I sought HASHEM and G-d answered me, and from all my terrors G-d saved me. [People] turned to G-d and became radiant, and their faces will never become downcast. [Psalms 34:5-6]... Be in awe of HASHEM, holy people of G-d, because those who are in awe lack nothing. Even lions crave and are left hungry, but those who seek HASHEM will never lack any good thing. [Psalms 34:10-11]

דָּרַ֣שְׁתִּי אֶת־ה' וְעָנָ֑נִי וּמִכָּל־מְ֝גֽוּרוֹתַ֗י הִצִּילָֽנִי׃ הִבִּ֣יטוּ אֵלָ֣יו וְנָהָ֑רוּ וּ֝פְנֵיהֶ֗ם אַל־יֶחְפָּֽרוּ׃ [תהלים לד:ה-ו] … יְר֣אוּ אֶת־ה' קְדֹשָׁ֑יו כִּי־אֵ֥ין מַ֝חְס֗וֹר לִֽירֵאָֽיו׃ כְּ֭פִירִים רָשׁ֣וּ וְרָעֵ֑בוּ וְדֹֽרְשֵׁ֥י ה' לֹֽא־יַחְסְר֥וּ כָל־טֽוֹב׃

[תהלים לד:י-יא]ו

Darashti et HASHEM va-anani u-mikol m'gurotai hitzilani. Hibitu eylav v'naharu u-f'neyhem al yechparu. Yr'u et HASHEM k'doshav ki eyn machsor li'rey-av. K'firim rashu v'ra-eyvu v'dorshey HASHEM lo yach's'ru chol tov.

And the whole Earth was of one language and of singular expressions [Genesis 11:1]... “Let’s build for ourselves a city and a tower, with its beginning in the heavens, and we’ll make for ourselves a monument” [Genesis 11:4]... [G-d:] “They’re one people, and they’ve got one language for all of them, and this is what they intend to do? From now on, nothing they set out to accomplish shall be withheld.” [Genesis 11:6]

וַיְהִ֥י כָל־הָאָ֖רֶץ שָׂפָ֣ה אֶחָ֑ת וּדְבָרִ֖ים אֲחָדִֽים [בראשית יא:א] … הָ֣בָה ׀ נִבְנֶה־לָּ֣נוּ עִ֗יר וּמִגְדָּל֙ וְרֹאשׁ֣וֹ בַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וְנַֽעֲשֶׂה־לָּ֖נוּ שֵׁ֑ם [בראשית יא:ד] … הֵ֣ן עַ֤ם אֶחָד֙ וְשָׂפָ֤ה אַחַת֙ לְכֻלָּ֔ם וְזֶ֖ה הַֽחִלָּ֣ם לַֽעֲשׂ֑וֹת וְעַתָּה֙ לֹֽא־יִבָּצֵ֣ר מֵהֶ֔ם כֹּ֛ל אֲשֶׁ֥ר יָֽזְמ֖וּ לַֽעֲשֽׂוֹת [בראשית יא:ו]ו

Va-yehi kol ha-’aretz safa echat udvarim achadim. Hava nivne lanu ir umigdal ve-rosho bashamayim, ve-naase lanu shem. Hen am echad ve-safa achat le-chulam, ve-ze hachilam laasot, ve-ata lo yibatzer me-hem kol asher yazmu la-asot.

[Featuring the spoken language skills of the following people - in alphabetical order]:

Yasir Khalafalla Ahmed

LANGUAGE: Arabic

DIALECT: Sudan

TRANSLATION SOURCE: www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Gen%2011-12&version=ALAB

Rabbi Avi Finegold

LANGUAGE: French

DIALECT: Canada

TRANSLATION SOURCE: Tiré de la Voix de la Thora, La Genèse, par le Rabbin Elie Munk, Fondation Samuel et Odette Levy: Paris, 1981

Becky Ford

LANGUAGE: Hindi

DIALECT: India

TRANSLATION SOURCE: Becky Ford

Eve Gold

LANGUAGE: Spanish

DIALECT: Argentina

TRANSLATION SOURCE: Eve Gold

Roman Krasnitsky

LANGUAGE: Russian

DIALECT: Russia

TRANSLATION SOURCE: www.russianbible.net/Gen-11.html#c4

Sabine Rauch

LANGUAGE: German

DIALECT: Germany

TRANSLATION SOURCE: Moses Mendelssohn (First Edition published in Amsterdam, 1778)

Itta Werdiger Roth

LANGUAGE: English

DIALECT: Australia

TRANSLATION SOURCE: Jewish Publication Society 1917 Edition

Matthue Roth

LANGUAGE: Czech

DIALECT: Czech Republic

TRANSLATION SOURCE: biblephone.intercer.net/bible/index.php/cz/5/web/Gen/11/

Yaari Felber-Seligman

LANGUAGE: Kiswahili

DIALECT: Tanzania

TRANSLATION SOURCE: Yaari Felber-Seligman

Hanna Sufrin

LANGUAGE: Chinese

DIALECT: China

TRANSLATION SOURCE: www.chinese-bible.com?mc=&searchlang=py&livre=01O&chapitre=11&verset=4&go=Ok&nb_versets=20&en=1&py=1&langue_princip=en

