Tzedek Chicago (29 Adar 1/March 9)
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Shabbat Vayakhel: Exodus 35:1–38:20
[“He Assembled,” that is: Moses assembled the community]
Shabbat Shekalim
(first of five special Shabbats leading to Passover — Originally, a reminder that half-shekel contribution to the Temple was coming up soon; These days: half-dollar, or half whatever is smallest local currency, given on Purim)
Maftir, additional reading, is Ex 30:11-16, re: census
Haftarah, prophetic reading, is 2 Kings 12:1-17 or 11:17 – 12:17, re: donations to support the Temple
Shabbat Machar Chodesh[lit: “tomorrow is Rosh Chodesh,” the new moon]
(March 9 is the last day of Adar-1; Adar-2 starts after Shabbat)
Haftarah for an ordinary Machar Chodesh: 1 Sam 20:18-42 (David and Jonathan, new moon, archery)
Order of the morning, probably: Blessing for Torah Study
Songs on themes of sanctuary, tensions between individual and collective,
and between divine direction and human contribution
Text study
Song break
Text study
Closing song
(1) Debbie Friedman’s “V’asu Li Mikdash“
Ve’asu li mikdash veshachanti betocham Exodus (Exodus 25:8)
[Let them make me a sanctuary that I might dwell among them]
(synagogue credit below)
(2) “V’asu Li Mikdash” by Ari Moshe Wolfe
This world is just a reflection
Of the mirror inside your head
Truth is found in perception
Love’s the elephant inside the room
V’asu li mikdash (build for me a sanctuary… exodus 25:8)
V’shachanti b’tochum
And I will dwell inside you
Miracles flow like water
Takes the shape of the container we’ve built
And our minds are the faucets
For all of the water … (Full lyrics and credits below)
(3) Rabbi Sandra Lawson’s Sanctuary/Ozi Mash-Up
Lord, prepare me to be a sanctuary, pure and holy, tried and true
with thanksgiving, I’ll be a living sanctuary for you
ozi v’zimrat YAH, vayehi li lishuah
Words are from Song at the Sea Exodus 15:2 and Psalm 118:14, one of the hallel psalms: trans: My strength and my song is YAH, God will be my salvation
(Full credits for “Sanctuary” and Shefa Gold chant, R’ Lawson below)
(4) “Coming Home to Who We Are”
composed by Rena Branson, performed with Batya Levine, 2022
…We are whole just as we are
And we will go where our truth calls
We may not know just where the path goes
But we’re coming home to who we are
Please don’t make me into a symbol
And I will try not to flatten you either
We are infinitely complex creatures
And we deserve to be known
Full lyrics and credits and more information on this song below.
——————
(5) “Our Power”
Hebrew lyrics, from “Mi Chamocha” blessing after the Shema
English lyrics and translation of Hebrew by Rena Branson
We will not underestimate our power any longer
We know that together, we are strong
Like drops of water shape the rocks as they rush down the falls
We know that together, we are strong.
Shira chadasha shibchu ge’ulim l’shimcha
al sfat hayam, yachad kulam hodu
“With newborn song, liberated people praised Your name
on the lip of the sea. All were one in thanks.”
Song lyrics appears in Matir Asurim’s Purim publication, 5782, https://matirasurim.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Purim-Mailer-5782.pdf
This “Our Power” video — https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rek_BJi2_wg — song is also on SoundCloud and other platforms.
Song details, lyrics, credits
1)“V’asu Li Mikdash“ tune by Debbie Friedman (1951-2011), z”l. Words, as noted above, are Ex 25:8.
Singer is unidentified, synagogue is Radlett Reform in the village of Radlett, outside of London, UK. https://www.radlettreform.org.uk/
2) “V’asu Li Mikdash“ by Ari Moshe Wolfe
Non-Torah lyrics are by Ari Moshe Wolfe, from Freedom Is My Holy Name, released Dec, 18, 2019.
