Sefirat HaOmer Niggun (by Shir Meira Feit, Zach Fredman, and Yosef Goldman)

Sefirat HaOmer Niggun
(Melody by Shir Meira Feit, Zach Fredman, & Yosef Goldman)
Recorded live at Germantown Jewish Centre, April 2, 2019
Featuring Yosef Goldman, Deborah Sacks Mintz, and Chava Mirel (vocals), Joey Weisenberg (mandolin), Zach Fredman (guitar), Daniel Ori (bass), and Megan Weeder Gould (violin)
Videography: Sam Lowenstein
Audio Engineer: Don Godwin
A project of Hadar’s Rising Song Institute www.risingsong.org
For the sake of the unification
of the transcendent creative power
with the divine presence dwelling here and now,
I am here, I am ready to fulfill the mitzvah
of counting the Omer.
“...Seven weeks. They must be complete…”
(Leviticus 23:15-16)
LeSheim yichud Kudeshah Berikh Hu uShkhinteih…
Hineni muchan umezuman
l’kayeim mitzvat aseh shel Sefirat Ha-Omer…
“Sheva shabbatot temimot tihyenah.”
לְשֵׁם יִחוּד קּוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא וּשְׁכִינְתֵּיהּ…
הִנְּנִי מוּכָן וּמְזֻמָּן לְקַיֵּם מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה שֶׁל סְפִירַת הָעֹמֶר…
׳׳שֶׁבַע שַׁבָּתוֹת תְּמִימוֹת תִּהְיֶינָה:׳׳
We made it to the seder. Retelling the foundational story of liberation and redemption, we were able to see ourselves in it, to feel ourselves leaving the collective and personal “Egypts” that constrict us. We were carried along on a wave of gratitude for the goodness in our lives, enveloped by the swell of great love that was formed on the eve of the Exodus millenia ago- a great love that is rekindled anew each year on Pesach. And like our ancestors, we find ourselves each Pesach without adequate tools to fully integrate the sudden encounter with the Divine presence. Longingly our hearts cry out for more, for a relationship with the divine that is lasting and sustaining.
Pesach celebrates and facilitates the dramatic release from bondage, the first step of freedom; the subsequent seven weeks is a time for deepening that freedom through the slow and steady work of self-exploration- examining the habits of thought and behavior that have kept us enslaved. With each step along the path of the Omer we reawaken our hearts and renew our relationship with our longings and aspirations, aligning our desire with the Holy One’s desire. Following this course of spiritual discipline, we arrive at Shavu’ot more whole, ready to integrate the experience of divine revelation with wisdom and discernment, ready to recommit to a lasting covenantal relationship with God.
The words of this song are taken from the liturgy recited before fulling the mitzvah of counting the Omer. They include the blessing and a version of a preliminary declaration of intention - the “LeSheim Yichud - common among Sefardim and Chassidim. This kabbalistic formula is meant to focus and express one’s intention to serve God by increasing Divine Presence in the world through our actions- unifying the earthly and heavenly manifestation of God, the material and the physical.

[@terryhyman8511]

Amazing melody and musical harmony in this unforgettable sacred song. May we all be inspired to envision and step forward together into a new world of healing, peace and harmony we co-create guided by the Source of all Life.

[@lorettamogansheher998]

I come back to this every year, thank you on this 11th day of counting the Omer. May you all find healing.

[@chavabahle2308]

Me too.

[@yosgold]

Amen!

[@pupoffice8928]

I am not sure what is more stunning. The music? The Performance? The Composition or the children in the background? Perfection

[@marcmargolius2269]

Still as gorgeous on the 100th listening...

[@pamelarosenblum835]

I've been listening to this over and over during this time of counting the Omer and taking Marc's class through IJS. So lovely and inspiring!

[@gwynnesigel45]

@@pamelarosenblum835jjï8 66

[@elizabethshammash]

Emes!!!!

[@gilaruskin1873]

This lovely kavannah prevents the counting of the omer from ever becoming a rote ritual, with its sacred mandolin and angelic voices. thank you on this 48th night of the omer.