Stu Sufrin

LANGUAGE: Japanese

DIALECT: Japan

TRANSLATION SOURCE: www.biblica.com/bibles/japanese/

You transformed my sorrow into dancing. You unraveled my sackcloth and filled me with happiness[.] so that I might sing tribute to You and never stop. HASHEM is my G-d, I will thank You forever. [Psalms 30:12-13]

הָפַ֣כְתָּ מִסְפְּדִי֮ לְמָח֪וֹל לִ֥י פִּתַּ֥חְתָּ שַׂקִּ֑י וַֽתְּאַזְּרֵ֥נִי שִׂמְחָֽה׃ לְמַ֤עַן יְזַמֶּרְךָ֣ כָ֭בוֹד וְלֹ֣א יִדֹּ֑ם ה' אֱ֝לֹקַ֗י לְעוֹלָ֥ם אוֹדֶֽךָּ׃ [תהלים ל:יב-יג]ו

Hafachta mispedi le-machol li pitachta saki va-t'azreyni simcha. Le-maan y'zamercha chavod ve-lo yidom AMONAI elokai le-olam odeka.

I try to talk to G-d every chance that I get

When I don't know what to pray, I just say where I'm at

Thanks for eating, breathing, teething, or just being my Creator

Thanks for taking me out, and bringing me back home later

People always run to You, when they feel depressed

And they tune You right out when they're doing their best

'Cause this world is a mess

I can't stay 'till the end

Then I place my request and it starts to make sense

Thanks for stuffing in my breath so that I can breathe out

When I'm out and about and I feel real devout

I remember Your rain makes every blade of grass spout

You gave me basically everything

From my body and my soul

To my questioning

You're the reason that we praise

Your'e the reason that we cry

Raise us up

Let us sleep

And when it's the right time

We die

That's all there is

That's all there is

That's all there is...

(You took my grief

Unmade the mess

Opened up my darkened clothes

And turned them to a sack of happiness)

You created this world and everything in it, too

So that means every time I dance, I'm dancing with You

[Inspired by the poem "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" by Gil Scott-Heron: www.youtu.be/rGaRtqrlGy8]

HASHEM will bless you and guard you. HASHEM will shine Divine features toward you and endow you [with elements of the Divine]. HASHEM will carry Divine features toward you and instill peace with you. [Numbers 6:26-24]

יְבָֽרֶכְךָ֥ ה' וְיִשְׁמְרֶֽךָ׃ יָאֵ֨ר ה' ׀ פָּנָ֛יו אֵלֶ֖יךָ וִֽיחֻנֶּֽךָּ׃ יִשָּׂ֨א ה' ׀ פָּנָיו֙ אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְיָשֵׂ֥ם לְךָ֖ שָׁלֽוֹם׃ [במדבר ו:כד-כו]ו

Y’varech’cha ADOSHEM ve-yish’m’recha. Ya’er ADOSHEM panav eilecha vichuneka. Yisa ADOSHEM panav eilecha ve-yasem lecha shalom.

You will not be able to stay home,

רבותי

Mainly because you will not be able to keep your feet from moving

Mainly because your feet will acquire for themselves a mind of their own

A beat of their own

Mainly because you will hear the sounds the way they were meant to be heard

Not through your ears, which hear

not

Not through your eyes, which see

not

But through your feet,

רבותי

The revelation will not be televised

or named something else

in vain.

רבותי,

The כוהנים cannot bless you with it on holy days.

The revelation cannot be fashioned from gold or silver,

or from wood or stone

or surround-sound.

The revelation will not be texted, emailed, or chatted,

you will not be able to watch it the next day online

It cannot be bottled up,

stuffed into fiber-optic cables,

or thrown onto invisible waves of radio, broadband, or other

shattered vessels.

It will not be rolled into a scroll of something else’s skin for your convenience,

And no right angles made of paper or plasma can show you the revelation,

Because the revelation

will not

be televised

You will not be separate from the revelation in any way.

You will not be able to skip out, forget, or turn off.

The revelation cannot be uploaded, downloaded, frontloaded, or unloaded

You will not be able to lose yourself between your earbuds, and

you will not see it happening through your rear-view mirror

or through your windshield of Abraham.

You cannot carpel tunnel your way to the revelation.

The revelation will not happen to you when you least expect it,

Because the revelation will not happen on its own.

The revelation will inspire you.

It will purify the very שעטנז of your being.

The revelation will pour light on you like oil from the hands of a prophet.

The revelation will not happen on its own.