Ari Moshe Wolfe: Vocals, Piano. Recording/Mixing by Shimshai, Chaparral Studio
Full lyrics (as listed on Bandcamp — https://arimoshe.bandcamp.com/track/vasu-li-mikdash):
This world is just a reflection
Of the mirror inside your head
Truth is found in perception
Love’s the elephant inside the room
V’asu li mikdash (build for me a sanctuary… exodus 25:8)
V’shachanti b’tochum
And I will dwell inside you
Miracles flow like water
Takes the shape of the container we’ve built
And our minds are the faucets
For all of the water
[Chorus]
Your mind’s a holy alter [sic]
That’s what it is no matter what you think!
Kadosh Kadosh Kadosh (holy holy holy)
M’lo kol ha’arez k’vodo (fills the whole world with God’s glory)
[Chorus]
3) Sanctuary/Ozi Mash-up performed by Rabbi Sandra Lawson
“Sanctuary,” credited to Randy Lynn Scruggs and John Thompson, is a Christian hymn adapted as Jewish camp and worship song, sometimes with Hebrew lyrics sung to the same tune:
Ve’asu li mikdash veshachanti betocham Exodus 25:8
Va’anachnu nevarech yah me’atah ve’ad olam, haleluyah Psalms 115:18
Shefa Gold teaches this chant as seeking balance between Ozi — my strength — on the one hand, and, on the other: v’zimrat Yah— surrendering to God’s song.
Practice details at R’ Gold’s website, https://www.rabbishefagold.com/ozi-vzimrat-yah/
Video incorporating her teaching on this verse: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3lcuzLjtDk
R’ Lawson at Jewish Women’s Archives, https://jwa.org/encyclopedia/article/lawson-sandrahttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QExoGZvuWYY
4) “Coming Home to Who We Are” composed by Rena Branson, performed with Batya Levine, 2022
commissioned by Footsteps
Full Lyrics (as appearing on Bandcamp)
We are whole just as we are
And we will go where our truth calls
We may not know just where the path goes
But we’re coming home to who we are
Thanks for your love, but I don’t need your worry
If you think you know what’s better for me
It’s good to learn to trust myself, and feel safe to be myself
With support from community
[Chorus]
Our ancestors wouldn’t want us to suffer
They would want us to thrive
And when we find what brings us joy and meaning
They’d shep naches [feel pride] for our lives
[Chorus]
Please don’t make me into a symbol
And I will try not to flatten you either
We are infinitely complex creatures
And we deserve to be known
Footsteps (https://footstepsorg.org) is an organization supporting people who grew up in ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities and are exploring nontraditional ways of thinking, connecting, and living. This song was commissioned for Footsteps’ annual gala in 2021. It also appears on Rena Branson’s 2022 “Love is the Ground” album — https://renabranson.bandcamp.com/album/love-is-the-ground.
Batya Levine‘s music here — https://www.batyalevine.com/.
More on Rena Branson‘s work as a ritual leader and healer, as well as their music, including a two-hour concert, available on their website, RenaBranson.com.
Please support, however possible, the work of living artists and related community work.
(6) “Wish You Were Here”
— Roger Waters and David Gilmour (Pink Floyd), 1975
Performed by Afro Fiesta, featuring Twanguero and I-Taweh, Playing for Change-Live Outside
So, so you think you can tell
heaven from hell? Blue skies from pain?
Can you tell a green field
From a cold steep rail
a smile from a veil?
D you think you can tell?
Did they get you to trade your heroes for ghosts?
Hot ashes for trees? Hot air for a cool breeze?
Cold comfort for change? Did you exchange
a walk-on part in the war for a leading role in a cage?
How I wish, how I wish you were here
We’re just two lost souls swimming in a fishbowl, year after year
Running over the same old ground, what have we found?
The same old fears, wish you were here
I-Taweh: Vocals and acoustic guitar
Jason Tamba: Vocals and acoustic guitar
Mermans Mosengo: Vocals, harmonica and cajon
Twanguero: Electric guitar
Playing for Change general link — https://www.playingforchange.com/
Afro Fiesta details — https://www.playingforchange.com/artists/afro-fiesta
“Wish You Were Here” video https://www.playingforchange.com/videos/wish-you-were-here-afro-fiesta-ft-twanguero-i-taweh-live-outside
Please support, however possible, the work of living artists and related community work.
"A Song Every Day" 