A niggun, a wordless melody, can be a sweet companion. This one came to me walking home to my apartment on St. Nicholas Avenue in Harlem one Friday night. It kept me company all that Shabbat, returning as a welcome visitor here and there over the next five years. Singing it with others for the first time, in 2022, after many years of isolation, was a mechayah, a life-giving moment. It gave this niggun new life, too. May we know we are never alone, as we find our way home.
Note: This melody also makes a lovely barchu.
credits
from ORAH HI,
released August 31, 2023
Sponsored by Temple Sinai in Dresher, PA. Thank you!
The legendary Richard Thompson's new solo album exemplifies his many musical paths, from pop and cabaret to jazz to traditional folk. Bandcamp New & Notable Mar 2, 2024