Archive for 2018
Enhancing Our Fast with Meditation, Ritual, Blessing & Teaching
This article provides resources to help one focus on the spiritual essence of the Yom Kippur fast, including a meditation adapted from the Talmud, a blessing to recite upon starting the fast, and
Meditation before Yom Kippur for One Who Cannot Fast
This poem is a meditation written by Rabbi Simkha Y. Weintraub to enable those who cannot fast on Yom Kippur due to medical conditions to infuse their eating with heightened intention and connect
Mareh Kohen: A Song About the High Priest’s Yom Kippur Service
This post provides an audio recording of “Mareh Kohen,” a song from the Yom Kippur Mussaf prayer service that attempts to capture the immense joy, relief and gratitude of the High Priest upon
A Book of Jonah Play for Yom Kippur Afternoon
This post offers the 12-page script of a creative play designed to supplement or replace the reading of the Book of Jonah on Yom Kippur afternoon. A novel way to bring out the deeper meaning
At the Closing of the Gates: A Neilah Song
This video presents a gentle welcome to the Neilah service at the end of Yom Kippur, written and performed by Irwin Keller, spiritual leader of the Reconstructionist/Renewal Congregation Ner Shalom in Sonoma County, California. The short
A Yiddish Yom Kippur Song: Odom Yesodo Meofor
This video presents a Yiddish song based on “Odom Yesodo Meofor,” one of the core High Holiday Prayers of the Jewish Liturgy. Although the song is in Yiddish, there is an onscreen English translation
Tap Your Heart: A Catchy “Ashamnu” for Kids
In this sweet video, Eliana Light presents a catchy children’s song based on the “Ashamnu” part of the Vidui (Confession) liturgy. With a catchy chorus, hand motions and meaningful lyrics, this song is a
Jazz/Classical/Folk Version of Sephardic El Nora Alila Piyut
In this video, Italian Jewish singer Charlette Shulamit Ottolenghi performs a unique version of El Nora Alila, combining jazz, classical and folk music for this Sephardic liturgical prayer sung at the beginning of the Neilah service
El Nora Alila: Sephardic Neilah Piyut
In this video, composer and cantor Eyal Bitton performs Turkish, Moroccan and Spanish/Portuguese melodies for El Nora Alila, a Sephardic liturgical prayer sung at the beginning of the Neilah service at the end of
The Thirteen Attributes of Mercy
This video presents a popular Ashkenazi melody for the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy. Enumerated in Exodus 34:6–7 these Divine Attributes are frequently recited in the selichot penitential prayers before and after Rosh Hashanah, as well as