Post and run this time, so this shabbos' song is Sigur Rós' "Fljótavík". I've been obsessed with this band for ages... but their newest CD is a bit too, poppy for me. But Fljótavík is classic S.R.
I hope you all have a great shabbos! It was a good week for me and I look forward to the next, after all it has infinite potential. Gutte Shabbos
Sigur Rós - Fljótavík
Labels: Shabbos songs
There's a controversy a brewin'!
As most people in Israel have heard; the Supreme Rabbinical Court ruled that all of the “conversions performed since 1999 by Rabbi Chaim Avior and Rabbi Chaim Drukman, who heads the Israeli Conversion Court, must be disqualified.” Besides the upsetting implications for me, something that I hope I won't have to grapple with but realize is a possibility, I am upset at how the issue has been framed as a "chareidi vs dati" struggle. I've been reading some of the writings of Rav. Samson Rafael Hirsch lately, and while the various parts of religious society here in Israel don't see exactly eye to eye I hope and pray that we won't inflame these "small" issues till they seem as wide as the gulf separating the haskala from Torah Judaism. What is lacking in the argument between the two groups however is a metargeim, someone who can explain the issues in a manner that will allow understanding between the national religious and the plain religious.
One of the facts missing from much of the discussion is that the whistleblower on the special conversion court is Rabbi Yisrael Rosen, head of Machon Tzomet a tzioni institution. His concerns about Rabbi Drukman's testifying that he sat on beis dins that he wasn't present for was ruled inconsequential by a secular court, but the issue was never decided religiously.
The other thing that frustrates me is that few of the people that are up in arms about the annulling of the conversions have read the psak, so I'll do my part:
Anyway, I'm frustrated that there aren't objective standards for conversion that will allow converts in one place to be sure that they will be recognized everywhere they go. My other frustration is that this squabble will only increase the calls for having conversion taken out of the hands of the rabbinate, which will only add to the question: "Who is a Jew?"
This erev Shabbos Song is by Eef Barzelay, a Israeli born alt-country singer and my current fave.
Jose Gonzales - Teardrop
Labels: conversion, music, Shabbos songs
I love the way erev shabbos smells here in J-lem, a mix of chicken, bread and brisket. I volunteer at a soup kitchen every friday, so I get the "shabbos smell" early. If you aren't volunteering you should be, I've been riding the wave of appreciation that I get from the people who come to the kitchen all day. On the way back I decided to start "shabbos songs" a little early too... but this time with a couple of the "famous" street performers of J-lem. Enjoy
The other thing that I love is Massive Attack, their song "teardrop" displays a sensuality that I think is rarely done without being overtly sexual. So when Jose Gonzales produced this cover on guitar I thought it would stink, without the strong back beat of the human heart the song might have lost its emotive power. But the new version sounds great Good shabbos!
Jose Gonzales - Teardrop
Labels: music, photography, Shabbos songs, volunteering
Nisan is one of the beginnings of the year given to us by the Torah. So it's the right time to "start over"... I've been mulling over the last 12 months since last pesach, and while I can't say that I've been a great success, I have grown and want to start building upon some of the rubble of the last year.
1. Utilize the only time I'll ever have to really devote myself to yeshiva study at the highest degree possible.
2. Emulate my mentors, I know the life I've wanted to live and who are already living it, I'm going to try and connect to those who are "doing it" and get their advice as to how to do it.
3. Let things happen, G-d's in control.
Hopefully in the coming year I'll be able to live up to my new year's resolutions and bounce around like a pinball a little less.
so the question is:
what do I listen to when I'm not allowed to listen to music?
the answer:
David Sedaris
Definitely a candidate for "things white people like" which honestly should be "stuff hipsters and ex-hippies are into".
This shabbos I'm off to the famous Rav Machlis. it should be an experience... gut shabbos (see the R. Eiger footnote #13)!
Labels: David Sedaris, music, Pesach, Shabbos songs
I honor of this year's shomtov this weeks shabbos songs is a double edition.
When I first started becoming religious two of my friends tried to describe "Jewish Music", I think they said something like, "it's similar to broadway... just different". And after I had a listen myself I don't remember thinking to myself, "One day I'll like this." But that day seems to have arrived. I'm coming out of the closet:
I like the newest Chevra album! With the usual overproduced instrumentation I can't stand these guys, but a-cappella they're good stuff.
והיו למשסה שאסיך
ורחקו כל מבלעיך
ישיש עליך אלהיך
כמשוש חתן על כלה
The other song for the pesach edition of Shabbos Songs is the massively popular Idan Rachel's Mi Maamakim. This song is almost the polar opposite of the usual drek that frum and secular Israeli groups put out. It achieves depth and a distinctly "middle eastern" feel by overlapping a few simple themes rather than the usual approach where they throw in as many synthesized instruments playing stereotyped "mizrachi" themes. Beautiful
ממעמקים קראתי אליך
בואי אלי
בשובך יחזור שוב האור בעיני
לא גמור לא עוזב המגע בידיך
שיבוא ויאיר למשמע קול צחוקך
ממעמקים קראתי אליך
בואי אלי
מול ירח מאיר את דרכך שוב אלי
נפרשו ונמסו מול מגע של ידיך
באוזנייך לוחש, שואל
מי זה קורא לך הלילה הקשיבי
מי שר בקול אליך אל חלונך
מי שם נפשו שתהיי מאושרת
מי ישים יד ויבנה את ביתך
מי יתן חייו, ישימם מתחתיך
מי כעפר לרגליך יחיה
מי יאהבך עוד מכל אוהביך
מי מכל רוח חיה יצילך.
ממעמקים...
ממעמקים קראתי אליך
בואי אלי
מול ירח מאיר את דרכך שוב אלי
נפרשו ונמסו מול מגע של ידיך
באוזנייך לוחש, שואל.
Labels: Idan Raichel, music, Shabbos songs, The Chevra
Every friday I'm gonna try to post up something that I'm listening to. Sometimes it'll be Jewish, sometimes it'll be... Something. I'll keep the mp3 up for a week so get it while you can!
Anyway the first entry is by Annie Clark, aka St. Vincent. This version of the song was ripped from her performance on Fair Game, and I think that it kills the album version, even though the quality is a bit sketchy. I DARE you to listen to this song and not like it. Sing along, but don't listen after shkiah. Good Shabbos
St.Vincent - Marry Me
Marry me, John
Marry me, John I'll be so good to you
You won't realize I'm gone
Marry me, John
Marry me, John I'll be so sweet to you
You won't realize I'm gone
You won't realize I'm gone
Many people wanna make money make love
make friends make peace with death
But most mainly want to win the game they came to win
they want to come out ahead
But you you're a rock with a heart like a socket I can plug into at will
And will you guess when I come around next
I hope your open sign is blinking still
So Marry me, John
Marry me, John I'll be so good to you
You won't realize I'm gone
You won't realize I'm gone
As for me I have to agree I'm as fickle as a paper doll
being kicked by the wind when I touch down again I'll be in someone elses arms
Oh, John c'mon we'll do what married people do
Oh, John c'mon we'll do what Mary and Joseph did without the kid
So Marry me, John
Marry me, John I'll be so good to you
You won't realize I'm gone
You won't realize I'm gone
Labels: music, Shabbos songs