Shema Yisrael – Hu Eloheinu (He Is Our God)
Song of the Week • 3m 27s
A prayer on the wings of angels: South Africa, Jerusalem, New York
In the Musaf service, towards the end of Saturday morning, the cantor, choir, and congregation sing melodies and texts in alternation, reenacting the sanctification of angels in the Kedusha. There is something special about these different kinds of singing coming together, first singing all at once, then taking turns to listen to each other.
This melody, by Cantor Avraham Mordechai Himelstein (1905–1974) who was active in Cape Town, South Africa, found its way to New York in an arrangement by Raymond Goldstein of Jerusalem, uniting three great cities in Jewish melody across time and space, just as the congregation seeks to unite their liturgical action with the angels – will you join in? Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom!
Music: Cantor Avraham Mordechai Himelstein, with additional congregational responses by Cantor David Lefkowitz, and cantorial section by Cantor Azi Schwartz
Arrangement: Raymond Goldstein
Music Director: David Enlow
Video: Tami Shaham
AV: Oscar Acevedo, Erik Van Batavia, Justin Goodman
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