I know that most of you won't understand the words... heck, I needed the translation in order to understand what they were saying. This is a traditional Hebrew prayer... part of the standard Shabbat service, sung beautifully by the brothers Platt (Henry, Ben and Jonah). If the name Ben Platt sounds somewhat familiar, it may be because he originated the title role from the Broadway Musical "Dear Evan Hansen". Ben in the one in the white overalls.
So, why am I posting this here, when it's highly unlikely that most of you will understand it? Well, music tends to transcend all... beautiful music, is beautiful music (yes, you can quote me). Most of the beautiful religious music we hear in the U.S. tends to be Christian... beautiful Christmas carols and songs... (many of them written by Jewish writers, songwriters ... White Christmas was written by Irving Berlin, Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer by Johnny Marks, The Christmas Song (chestnuts roasting...) by Robert Wells and Mel Tormé, Let it Snow by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne... well, you get the idea)... so I like to highlight when we find a beautiful Jewish song. I hope you enjoy it.
So the actual translation for this beautiful prayer is: "You have loved the house of Israel with Eternal Love. Torah and Commandments, Statutes, and Laws you have taught us. Therefore, Adonai our God, in our lying down and rising up, we will meditate on your statutes, and rejoice in the words of your Torah and your commandments forever and ever. For they are our lives and the length of our days, and we will meditate upon them day and night."
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