🌍’All The World’ - song & reflection for our Jewish purpose for the Days of Awe

Описание: (For the lyrics to ‘All The World’, scroll down to the bottom of these show notes).

Reprising and revisiting one of the first videos that kickstarted ‘A Small Sanctuary’, just in time for Rosh haShanah!

Did you know that Rosh haShanah is technically our least Jewish and most universalist holiday? As we dip our apples in honey, we are celebrating the birthday of the world and the crowning of God as the Sovereign of all.

High Holiday piyyutim (hymns) address this revved-up universalism, including the Veye’etayu, speaking of a redemptive hope that all of humanity will worship the One God. Israel Zangwill, 19th/20th century British-Jewish poet translated and reinterpreted the Hebrew words into a beautiful English. There are two versions of the ‘English Veye’etayu’, also known as ‘All The World’: on page 150 in Machzor Lev Shalem (Conservative) and on page 201 in Machzor Mishkan haNefesh (Reform).

A few years ago, Rabbi Esther put ‘All The World’ to her own music. As a singer-songwriter, she endeavored to compose a melody that embraced the hopeful universalism with passion but without tipping over into overbearing triumphalism or superiority. This ‘folk’ rendition invites you to contemplate the fundamental Oneness of all being, the oneness of humanity and the Jewish mission to repair the world and unify it.

This video showcases both English versions and ends with the reading of an essay (you can listen to this podcast-style) that Rabbi Esther has written on chosenness. This essay seeks to address how Judaism balances our own commitments to our own religious culture and covenant as well as sharing our light with all humanity as part of a pluralistic, diverse human symphony.

Time stamps:

‘All The World’ (Lev Shalem version) 3:21

‘All The World’ (Mishkan haNefesh version) 7:19

Essay on Chosenness 9:32

Please note: Rabbi Esther would be delighted to have people use her music for religious, cultural, non-commercial purposes with full attribution. To request permission or more information, email: [email protected]

Last year’s ‘All The World’ + rabbinic teaching on particularism and universalism:
   • 🌍’All The World’ - Music & Thoughts on Jew...  

Lyrics (Israel Zangwill, Lev Shalem version, p. 150)

All the world shall come to serve Thee
And praise Thy glorious Name
And Thy righteousness triumphant
The islands shall acclaim.

And nations shall give Thee homage,
Who know Thee not before,
And the ends of the earth shall praise Thee,
Thy name they shall adore.

They shall build for Thee their altars,
Their idols overthrown;
And their hands shall clasp in friendship
As they turn to Thee alone.

They shall bow before Thy grandeur,
And know Thy kingdom’s might;
They shall walk in understanding,
Who are astray in night.

Chorus: Veyit’nu lecha (3x) keter m’lucha
(And they shall come to crown You Sovereign)

They shall exult in Thy greatness,
And of Thy power speak,
And extol Thee, shrined, uplifted
Beyond man’s highest peak.

And with reverential homage,
Of love and wonder born,
With the ruler’s crown of beauty
Thy head they shall adorn.

With the coming of Thy kingdom
The hills shall break into song,
And the islands laugh exultant
That they to God belong.

All their congregations
So loud Thy praise shall sing,
That faraway peoples, hearing
Shall come and hail Thee King.

Chorus.

***

Lyrics (Mishkan haNefesh version, p. 201)

May all be moved to serve You —
Praise Your presence, bless Your Name.
Your splendor and Your justice
Sea and land shall then proclaim.

Let us seek Your face at sunrise;
In the darkness teach Your ways.
May Your power and uniqueness
Be the essence of our days.

When we speak about Your glory,
When we praise You for Your might —
Those who hear will feel Your presence,
Turn from darkness to the light.

Let seacoasts burst exultant,
Hills embrace You with joyful sounds.
When all people sing together,
The world shall see Your sovereign crown.

#judaism #torah #prayer #praise #roshhashana #roshhashanah #god #jewishprayer #jewishnewyear #singersongwriter #music