Chanting
What is a contemplative chant-based service?
The aim is to move deeply into each prayer’s theme, and to connect with gratitude, awe, light, love, redemption, and more! Therefore, we use a highly-focused approach to the liturgy. We chant just one or two lines from selected text, repeating each line several times so that we can really get inside the words and the words can really get inside us. After each chant concludes, we sit in silence so that the text and energy created from chanting can reverberate inside us. We include a brief Torah service and discussion, and we chant concluding prayers and prayers for healing, recite the Mourners’ Kaddish, and chant a closing nigun (wordless melody) to end the service.
1. Prayer of gratitude
מוֹדֶה אֲנִי לְפָנֶֽיךָ מֶֽלֶךְ חַי וְקַיָּם שֶׁהֶחֱזַֽרְתָּ בִּי נִשְׁמָתִי בְּחֶמְלָה, רַבָּה אֱמוּנָתֶֽךָ
Modeh (m)/Modah f) anee l’fanecha ruach chai v’kayam Shehechezarta bee nishmatee v’chemla, rabba emunatecha!
I am grateful before You, spirit of all that lives! You return my soul to me with compassion; How great is your faith in me!
2. Prayer for the soul
אֱלֹהַי נְשָׁמָה שֶׁנָּתַֽתָּ בִּי טְהוֹרָה הִיא
Elohai neshama, shenatata bi, tehora hee.
My God, the soul that You have placed within me is pure.
3. Ashrei (Happy!)
אַשְׁרֵי יוֹשְׁ֒בֵי בֵיתֶֽךָ עוֹד יְהַלְלֽוּךָ
Ashrei yoshvei veitechah, od y’halleluchah!
Happy are they who dwell in Your house; they will praise You, always!
4. Kol HaNeshamah (All That Breathes) – from Psalm 150
כֹּל הַנְּ֒שָׁמָה תְּהַלֵּל יָהּ הַלְ֒לוּיָהּ
Kol haneshamah t’hallel Yah, Halleluyah.
All that breathes will praise God, Praise God!
5. Yotzer Or (Creator of Light) – 1st blessing--before the Shema
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶֽלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם יוֹצֵר אוֹר וּבוֹרֵא חֽשֶׁךְ עֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם וּבוֹרֵא אֶת־הַכֹּל
Baruch atah, Adonai eloheinu, melech ha-olam, Yotzer or u- vorei choshech, oseh shalom u-vorei et ha-kol.
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, sovereign of creation, creator of light and former of darkness, maker of peace and creator of all.
6. V’yacheid L’vaveinu (Unify Our Hearts)–2nd blessing-- before the Shema
וְיַחֵד לְבָבֵֽנוּ לְאַהֲבָה וּלְיִרְאָה אֶת־שְׁמֶֽךָ
V’yached l’vavenu, l’ahavah u-l’yirah et sh’mecha.
Unify our hearts in love and awe of Your name!
7. The Shema
שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ יְהֹוָה אֶחָד
Shema Yisrael, adonai eloheinu, adonai echad!
Hear, O Israel; Adonai is Our God; Adonai is One! (zikhr chant)
8. Ozi v’zimrat Yah– 3rd blessing--after the Shema
עָזִּי וְזִמְרָת יָהּ וַיְהִי־לִי לִישׁוּעָה
Ozi v’zimrat Yah, vay’hi li l’y’shua.
My strength is in Your song, and You will be my salvation.
SILENT AMIDAH/PRIVATE MEDITATION/PRAYERS
9. Shalom chant (to end our silent Amidah)
שָׁלוֹם, שָׁלוֹם, שָׁלוֹם ,שָׁלוֹם
Shalom, shalom, shalom, shalom.
BRIEF TORAH SERVICE AND DISCUSSION
10. Ein Od Milvado (There is Nothing But God) – our Aleinu
אֵין עוֹד מִילוַדוֹ
Ein od milvado, Adonai Hu ha-Elohim
.There is nothing but God; God is God
11. Shviti (I Keep God Before Me Always)
שִׁוִיתִי ה' לְנֶגְדִּי תָמִיד
Sh’viti Adonai (Havaya) l’negdi tamid.
I keep God before me always.
12. El Na Refah Nah Lah—Prayer for Healing
אֵל נָא רְפא נָא לָהּ רפוּאָה שְלֵמָה
Eil nah refah nah lah/lo/lahem, r’fuah sh’leimah.
Please, God, heal her/him/them, a complete healing.
Additional Healing prayer, if desired: Mi Shebeirach
13. Mourners’ Kaddish
Wordless nigun, to close