Well Up Like Waters (Erev Rosh Hashanah)
Words and English text: Jacob Spike Kraus, based on Amos 5:24
Teach me how to flow like a river, teach me how to flow like a river,
To face what’s in my way and keep on moving just the same, teach me how to flow like a river.
Teach me how to stand like a mountain, teach me how to stand like a mountain.
Defiant, strong and proud before what tries to tear me down, teach me how to stand like a mountain.
Let justice well up like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.
May the land decide she’s satisfied with the blood of no more sons and daughters,
And well up like waters.
Teach me how to hear when I listen, teach me how to hear when I listen.
To not avert my eyes when I hear a people cry, teach me how to hear when I listen.
Teach me not to yield like an iron, teach me not to yield like an iron,
To see these wrongs addressed, not to accept anything less, teach me not to yield like an iron.
Teach me how to soar like an eagle, teach me how to soar like an eagle
To be what freedom means, not just a symbol people see, teach me how to soar like an eagle. Let justice…
Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh Bazeh (Rosh Hashanah Morning)
English words and music: Elana Arian
Hebrew words: Shavuot 39a (Talmud)
Kol Yisrael arevim zeh bazeh, we are traveling the same path together.
Kol Yisrael arevim zeh bazeh, we are walking each other back home.
Kol Yisrael arevim zeh bazeh, we are part of this holy community.
Kol Yisrael arevim zeh bazeh, we are better together as one.
L’dor vador, we are links in the chain of tradition.
L’dor vador, we are the ones carrying forward their vision.
Kol Yisrael arevim zeh bazeh, we are reaching beyond our own circle.
Kol Yisrael arevim zeh bazeh, we are healing the cracks in the world.
Plowshare Prayer (Kol Nidre)
Words and Music: Spencer LaJoye
Dear blessed creator, dear mother, dear savior
Dear father, dear brother, dear holy other
Dear sibling, dear baby, dear patiently waiting
Dear sad & confused, dear stuck & abused
Dear end of your rope, dear worn out & broke
Dear go it alone, dear running from home
Dear righteously angry, forsaken by family
Dear jaded & quiet, dear tough & defiant
I pray that I’m heard
And I pray that this works
I pray if a prayer has been used as a sword
Against you & your heartAgainst you & your word
I pray that this prayer is a plowshare of sorts
That it might break you openIt might help you grow
I pray that your body gets all that it needs
And if you don’t want healingI just pray for peace
I pray that your burden gets lighter each day
I pray the mean voice in your head goes away
I pray that you honor the grief as it comes
I pray you can feel all the life in your lungs
I pray that if you go all day being brave
That you can go home, go to bed
Feeling safe
I pray you’re forgiven. I pray you forgive
I pray you set boundaries & openly live
I pray that you feel you are worth never leaving
I pray that you know I will always believe you
I pray that you’re heard
And I pray that this works
Amen on behalf of the last & the least
On behalf of the anxious, depressed & unseen
Amen for the workers, the hungry, the houseless
Amen for the lonely & recently spouseless
Amen for the queers & their closeted peers
Amen for the bullied who hold in their tears
Amen for the mothers of little Black sons
Amen for the kids who grow up scared of guns
Amen for the addicts, ashamed & hungover
Amen for the calloused, the wisened, the sober
Amen for ones who want life to be over
Amen for the leaders who lose their composure
And amen for the parents who just lost their baby
Amen for chronically ill & disabled
Amen for the children down at the border
Amen for the victims of our law & order
I pray that you’re heard
And I pray that this works
I pray if a prayer has been used as a sword
Against you & your heart
Against you & your word
I pray that this prayer is a plowshare of sorts.
Yerushalayim (Yom Kippur morning) – will be sung in Hebrew
Words: Avigdor Hameiri
Music: Robert Applebaum
From the peak of Mount Scopus, shalom, Jerusalem!
From the peak of Mount Scopus, I greet you Jerusalem.
A hundred generations I have dreamed of you,
once more to be privileged to see you rebuilt.
Jerusalem, Jerusalem! Smile on your children once more!
Jerusalem, Jerusalem! Out of your tune I will rebuild you!
From the peak of Mount Scopus, shalom, Jerusalem!
A thousand exiles from all the ends of the earth lift up their eyes to you.
Be blessed with a thousand blessings, O royal shrine, city of kings.
Jerusalem, Jerusalem! I will not budge from this place!
Jerusalem, Jerusalem! Let the redemption come, let it come!