The revelation will be live

And you will breathe into it

breaths of life

The revelation will not be televised

The revelation will not be televised

Will not be televised

Will not be televised

Will not be televised

The angel of HASHEM appeared to him, and said to him, "HASHEM is with you, O mighty hero" [Judges 6:12] ... and he called it, "HASHEM [is the source of our] Peace." [Judges 6:24]

וַיֵּרָ֥א אֵלָ֖יו מַלְאַ֣ךְ ה' וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֔יו ה' עִמְּךָ֖ גִּבּ֥וֹר הֶחָֽיִל׃ [שפטים ו:יב] ... וַיִּקְרָא־ל֥וֹ ה' שָׁל֑וֹם עַ֚ד הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה: [שפטים ו:כד]ו

Va-yera eylav mal'ach HASHEM va-yomer eylav HASHEM eemcha gibor he-chayil. Va-yikra lo HASHEM shalom aad ha-yom ha-ze.

Meaninglessness of meaninglesses! All is meaningless. [Ecclesiastes 1:2] … That which has been is that which will be, and that which has been created is that which will be created; and there’s nothing new underneath the sun. [Ecclesiastes 1:9]

הֲבֵ֥ל הֲבָלִ֖ים הַכֹּ֥ל הָֽבֶל׃ [קהלת א:ב] … מַה־שֶּֽׁהָיָה֙ ה֣וּא שֶׁיִּֽהְיֶ֔ה וּמַה־שֶּׁנַּֽעֲשָׂ֔ה ה֖וּא שֶׁיֵּֽעָשֶׂ֑ה וְאֵ֥ין כָּל־חָדָ֖שׁ תַּ֥חַת הַשָּֽׁמֶשׁ׃ [קהלת א:ט]ו

Havel havalim ha-kol havel. Ma she-haya hu she-yih’yeh, u-ma she-naasa hu she-yease, ve-ein kol chadash tachat ha-shemesh.

[Additional v-OI-ces provided by (in alphabetical order): Jane Brosseau, Rebecca "Bubbe" Cohen, Rachel Kohl Finegold, Ariana Handelman, Todd Jelken, Harry Liebman, and Stu Sufrin.]

[Originally recorded for www.pioneersforacure.org]

Purim is today, Purim is today

Let’s be glad, and let’s be happy

Let’s thank the G-d above, in G-d we’ll always trust

Let’s thank the G-d above, in G-d we’ll always trust

Let’s be happy, let’s be glad, all of us

For the miracle G-d did for us

Purim is today, Purim is today

Let’s be glad, and let’s be happy

Today is Purim, today is Purim

Let’s be glad, and let’s be happy

פּוּרִים הַיּוֹם, פּוּרִים הַיּוֹם

נַגִילָה וְנִשְׂמְחָה

נוֹדֶה לׇאֵ־ל שֶׁבָּרוֹם, בּוֹ תַמִיד נִבְטַחָה

נוֹדֶה לׇאֵ־ל שֶׁבָּרוֹם, בּוֹ תַמִיד נִבְטַחָה

נִשְׂמַח, נַגִּיל כֻּלָנוּ

עַל נֵס עֲשָׂה אֵ־ל לָנוּ

פּוּרִים הַיּוֹם, פּוּרִים הַיּוֹם

נַגִילָה וְנִשְׂמְחָה

הַיּוֹם פּוּרִים, הַיּוֹם פּוּרִים

נַגִילָה וְנִשְׂמְחָה

Purim ha-yom, Purim ha-yom

Nagila ve-nismecha

Nodeh la-kel she-ba-rom, bo tamid nivtacha

Nodeh la-kel she-ba-rom, bo tamid nivtacha

Nismach, nagil kulanu

Al nes asa kel lanu

Purim ha-yom, Purim ha-yom

Nagila ve-nismecha

Ha-yom Purim, ha-yom Purim

Nagila ve-nismecha

[Traditional Israeli folk tune.]

Look here, I’ll make it rain sustenance from the sky for you, and the people will venture to collect each day’s delivery each day in order for me to validate their existence, whether or not they advance in My Torah. And when the sixth day [comes]... I’ll double the amount of the daily collection. [Exodus 16:4-5]

הִנְנִ֨י מַמְטִ֥יר לָכֶ֛ם לֶ֖חֶם מִן־הַשָּׁמָ֑יִם וְיָצָ֨א הָעָ֤ם וְלָֽקְטוּ֙ דְּבַר־י֣וֹם בְּיוֹמ֔וֹ לְמַ֧עַן אֲנַסֶּ֛נּוּ הֲיֵלֵ֥ךְ בְּתֽוֹרָתִ֖י אִם־לֹֽא׃ וְהָיָה֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשִּׁשִּׁ֔י... וְהָיָ֣ה מִשְׁנֶ֔ה עַ֥ל אֲשֶֽׁר־יִלְקְט֖וּ י֥וֹם ׀ יֽוֹם׃ [שמות טז:ד-ה]ו

Hin’ni mamtir lachem lechem min ha-shamayim ve-yatza ha-am ve-laktu dvar yom be-yomo l’maan anasenu ha-yelech be-torati im lo. Ve-haya ba-yom ha-shishi... ve-haya mishne al asher yilk’tu yom yom.

