QUARANTINE LIFE: YOM KIPPUR

It’s amazing how we are more alike to others than different. Music has an amazing, magical way of uniting us.

The miracle is that any of us can still sing, in spite of all we’ve suffered—and not always at the hands of enemies, but our own people, neighbors, and supposed friends—and find common ground.

It’s good to know (whatever your faith, or denomination) we can “return to God”, receive grace, get a fresh start, and as much as possible—though we never truly forget or delude ourselves—leave behind the sadness, hurts, devastation, and conflicts of the past and pursue a meaningful present, and hopeful future.

My friend Norma shared the Yom Kippur service held at Central Synagogue in New York, that was streamed on YouTube this morning. Here’s the link: https://m.youtube.com/live/NxpK6Dg0o8I?si=EtRLKVOE9UTON8kn 

I enjoyed the cantor and teen choir, and wondered which of the songs, we’d recorded for the “Psalm Full of Soul” project, were appropriate and applicable for the holiday. 

I suppose they all are. https://psalmfullofsoul.com/music.html

I smiled, however, when I heard “Singing Your Praise” at the 28:26 or so, mark of the livestream. It reminded me of the wonderful Thursdays I’d spent in Lanham at Vince’s studio, that stretched from weeks to years, the delicious meals he prepared that he, Norma, and I shared, the lessons in Hebrew, and, of course, the music we made as one talented, and gracious singer or musician after another arrived to help add finishing touches to the songs.

   ה' שְׂפָתַי תִּפְתָּח

(Adonai S’fatai Tiftach)

Click on the link above to listen at SoundCloud. That’s the legendary Parliament funkateer, Greg Boyer on trombone, and the incomparable Vince Evans on piano. 

G'mar chatimah tovah (גְּמַר חֲתִימָה טוֹבָה)