#jewish song

[jidysz]

I just remembered about this absolutely beautiful song

Here are lyrics in Yiddish and their English translation

[hebrewbyinbal]

Immerse yourself in the Hebrew song that transcends mere words, touching the very essence of our collective experiences during these profound times.

This melody is not just a series of notes; it's a reflection of our resilience, our sorrow, and our enduring hope.

With my Phonetic System for Pronunciation (PSP), you'll not only learn to pronounce each word with precision but also feel the emotion woven into every syllable.

The song’s lyrics, available in Hebrew alongside my PSP and English subtitles provide both a linguistic lesson and an emotional journey.

As you navigate through the translation, you’ll find yourself connecting to the song’s deeper meaning, understanding how it encapsulates our current sentiments with a poignancy that only music can convey.

I have personally crafted the clip to showcase this song in all its heartfelt glory.

Through it, I invite you to experience the beauty of Hebrew music and the power of language to express our deepest emotions.

Whether you're a beginner or looking to polish your Hebrew, this song is a gateway to better linguistic and cultural appreciation.

Let's learn and feel together.

Watch the clip, follow along with the PSP, and let the song's profound narrative resonate within you.

[unbidden-yidden-deactivated20240]

Jewish Song of the Day #11: The Sound of Silence [Yiddish]

Comments:

Okay so the original underlying song isn't Jewish as far as I'm aware.

However, this is the second Jewish cover version I've heard (the Maccabeats also covered it) and this version is also in Yiddish.

I think this may be my second favorite cover version (Disturbed is still my all-time favorite though) and it's beautifully unsettling.

Although the underlying song is relatively secular, there are some strong Jewish pathos invoked by the lyrics: this feeling of shouting truth into the void only to be ignored, secular idolatry that others refuse to see, tikkun olam, being a light unto the nations, etc. The Maccabeats version also has some sharp critique of the lack of connection that we've built up through technology, and highlights the beauty of Shabbat as a chance to unplug and reconnect with one another. I'll probably feature it here too in the future.

[etz-ashashiyot]

So in light of having had to wiggle "O Come All Ye Faithful" out my ear in N o v e m b e r

I am dropping my official Oh Lawd The Xtians Are Coming playlist

Have you gotten Xmas music stuck in your head before you've even gotten to eat your turkey? Have your ears already been assaulted with the Alvin and the Chipmunks version of Jingle Bells or the most sacchrine, nasally kid version of Away in a Manager?

Here is your cure:

[applesauce42069]

I love Mi Chamocha because it comes from "The Song of the Sea" which is thought to be one of the oldest texts in the Torah, because its language is older than the rest of Shemot (Exodus).

Who among the celestials, is like you, (hashem)?

Who is like you - majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?

I like it, because it not only praises Hashem, but it also aligns with the henotheistic interpretation of Judaism (worshipping only one god, but not denying that others could exist), which is thought to be much older, but it is also something I identify with in terms of the way i make sense of theology.

It recognizes the possible existence of other celestials, but affirms that, in our opinion, Hashem is the coolest.

It's similar to when, in the shema, when we say "Hashem is OUR God, Hashem is one." instead of just "Hashem is God" because what makes Hashem special to us, beyond his power, is our specific relationship with him.

[blackpearlblast]

honestly one of the things that's been wild for me to learn lately is that israel was responsible for enforcing the idea that the holocaust was an unparalleled genocide that stands apart from everything else that's happened in the course of human history. even before i understood well enough how deeply interconnected all genocides are, when i was a kid, i really fucking hated it. it felt so wrong to me for the holocaust to be The Genocide of human history. it felt disrespectful to other groups who had gone through genocide and it felt like weirdly dehumanizing and tokenizing to us. i didn't want to think of jews as The Group Who Went Through A Genocide, i wanted to see us how i was familiar with in our culture our holidays our art our singing our prayers. that's how i wanted other people to see us too! not that i was ashamed of what we had gone through but i just didn't want people's perception of us to just be that we were victims and i didn't want other peoples victimhood denied to them through that either. but yeah kind of wild to learn that israel and zionist rhetoric seems fairly responsible for this pet peeve of mine from childhood before i even really had a greater consciousness of solidarity or anything.

[shalom-iamcominghome]

Thank g-d for jewish punks who make music explicitly about being jewish 🙏🥰

[unhonestlymirror]

People: Yes!! Yes!! Free Iran!

Free Iranians (refugees): support Israel

People: 😐😐😐Ummmm actually Iranians deserve to die❤️

[thegaycousin-upgrade]

[anonymousdandelion]

The fundamental difference between Fiddler on the Roof and Fidler Afn Dakh:

English Tevye: Tradition!

Yiddish Tevye: Got iz a foter un heylik iz zayn toyre!

[milevenfcb]

So proud of Eden, 5th place is still amazing and I’m really happy that she got to represent us and she’s exactly the type of woman that Jewish and Israeli girls should be looking up to.

She got second in the public vote, too, all while being booed during her performances and receiving so much hate online, but she handled everything really well. And I know it sounds kind of bitter but I’m glad she finished above Ireland after all the bs she got from Bambie Thug.