[Originally recorded for www.g-dcast.com]

And HASHEM said to Abram, “Get yourself going” [Genesis 12:1]

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר ה֙' אֶל־אַבְרָ֔ם לֶךְ־לְךָ֛ [בראשית יב:א]ו

Va-yomer HASHEM el Avram, lech le-cha

Avram says I’m beautiful

So much so

He hides me away

But now I'm growing old

And it’s time to go

Should I laugh, or should I pray?

But this land that will be ours

Where sons are just like stars

We’re blindly told to go

To somewhere we don’t know

To live without blame

There's a promise made

That will never fade

Revealed in our new names

[breakdown- Abraham, Sarah]

So it's time for us to leave

With souls who now believe

It's not beauty, not royalty that keeps me going

But a Voice that's worth hearing, a path You’re showing

It's not just a land that we're walking to

But the journey itself is where we prove ourselves to You

Now it's time for us to leave

and live what we believe

The warmth of HASHEM will be upon us, and our handiwork authorized above us; and our handiwork authorized. [Psalms 90:17] That which is settled on the secret side of supremacy abides in the shadow of SHADAI. I’ll say to HASHEM, my protector and my fortress, my G-d in whom I’m secure[,] That G-d will rescue you from the deceiving trap; from the ubiquitous virus. G-d will envelop you in G-d’s “wing”... [Psalms 91:1-4]

וִיהִ֤י ׀ נֹ֤עַם ה' אֱלֹקֵ֗ינוּ עָ֫לֵ֥ינוּ וּמַֽעֲשֵׂ֣ה יָ֭דֵינוּ כּֽוֹנְנָ֥ה עָלֵ֑ינוּ וּֽמַעֲשֵׂ֥ה יָ֝דֵ֗ינוּ כּֽוֹנְנֵֽהוּ׃ [תהלים צ:יז] יֹ֭שֵׁב בְּסֵ֣תֶר עֶלְי֑וֹן בְּצֵ֥ל שַׁ֝דַּ֗י יִתְלוֹנָֽן׃ אֹמַ֗ר לַֽ֭ה’ מַחְסִ֣י וּמְצֽוּדָתִ֑י אֱ֝לֹקַ֗י אֶבְטַח־בּֽוֹ׃ כִּ֤י ה֣וּא יַ֭צִּֽילְךָ מִפַּ֥ח יָק֗וּשׁ מִדֶּ֥בֶר הַוּֽוֹת׃ בְּאֶבְרָת֨וֹ ׀ יָ֣סֶךְ לָ֭ךְ... [תהלים צא:א-ד]ו

Vihi noam HASHEM ELOKEINU aleinu u-maase yadeinu kon’na aleinu u-maase yadeinu kon’nehu. Yoshev be-seter elyon be-tzel SHADAI yitlonan. Omar la-SHEM machsi um’tzudati ELOKAI evtach bo. Ki hu yatzilcha mi-pach yakush mi-dever havvot. Be-’evrato yasech lach...

Return to Your sanctuary and to the Holy of Holies, the place where souls and spirits will gather, and they will sing songs and praises to You, in Jerusalem, the beautiful city. [From the "O, Master of the Universe" Sabbath evening meal hymn]

לְמִקְדָּשֵׁךְ תּוּב וּלְקֹֽדֶשׁ קֻדְֿשִׁין, אֲתַר דִּי בֵהּ יֶחֱדוּן רוּחִין וְנַפְשִׁין, וִיזַמְּֿרוּן לָךְ שִׁירִין וְרַחֲשִׁין, בִּירוּשְֿׁלֵם קַרְתָּא דְשׁוּפְֿרַיָּא. [מהזמר "י-ה רבון" בסדר ליל שבת]ו

Le-mikdashech tuv ule-kodesh kud'shin, atar di vey yechedun ruchin ve-nafshin, viyzamrun lach shirin ve-rachashin, b'yerush'lem karta d'shufraya.

And all Your children are students of HASHEM, and Your children are towers of peace. [Isaiah 54:13]

וְכָל־בָּנַ֖יִךְ לִמּוּדֵ֣י ה' וְרַ֖ב שְׁל֥וֹם בָּנָֽיִךְ׃ [ישעיהו נד:יג]ו

Ve-chol banayich limudei HASHEM, ve-rav sh’lom banayich.

Shake off the dust, rise up! Put on your clothes of magnificence, My people.

By the hand of the son of Jesse of Beit Lechem, come closer to My redeeming soul.

