Shlomo Gronich – Journey to the Sources

שְׁלֹמֹה גְּרוּנִיך – מַסָּע אֶל הַמְּקוֹרוֹת

Last week I stepped into a performing hall in Ra’anana to watch one of the best Israeli musicians – Shlomo Gronich. This outstanding and unique composer and performer created a very special journey to the Jewish Sources. He composed biblical texts and prayers in a way that touches my soul deeply.

As the performance took place in the month of Elul, when the smell of the New Year is in the air, he opened it by playing the Shofar. I wrote “playing” and not “blowing” – as the music that came from these horns was nothing like I had ever heard before – it truly felt as if the music opened our hearts and souls. Then he gave a very touching musical version of the Blessing known as Birkat Hashanim (בִּרְכַּת הַשָּׁנִים, blessing for years [of good]). Although this prayer is recited 3 times a day by a practicing Jew, it has a very special implication at this time of the year, and was given a different angle by the music.

בָּרֵךְ עָלֵינוּ יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ אֶת הַשָּׁנָה הַזֹּאת,

וְאֶת כָּל מִינֵי תְּבוּאָתָהּ לְטוֹבָה,

וְתֵן בְּרָכָה עַל פְּנֵי הָאֲדָמָה וְשָׂבַעְנוּ מִטּוּבָהּ,

וּבָרֵךְ שְׁנָתֵנוּ כַּשָּׁנִים הַטּוֹבוֹת לִבְרָכָה,

כִּי אֵל טוֹב וּמֵטִיב אַתָּה וּמְבָרֵךְ הַשָּׁנִים:

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה מְבָרֵךְ הַשָּׁנִים.

Bless this year for us, O LORD our God,
together with all the varieties of its produce, for our welfare.
Bestow a blessing upon the face of the earth.
O satisfy us with thy goodness, and bless our year
like the best of years.
Blessed art thou, O LORD, who blesseth the years.

The atmosphere that evolved was electrifying. A secular musician took these ancient texts and made them available to those of us who do not go to the Synagogue and are not exposed to these eternal words. I am happy to share this spiritual experience with you. You may get a taste of the event by watching this clip.

New Year Blessings

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy and sweet year. As the custom of sending New Year cards changes and become more virtual, I would like to invite you to our new Jewish-Greeting site, where you may find the right Shana Tova to send to your friends and relatives.

שָׁנָה טוֹבָה וּמְתוּקָה!

Shana Tova ‘Umetuka!
Good and Sweet Year!
שִׁירָה