My recent posts…

Parshat Lech-Lecha 5785

We make assumptions about others based on what we see: what they wear, what they drive, their work, past-times… And we project upon the other who passes our superficial entrance exam what we want them to be — i.e., more like us!

Yom Kippur Singing

My recent posts...Over the decades, I have composed melodies for some of the texts we use in our prayer services. (I've written English interpretations of the texts for a few of them.) Some of them are posted here so we can sing them together at Shirat Hayam and, even...

Jerusalem of…

May 11, 2021

Jerusalem of gold, of copper of light,
Jerusalem of old, of older, day after day after night,
of sacred harmonies in disharmonious keys,
of messianic wishings and divine certainties.

Of conflict by factions for fractions of the whole
of conflicting feelings uplifting and roiling the soul.
Of adhan bells nigun sirens protest — a call
to worship to support to deny to defy — rise and fall.

Where heaven and earth collide with force
to be rhapsodized as the ultimate source
of connection to heart and mind — belief
that is consternation to some, to others, relief.

Jerusalem of our future and of our past —
for you, with you, we celebrate, we fast.
Through burning and yearning your colors soft and strong,
our bodies and spirits vibrate, transcendent, to your song.