Wake up, wake up! Your light has come, so rise up and shine it.

Awaken, awaken and sing a song. The glory of HASHEM has been revealed on you.

[From the "Come, my Beloved" prayer welcoming the Sabbath]

הִתְנַעֲרִי מֵעָפָר קוּמִי, לִבְשִׁי בִּגְדֵי תִּפְאַרְתֵּךְ עַמִּי

עַל יַד בֶּן יִשַׁי בֵּית הַלַּחְמִי, קָרְבָה אֶל נַפְשִׁי גְּאָלָהּ

הִתְעוֹרְרִי הִתְעוֹרְרִי, כִּי בָא אוֹרֵךְ קוּמִי אוֹרִי

עוּרִי עוּרִי שִׁיר דַּבֵּרִי, כְּבוֹד ה' עָלַיִךְ נִגְלָה

מתפילת "לכה דודי" בקבלת שבת]ו]

Hitnaari me'afar kumi, livshi bigdey tif'artech ami

Al yad Ben Yishai Beit Ha-lachmi, karva el nafshi ge'ala.

Hitoreri hitoreri, ki va orech kumi ori

Uri uri shir daberi, k'vod HASHEM alayich nigla.

And the Divine eminence will be beheld and revealed upon us soon... [From the Torah service] And you who adhere to HASHEM your G-d, you are all alive today. [Deuteronomy 4:4]

וְתִגָּלֶה וְתֵרָאֶה מַלְכוּתו עָלֵינוּ בִּזְמַן קָרוב... [סדר קריאת התורה] וְאַתֶּם֙ הַדְּבֵקִ֔ים בַּֽה' אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֑ם חַיִּ֥ים כֻּלְּכֶ֖ם הַיּֽוֹם׃ [דברים ד:ד]ו

Ve-tigale ve-tera’e malchuto aleinu bizman karov... ve-atem ha-d’vekim ba-ADOSHEM ELOKEICHEM chayim kulchem ha-yom.

I will tell of Your magnificence but I can't see You, I will tell stories about You and describe You, but I don't know You. [From the "Song of Glory" prayer in the additional Sabbath service]

אֲסַפְּֿרָה כְבוֹדְֿךָ וְלֹא רְאִיתִיךָ, אֲדַמְּֿךָ אֲכַנְּֿךָ וְלֹא יְדַעְתִּיךָ. [מהפיוט "שיר הכבוד" בתפילת מוסף לשבת]ו

Asapra ch'vodcha ve-lo ra'iticha, adamcha achancha ve-lo y'daticha.

I’ll approach the king, [an act] which goes against [palace] procedure, and if I’m to be executed, I’m to be executed [Esther 4:16]… If You care for me, Your Highness, and if it’s okay with Your Highness, give me my soul upon my request and my people upon my behest [Esther 7:3]... For how could I watch the evil that befalls my people, and how could I watch the extermination of my heritage? [Esther 8:6]

אָב֤וֹא אֶל־הַמֶּ֨לֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־כַדָּ֔ת וְכַֽאֲשֶׁ֥ר אָבַ֖דְתִּי אָבָֽדְתִּי׃ [אסתר ד:טז]... אִם־מָצָ֨אתִי חֵ֤ן בְּעֵינֶ֨יךָ֙ הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ וְאִם־עַל־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ ט֑וֹב תִּנָּֽתֶן־לִ֤י נַפְשִׁי֙ בִּשְׁאֵ֣לָתִ֔י וְעַמִּ֖י בְּבַקָּֽשָׁתִֽי׃ [אסתר ז:ג]... כִּ֠י אֵֽיכָכָ֤ה אוּכַל֙ וְֽרָאִ֔יתִי בָּֽרָעָ֖ה אֲשֶׁר־יִמְצָ֣א אֶת־עַמִּ֑י וְאֵֽיכָכָ֤ה אוּכַל֙ וְֽרָאִ֔יתִי בְּאָבְדַ֖ן מֽוֹלַדְתִּֽי׃ [אסתר ח:ו]ו

Avo el ha-melech asher lo chadat ve-cha’asher avad’ti avad’ti... Im matzati chen be-einecha ha-melech ve-’im al ha-melech tov tinaten li nafshi bi-sh’elati ve-ami be-vakashati... Ki eichacha uchal ve-ra’iti ba-raa asher yimtza et ami ve-’eichacha uchal ve-ra’iti be-avdan molad’ti.

[Originally recorded for www.myjewishlearning.com]

Who can retell the things that befell us,

Who can count them?

In every age, a hero or sage

Came to our aid.

Hark!

In days of yore in Israel's ancient land

Brave Maccabeus led the faithful band

But now all Israel must as one arise

Redeem itself through deed and sacrifice.

