The Sages identified the ‘address’ / opening verse of Psalm 7, as King David who talks about King Saul: “A shiggayon of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning Cush the Benjamite.” (Psalm 7:1). King Saul’s line goes all the way to Jakob’s youngest son, Banjamin. The description ‘Cush’ mentioned only in this verse, …
For a ‘printable friendly’ version of the short Haggadah – Click here — Short Haggadah for Pesach – adjusted 5774 — Instructions & Notices: 1) First night: Candle lighting time range: 6:34-7:40pm (marked **), Begin “Kadesh” at nightfall, not before 8:43 pm (marked *). 2) Second night: Candle lighting and on, only after nightfall, not …
Continue reading ‘Short Haggadah for Passover – Halifax 5774’ »
Psalms 83 talk about nations whom attack the Israelites, in which is their way to rebel against Hashem. (attacking the Lord’s people who carry His word to the world). Steven and Marta Markus (Holocaust survivors) recalled and shared with us some stories of the Shoa. The chapter ends with the verse we sang (Psalm 83:19): Let …
Continue reading ‘Psalm 83 – SING & LEARN – Nations who rebel against G-d, attack Israel’ »
Click here to read “Psalm Six – Translation of the Song” Verse 1 of Song 6 declares it has been composed to be accompanied by an 8-stringed lute. This declaration is immediately followed by a series of 7 commands which the singer directs to God: v. 2 — “do not rebuke me” — “do not …
Our recording to Tehillim 80 ‘s song did not work so well, and so the below recording is the only option I’ve found in Youtube… Here are the words of verses 15-16 in any case: אֱלֹהִים צְבָאוֹת שׁוּב נָא הַבֵּט מִשָּׁמַיִם וּרְאֵה וּפְקֹד גֶּפֶן זֹאת. וְכַנָּה אֲשֶׁר נָטְעָה יְמִינֶךָ וְעַל בֵּן אִמַּצְתָּה לָּךְ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFuCJNr7N5I The despair …
Continue reading ‘Psalm 80 – SING & LEARN – Israel, grapevine’ »
The introductory phrase states that this song was written by the Levite Asaph. But the first section of Song 79 — verses 1 to 4 — itself makes clear that it was not King David who composed it. First, and most obvious, it is a lament for the destruction of the Temple, built by David’s …
The opening verse of Song 5 declares that it is “for the leader; for the nechilot. The English translation is straight-forward: the song has been composed to be sung by the leader of the Temple musicians (the exact meaning of nechilot has been lost; flutes is a common editorial suggestion). The Hebrew, however, hints at another interpretation: the leader is God, …
Click here to read “Psalm Four – Translation of the Song” On first reading, Psalm 4 seems disjointed, as though several melodies were being sung, one after the other. The one common chord throughout, however, is the constancy of the singer’s faith in God. Verse 2 begins with the singer’s plea to God …
I think this is the most classic performance of what we sang: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsxP6ohwBR0 and this one is the best… 🙂 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBO9vQSuiHY Song 71 acts as the completion of Song 70; thus, the two songs themselves pair. Rather than the introductory verse customary in most of the songs, the first verse of Song 71 resounds the prevalent …
Continue reading ‘Psalm 71 – SING & LEARN (continues Psalm 70)’ »
Both songs, 70 and 71, are built on doublings; that is, on the pairings of words similar in meaning and connotation. Pairing of words is a common note in many, if not most, of the Praisesongs. But, in these two, it is the dominant chord. Song 70 pairs words not only within its individual verses but also from one …