In my (slightly biased) opinion, Hurricane was the best song. But 5th place is still good and I’m really proud of her and the whole Israeli team 💙🇮🇱

[pisshandkerchief]

why do you mean you have trouble discovering new music. back in my day we got our obscure music recs from the welcome to night vale weather and we fucking liked it

[hebrewbyinbal]

True romance with this beautiful #hebrew song.

[unbidden-yidden-deactivated20240]

Jewish Song of the Day #2: The Narrow Bridge

Comments:

This is one of several versions of a famous Jewish song: Gesher Tsar Me'od

I absolutely adore Nefesh Mountain for being so wonderfully Jewish and culturally American, in the sense that bluegrass is so deeply rooted in americana - it is truly a Jewish-American sound

You'll hear more of my faves from Nefesh Mountain in the future, don't worry

I chose this out of the many songs of theirs that I love because I've been listening to it lately and it's been giving me a lot of chizuk [strength]

[garlic-and-cloves]

There's a specific version of Shalom Aleichem that I've only heard sung on Simchat Torah.

So, while I was listening to music, this started playing. And I just started crying, and haven't stopped since.

Simchat Torah has always been my favorite holiday. I love singing and dancing, I love Jewish joy, and I love that we have a whole holiday for that.

But this year, I was reminded why we need that holiday. And every time I think of Simchat Torah, I am reminded of that day, and all the days that have followed.

But today, hearing that song, I felt that joy again for the first time. I was reminded that being Jewish isn't all suffering, there are many many wonderful and joyous and beautiful parts too. I love being Jewish, and I wouldn't change it for the world.

[etz-ashashiyot]

I'm bored and stuck waiting and happened to remember that on my old blog I had made this statement:

Since I have a minute, I figured I'd finally drop the list with some brief explanations:

1. By Way Of Sorrow - Coyote Grace version

This song and its lyrics, especially as sung by a queer/trans bluegrass band, could not be more Jew-ish in vibe. I am aware this is a cover, but I have only ever heard their version and that's the one that matters to me. I love love love this song, so much, and it perfectly captures how I feel about having been welcomed into the Jewish people after years of exclusion and othering from numerous other quarters. Am Yisrael has taken me in, treated me like family, connected me to the Divine, healed my wounds, and helped me feel as whole as one can in a broken and unredeemed world - while giving me the tools to join the work of tikkun olam myself.

2. The Farthest Field - The Lumber Jills version

This is the best version I could find; the original I was shown I can't find but will link if I do. This song was actually introduced to me by one of my orthodox rabbis, and I agree with him that it can be understood as a beautiful image of geulah.

3. Hallelujah - Coyote Grace & Girlyman

This one just makes me happy, and the words, message, and themes are very on-brand for Jewish vibes as well in my opinion.

4. Be Thou My Vision - old Irish Hymn (this version and this version are my favorites)

This one is very obviously a hymn and therefore decidedly Not Jewish. On the other hand, the words aren't so explicitly Christian that it rules out use by Jews (in my opinion) and especially if you translate the words into Hebrew, it sounds just like a traditional piyyut. (@springstarfangirl if you want to add your beautiful translation, please feel free!)

5. Down to the River to Pray - Alison Krauss

This is one where I do think the lyrics are a lot closer to being Christian specific, but it makes the list for a couple reasons: first, I've encountered it in Jewish-specific contexts without modification (one of our rabbis actually had us sing it like a regular song during zemirot), and second, there's a modified version by Nefesh Mountain that's quite enjoyable.

6. Whither Thou Goest - traditional

Yes, this one is a hymn too, but the words are directly quoting the Book of Ruth - her famous vows to Naomi, and to the Jewish people - and so it's already practically a Jewish song. It also has a special place of pride for me as a ger, and also because I used it as my wedding song in both the English (as heard in this version) and I also transliterated the Hebrew for our singer to do as well. It works nicely in both languages!

7. Roll the Ol' Chariot - David Coffin

This one I think is a little less direct, but I love it and included it for two reasons: first, it's a song of getting through it and surviving and thriving under tough circumstances, and second, you could very easily put liturgy to this melody instead.

8. For the Autumn Sky - traditional

Ignoring the last verse, this hymn could be very easily adapted into a beautiful Sukkot melody. For the last verse, I'd either simply leave it out, or one could write a Sukkot or Tu Bishvat themed verse to distinguish it. Incidentally, this was one of my favorite hymns growing up.

9. Sanctuary - Shaker melody

The video for this one is obviously mega-Christian, but it's on the list because we actually sing it all the time in shul and it has a special place in my memory from going to camp as a kid. Our shul is definitely not the only one who uses it in a Jewish context, either: this version by Cantor Julia Cadrain is really lovely.

10. Genesis 3:23 - The Mountain Goats

Where are my fellow Mountain Goats fans?? I know you're out there, lol. Look, I know that John Darnielle is coming at this from a Christian perspective, but two things: first of all, TMG has a number of Jewish fans I think at least in part because the lyrics speak deeply to the specific feelings around life (and other people) being horrible to you, surviving, and thriving even in the wake of deep trauma. Second of all, I think this one in particular brings up a number of interesting ideas about the meaning of home, of homecoming, of returning to a home that no longer really exists in the same way, and of exile and redemption. What would it look like to return to Gan Eden? Is this what geulah is supposed to look like, at least in some interpretations? What does it mean if not?

Anyway, this is it for now, but I may add to this list later, because there are definitely a few more! Please also feel free to add your own in the notes!