מי ימלל גבורות ישראל

אותן מי ימנה

הן בכל דור יקום הגיבור

גואל העם

שמע

בימים ההם בזמן הזה

מכבי מושיע ופודה

ובימינו כל עם ישראל

יתאחד, יקום ויגאל

Mi yimalel gevurot Yisrael,

Otan mi yimne?

Hen be'chol dor yakum ha'gibor

Goel ha'am.

Shma!

Ba'yamim ha'hem ba'zman ha'ze

Maccabi moshia u'fode

U'v'yameinu kol am Yisrael

Yitached yakum ve'yigael!

[Traditional Chanukah tune. Hebrew lyrics translated and transliterated by www.myjewishlearning.com]

[Special thanks to Cyd Weissman and the Jewish Education Project.]

For just as my ancestors planted for me - I am planting for my descendants, too. [Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Taanit 23a] The song of elevations upon the return of HASHEM; when Zion was restored, we were like dreamers. [Psalms 126:1]

כִּי הֵיכִי דְשַׁתְלֵי לִי אֲבַהַתַי – שַׁתְלֵי נַמִי לִבְרׇאִי. [מסכת תענית א23] שִׁ֗יר הַֽמַּ֫עֲל֥וֹת בְּשׁ֣וּב ה' אֶת־שִׁיבַ֣ת צִיּ֑וֹן הָ֝יִ֗ינוּ כְּחֹֽלְמִֽים׃ [תהלים קכו:א]ו

Ki heichi d’shatlei li avahatai - shatlei nami liv’ra’i. Shir ha-maalot be-shuv ADOSHEM et shivat tzion hayinu ke-cholmim.

Here, in the earth that fashioned Eve

[Here they planted for me]

Here, where understanding grew

[I’m planting for you]

Up here an olive branch was seen

[Here they planted for me]

Under skies where colors flew

[I’m planting for you]

Ki heichi...

From here, a voice burned in the leaves

[Here they planted for me]

A call to lead our people through

[I’m planting for you]

Right here, Deborah came to teach

[Here they planted for me]

Beneath her tree we sought the truth

[I’m planting for you]

Ki heichi...

[Shir ha-maalot]

Someone dreamed the world for me

[Be-shuv ADOSHEM]

Now I am dreaming it for you

[Et shivat tzion]

Take the world, and dream anew

[Hayinu ke-cholmim, ke-cholmim]

Ki heichi...

Tumbala, Tumbala, Tumbalalaika

Tumbala, Tumbala, Tumbalalaika

Tumbalalaika, strum balalaika

Tumbalalaika, may we be happy

A young lad stands, stands and thinks

Thinks and thinks a whole night

Whom to take and not to shame

Whom to take and not to shame

Girl, girl, I want to ask of you

What can grow, grow without rain?

What can burn and never end?

What can yearn; cry without tears?

Foolish lad, why do you have to ask?

A stone can grow, grow without rain

Love can burn and never end

A heart can yearn; cry without tears

טום-באַלאַ, טום-באַלאַ, טום-באַלאַלײַקע,

טום-באַלאַ, טום-באַלאַ, טום-באַלאַלײַקע,

טום-באַלאַלײַקע, שפיל באַלאַלײַקע,

טום-באַלאַלײַקע, פריילעך זאָל זײַן!

שטייט אַ בחור, שטייט און טראַכט,

טראַכט און טראַכט אַ גאַנצע נאַכט:

וועמען צו נעמען און נישט פארשעמען.

וועמען צו נעמען און נישט פארשעמען.

מיידל, מיידל, כ'וויל בײַ דיר פרעגן:

וואָס קען וואַקסן, וואַקסן אָן רעגן?

וואָס קען ברענען און נישט אויפהערן?

וואָס קען בענקען, וויינען אָן טרערן?

נאַרישער בחור, וואָס דאַרפסטו פרעגן?

אַ שטיין קען וואַקסן, וואַקסן אָן רעגן,

ליבע קען ברענען און נישט אויפהערן,

אַ האַרץ קען בענקען, וויינען אָן טרערן.

Tumbala, Tumbala, Tumbalalaika

Tumbala, Tumbala, Tumbalalaika

Tumbalalaika, shpil balalaika

Tumbalalaika, freylekh zol zayn

Shteyt a bokher, shteyt un trakht

Trakht un trakht a gantse nakht

Vemen tzu nemen un nisht farshemen

Vemen tzu nemen un nisht farshemen

Meydl, meydl, kh'vil bay dir fregn,

Vos ken vaksn, vaksn on regn?

Vos ken brenen un nisht oyfhern?

Vos ken benken, veynen on trern?

Narisher bokher, vos darfstu fregn?

A shteyn ken vaksn, vaksn on regn,

Libe ken brenen un nisht oyfhern,

A harts ken benken, veynen on trern.

