You may be aware that I compose melodies for liturgy, including a couple (Ashrei and Harofei/The Healer) that are commonly used in our services. I’ve also been writing a number of original songs, some inspired by the political upheaval that coincided with the COVID lockdown and others by … life.

The other week, on an unseasonably warm Sunday, I was weeding part of our garden in anticipation of planting tomatoes. While appreciating nature’s tenacity as I wrestled the weeds’ tangled, massed roots from the soil, my mind wandered to part of the kedusha section of the Shabbat morning amida. Why that then I cannot say.

As I repeated the opening words over and over, a new-to-me melody appeared. And it stuck. You can listen to what came of that initial inspiration further down this page

The text speaks of our people’s millennia-long yearning for God to restore divine authority over Jerusalem, and our hope to witness it. (A fraught message today, perhaps, given current events, but certainly expressive of the historic connection we feel to that holy city.)

Join us Shabbat morning. You’ll know some of the melodies and, maybe, learn a new one … or two.

Shabbat shalom ! שבת שלום