” Davenen through the Four Worlds (Ki Tisa & Pesach) Read More »
Original songs by Alexander Massey The Four Children – A fun song that use two voice parts, one very simple and repetitive. Ki L’olam Chasdo (Ps 136) – Verses from the Great Hallel, including refrains that I very quick for people to pick up around the seder table. Oseh Shalom (Ukraine lullaby) – When the
Traditional words and music, arranged for voice and piano by Alexander Massey © 2022 Download the free sheet music (voice) 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
Mah Nishtanah (arrangement) Read More »
Traditional words and music arranged by Alexander Massey for voice and piano © 2022 Hayom, Hayom (Rosh Hashanah) Al Hanisim (Chanukah) Mah Nishtanah (Pesach)
Three Festival Songs Read More »
Listen/watch song on YouTube Composition and audio © Alexander Massey 15 February 2014 Download the free sheet music (vocal duet) The fun of this song is all in the lyrics (printed below). First, the chorus loses more words each time it happens, and, by doing so, gradually reveals the differences between the four children: In Chorus
The Four Children (song) Read More »
Pesach 5772 / 2012 Why the ten plagues of Israel, and not Egypt? A midrashic suggestion Exodus tells the story of ten plagues that afflicted Egypt, prior to the flight of the Israelites into the desert. Why are the plagues given in such detail? Is there any allegorical meaning to be derived from the nature
The Ten Plagues of … Israel Read More »