[Traditional Yiddish folk tune]

So after these deliveries, G-d tested Abraham... [Genesis 22:1] “Take your child, your only, the one you love... and get yourself going to the land of Moriah, and elevate him as an elevation [sacrifice]”... [Genesis 22:2] And Abraham awoke... and arose, and advanced to the place G-d indicated to him. [Genesis 22:3] … And Abraham took the kindling for the elevation [sacrifice] and placed them on Isaac his son, and he took the fire and the tinder and the two of them advanced together. [Genesis 22:6] … “The sacrificial lamb will be beheld by G-d - my son... [Genesis 22:8] And Abraham reached out his arm and took the tinder in order to slaughter his son. But a messenger of HASHEM called out to him from the heavens, and said, “Abraham, Abraham,” and he said, “Look here.” … “Don’t do a thing to him”... [Genesis 22:10-12]

וַיְהִ֗י אַחַר֙ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה וְהָ֣אֱלֹקִ֔ים נִסָּ֖ה אֶת־אַבְרָהָ֑ם... [בראשית כב:א] קַח־נָ֠א אֶת־בִּנְךָ֨ אֶת־יְחִֽידְךָ֤ אֲשֶׁר־אָהַ֨בְתָּ֙... וְלֶ֨ךְ־לְךָ֔ אֶל־אֶ֖רֶץ הַמֹּֽרִיָּ֑ה וְהַֽעֲלֵ֤הוּ שָׁם֙ לְעֹלָ֔ה... [בראשית כב:ב] וַיַּשְׁכֵּ֨ם אַבְרָהָ֜ם...וַיָּ֣קָם וַיֵּ֔לֶךְ אֶל־הַמָּק֖וֹם אֲשֶׁר־אָֽמַר־ל֥וֹ הָֽאֱלֹקִֽים׃ [בראשית כב:ג]... וַיִּקַּ֨ח אַבְרָהָ֜ם אֶת־עֲצֵ֣י הָֽעֹלָ֗ה וַיָּ֨שֶׂם֙ עַל־יִצְחָ֣ק בְּנ֔וֹ וַיִּקַּ֣ח בְּיָד֔וֹ אֶת־הָאֵ֖שׁ וְאֶת־הַֽמַּאֲכֶ֑לֶת וַיֵּֽלְכ֥וּ שְׁנֵיהֶ֖ם יַחְדָּֽו׃ [בראשית כב:ו]… אֱלֹקִ֞ים יִרְאֶה־לּ֥וֹ הַשֶּׂ֛ה לְעֹלָ֖ה בְּנִ֑י... [בראשית כב:ח] וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח אַבְרָהָם֙ אֶת־יָד֔וֹ וַיִּקַּ֖ח אֶת־הַֽמַּאֲכֶ֑לֶת לִשְׁחֹ֖ט אֶת־בְּנֽוֹ׃ וַיִּקְרָ֨א אֵלָ֜יו מַלְאַ֤ךְ ה֙' מִן־הַשָּׁמַ֔יִם וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אַבְרָהָ֣ם ׀ אַבְרָהָ֑ם וַיֹּ֖אמֶר הִנֵּֽנִי׃ … אַל־תַּ֥עַשׂ ל֖וֹ מְא֑וּמָה... [בראשית כב:י-יב]ו

Va-y’hi achar ha-dvarim ha-’ele ve-ha-’ELOKIM nisa et Avraham... Kach na et bincha et y’chidcha asher ahavta... ve-lech lecha el eretz ha-moria ve-haalehu sham le-ola... va-yashkem Avraham... va-yakam va-yelech el ha-makom asher amar lo ha-ELOKIM... va-yikach Avraham et atzei ha-ola va-yasem al Yitzchak b’no va-yikach be-yado et ha-esh ve-et ha-ma’achelet va-yelchu shneihem yachdav... ELOKIM yir’e lo ha-se le-ola b’ni... Va-yishlach Avraham et yado va-yikach et ha-ma’achelet lish’chot et b’no. Va-yikra elav mal’ach HASHEM min ha-shamayim va-yomer Avraham Avraham va-yomer hineni... al taas lo m’uma...

What can I give back to HASHEM? G-d is completely good to me. I'll raise my cup of salvations and call out in the name of HASHEM [Psalms 116:12-13]... halleluy-h. [Psalms 116:19]

מָֽה־אָשִׁ֥יב לַה' כָּֽל־תַּגְמוּל֥וֹהִי עָלָֽי׃ כּוֹס־יְשׁוּע֥וֹת אֶשָּׂ֑א וּבְשֵׁ֖ם ה' אֶקְרָֽא׃ [תהלים קטז:יב-יג] ... הַֽלְלוּ־יָֽ-הּ: [תהלים קטז:יט]ו

Mah Ashiv la-AMONAI kol tagmulohi alai. Kos yeshu'ot e-sah uv'shem AMONAI ekra: haleluka.

