( Read more... )

Part 1

Since this is a poem for Shabbat Nachamu, a poem which references the first verse of the haftara we say that day, I wanted to have that haftara in the border. It’s Isaiah chapter 40:2 ff and a bit of 41; it starts in the top right-hand corner.


( Read more... )

This is a liturgical piece, a Magen by Qallir for Shabbat Nachamu. A Magen is the first in a sequence of poems adorning the first three berakhot of the Amidah, up to the Kedusha; the Magen adorns the first berakha, “Magen Avraham.”


( Read more... )

I write Torah scrolls for congregations, and part of my job is working closely with the congregation to make appropriate programming. Such as, for instance, an opening ritual.

A good ritual starts by speaking to who the community is, and inspires them with a vision of who they want to be. My job as the consulting scribe is to come up with Torah- ( Read more... )

I went to a talk at the Jewish Theological Seminary a while back, on the poetry of Yehuda haLevi. Specifically, two translators were talking about their approaches to translating haLevi’s poetry.

Those of us who work with Bible translations frequently have occasion to remark that translations are necessarily also commentaries, and this talk ( Read more... )

Rosh Chodesh guest post from MarGavriel

In many Jewish communities, part of the blessing for each upcoming month is sung in a tune which is emblematic of that month. In the South German tradition, it is typically the last words of the prayer, beginning with לחיים ולשלום, which are chosen for this purpose. The cantor sings these words to the theme- ( Read more... )

Tisha b’Av seems a long time ago, now that Yom Kippur is on us, but I am finally posting those pictures of Megillat Eicha I promised you all those weeks ago.

First - Eicha scroll, bodaciously swathed in black.


( Read more... )

A Livejournal friend mused:

During the Ten Days of Repentance, we change the wording “Oseh shalom bimromav” (The One who creates peace on high) to “Oseh HA-shalom bimromav” (The One who creates THE peace on high) in two places - at the end of Amidah and at the end of Kaddish. But apparently we don’t do it in the third place where this sentence ( Read more... )

We have just emerged from the doom and gloom of the Ninth of Av. In the various Ashkenazic Rites, as well as in the Italian and the old Byzantine (“Romanioti”) rites, the largest and most central piece of the morning service of this day is the Qinoth (poems of lamentation) by the great poet Eleazar be-Ribbi Qallir (“the Qalliri”). These poems are ( Read more... )

I’m having a home reading of Eicha - from a klaf - *because* of reading from a klaf, yay - in Washington Heights, on leyl 9 Av, 9pm.

If a minyan of people are interested, there could also be maariv, kinot, etc.

Normally I would append “and watermelon, cookies and so forth” to such sentiments, but not for leyl 9 Av :-/

Email me if interested so’s a ( Read more... )