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MUSIC: Morid Hageshem
Listen to Morid Hageshem, a piyyut sung in the Sephardi communities as part of the rain prayer.
Morid Hageshem is a piyyut sung in the Sephardi communities as part of the rain prayer. The piyyut is of the "revival" type and is attributed to R. Shlomo Ibn Gvirol.
In this piyyut, there is a certain ambiguity between expressions of request and question for rain and tongues of praise and confidence in the power of God in bringing down rains and restoring the wind.
מכסה שמיים / מיוחס לר' שלמה אבן גבירול
מְכַסֶּה שָׁמַיִם בֶּעָבִים וּמַלְבִּישֵׁם
וּמַחֲלִיף זְמַנִּים עֲלֵי חֹק וָרֶשֶׁם
אוֹצָרְךָ הַטּוֹב פְּתַח נָא לְהַחֲיוֹת בּוֹ כָּל נְפוּחֵי נֶשֶׁם
מַשִּׁיב הָרוּחַ וּמוֹרִיד הַגֶּשֶׁם
Covering the sky with clouds and clothing them Exchanging times of law and registration Your good treasure has opened to revive all breathing souls Who blows the wind and brings down the rain
MUSIC: Jack Klebanow Piano Improv
Watch and listen to this beautiful piano improvisation from Jack Klebanow.
MUSIC: Adon Olam
Watch and listen to this moving acapella rendition of Adon Olam performed by special guest Judi Williams.
MUSIC: Ya'ala
Watch and listen to Ya’ala, a piyyut describing the love between the dod (lover) and the ra’aya (wife).
This Piyyut, authored by Rabbi Israel Najara, the great 16th century poet, is a love song describing the love between the dod (lover) and the ra’aya (wife). The ra’aya is referred to here as Ya’ala.
This Piyyut has received a number of different musical settings and is widely sung in various Mizrahi communities. The most common melody is that of Ezra Aharon, written in the 20th century. It is commonly sung on the occasion of the birth of a daughter or at a Bat Mitzvah celebration. In the Moroccan community, this Piyut is also included in the traditional bakashot recited on Shabbat when the Bo Torah portion is read. It is also sung on many other occasions due to its moving lyrics and captivating melody.