“When I turn now and behold this great sight...” And HASHEM saw that he turned in order to behold it, and G-d called to him from inside the bush, and said, “Moses, Moses,” and he said, “Look here.” [Exodus 3:3-4]

אָסֻֽרָה־נָּ֣א וְאֶרְאֶ֔ה אֶת־הַמַּרְאֶ֥ה הַגָּדֹ֖ל הַזֶּ֑ה... וַיַּ֥רְא ה' כִּ֣י סָ֣ר לִרְא֑וֹת וַיִּקְרָא֩ אֵלָ֨יו אֱלֹקִ֜ים מִתּ֣וֹךְ הַסְּנֶ֗ה וַיֹּ֛אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֥ה מֹשֶׁ֖ה וַיֹּ֥אמֶר הִנֵּֽנִי׃ [שמות ג:ג-ד]ו

Asura na ve-’er’e et ha-mar’e ha-gadol ha-ze... va-yar’ AMONAI kii sar lir’ot va-yikra eilav ELOKIM mi-toch ha-sne va-yomer Moshe, Moshe, va-yomer hineni.

You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin - but I come to you in the name of HASHEM, Master of Legions [I Samuel 17:45] ... for it is not by sword and spear that HASHEM saves ... [I Samuel 17:47]

אַתָּה֙ בָּ֣א אֵלַ֔י בְּחֶ֖רֶב וּבַֽחֲנִ֣ית וּבְכִיד֑וֹן וְאָֽנֹכִ֣י בָֽא־אֵלֶ֗יךָ בְּשֵׁם֙ ה' צְבָא֔וֹת [שמואל א יז:מה] ... כִּֽי־לֹ֛א בְּחֶ֥רֶב וּבַֽחֲנִ֖ית יְהוֹשִׁ֣יעַ ה' ... [שמואל א יז:מז]ו

Ata ba elai be-cherev uva-chanit uv'chidon va-anochi ba elecha be-shem HASHEM tzeva'ot. Ki lo be-cherev uva-chanit yehoshia HASHEM.

[Special thanks to Abby Pitkowsky and the Jewish Education Project]

If you go, I’ll go... Regardless, your glory isn’t on the path you’re taking... [Judges 4:8-9]

אִם־תֵּֽלְכִ֥י עִמִּ֖י וְהָלָ֑כְתִּי... אֶ֚פֶס כִּי֩ לֹ֨א תִֽהְיֶ֜ה תִּֽפְאַרְתְּךָ֗ עַל־הַדֶּ֨רֶךְ֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר אַתָּ֣ה הוֹלֵ֔ךְ... [שופטים ד:ח-ט]ו

Im telchi imi ve-halachti... ‘efes ki lo tih’ye tif’art’cha al ha-derech asher ata holech...

Starting over with my people

Now the winds of change have blown

Am I ready to be part of

What I’m feeling in my bones?

I don’t want to fight the fight

If I have to walk alone

I look to you, and you to me

Let this Truth be known:

Im telchi imi ve-halachti, im telchi imi ve-halachti

Im telchi imi ve-halachti, im telchi imi ve-halachti

For the wrongs I may have done you

For these sins I do atone

‘Cause we need one another

To reap the joy that has been sown

So let’s go together now

To the place that will be shown

‘Cause we’re both made out of iron

So we don’t need any stone

Im telchi imi ve-halachti, im telchi imi ve-halachti

Im telchi imi ve-halachti, im telchi imi ve-halachti

[Efes, ki lo tih’ye tif’artecha]

No, there’s something even more

[Al haderech asher ata holech]

(If you go, I’ll go, if you go, I’ll go, if you go, I’ll go)

There is something even more

(If you go, I’ll go, if you go, I’ll go, if you go, I’ll go)

There is something even more

Im telchi imi ve-halachti, im telchi imi ve-halachti

Im telchi imi ve-halachti, im telchi imi ve-halachti

(If you go, I’ll go, if you go, I’ll go, if you go, I’ll go)

Im telchi imi ve-halachti, im telchi imi ve-halachti

(If you go, I’ll go, if you go, I’ll go, if you go, I’ll go)

Im telchi imi ve-halachti, im telchi imi ve-halachti

(If you go, I’ll go)

The angel of HASHEM appeared to him, and said to him, "HASHEM is with you, O mighty hero" [Judges 6:12] ... and he called it, "HASHEM [is the source of our] Peace." [Judges 6:24]

וַיֵּרָ֥א אֵלָ֖יו מַלְאַ֣ךְ ה' וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֔יו ה' עִמְּךָ֖ גִּבּ֥וֹר הֶחָֽיִל׃ [שפטים ו:יב] ... וַיִּקְרָא־ל֥וֹ ה' שָׁל֑וֹם עַ֚ד הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה: [שפטים ו:כד]ו

Va-yera eylav mal'ach HASHEM va-yomer eylav HASHEM eemcha gibor he-chayil. Va-yikra lo HASHEM shalom aad ha-yom ha-ze.