[@elissayaffe5498]

I have been singing this since 2019 and it opens my heart every time. We are singing it every night this year for counting in the study group I am leading. It is truly soul food!

[@ruthfeldman-x9d]

So beautiful and heart warming; makes the counting of Omer glow! Brings tears of joyousness to my eyes

[@SylviaKrimsley]

This rendition has made our family’s counting of the Omer a joyous experience. Thank you.

[@lynnaschaefer]

Love this so much. Introduced to me by friends last year. Listening today to prepare for beginning the Omer count tonight. Thank you for this beauty.

[@galida]

I used this last year and LOVE IT!!!! Thank you for this gorgeous melody and kavanah

[@DavidHanig]

Today is the last day of the Omer. Am celebrating the end of this sacred time with this beautiful, beautiful rendition. Thank you!

[@daleschatz1284]

This is stunning proof of prayerful music and language. (And centered children.). Thanks and יישר כח !

[@JonathanSinger]

Be still my heart. This is so beautiful. Thank you Yosef and crew for making such inspirational music. Props to the kids in the background for being quiet and cardioid mics for being so good at only picking up what's right in front of them...

[@yosgold]

Thanks, Jonathan.

[@kj6bbs]

I don't know what this means, but it's so beautiful. I can tell it means something very true to you and your group.

[@karenhelrich9007]

So grateful for this gorgeous song, again at this time, this year. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

[@davidfinks3094]

Tears of joy. Fills my neshama with light and joy.

[@shalvahmbmacdonald8487]

This gorgeous work has become a part of our sefirat haomer tradition. Thank you for this gift to the world. 🙏💕

[@marionlyding7935]

Tears, many tears and lots of joy. Thank you.

[@okechukwudiei8424]

Just can't get tired of listening to this song

[@JewishRockMusic]

Beautiful to listen to over and over again. Chag Pesach Sameach!

[@ShirYaakov]

Yessss!! ❤️

[@yosgold]

Shir Yaakov Feit Thank you for being a musical-spiritual journey partner.

[@julietspitzer]

Aaaaaaaahhhhhh... What a soulful landing. Perfect addition to my Omer practice. Thank you!

[@annaflores7095]

Didn't understand what was being sung but The Melody is simply Beautiful. What kept Me entranced was the little boy in the background who was absolutely drawn in. The innocence! G💖D Bless & always Keep him & you all. 💞

[@thinkfred]

Supergroup. It's like watching the Jewish CSNY.

[@sarahgabriel895]

Wow! Another counting completed, feeling so blessed with your accompaniment. Already looking forward to next year. Gratitude and Blessings.

[@albertlondon5188]

Such a beautiful music and interpretation and the children make the scene out of the ordinary

[@Lsabraham08]

YOU are soo right! This makes the Omer feel like it is going to prom! WOW!! Gorgeous!!

[@StephanieWeishaar]

I love everything about this. Thank you for merging your creative energies and sharing this bounty with us.

[@yosgold]

Stephanie Weishaar Thank you!

[@isaacluria83]

Thank you, dear ones.

[@cristobalarias1478]

Shalom

[@susanrose4680]

This is incredibly beautiful; thanks for sharing...I found myself harmonizing along with the very talented trio!

[@helenescarcia1401]

Oh just lovely....

[@yosgold]

helene scarcia Thank you!

[@channahvanregenmorter8162]

Incredibly beautiful…learning for my shul

[@miriama.6521]

So beautiful!

[@JewishRockMusic]

Luv this again and again❤

[@lindaharrison6658]

Beautiful

[@micah-shapiro]

Beautiful. Thank you for this offering.

[@ellenmeltzer5213]

Beautiful. Chag Pesach Sameach!

[@blumberg1982]

Yes yes yes!!

[@debmartin793]

So touching and healing, thank U for sharing your beautiful gift of music!

[@blumberg1982]

Ahhhhh!!!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️😀👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

[@ellieflier]

Just beautiful!

[@yosgold]

Thank you, Ellie!

[@stephenlevin952]

Simply lovely

[@BuckthornStudios]

Fantastic musical application for this text and season. Thank you!!

[@drothberg3]

Love this! Beautful composition and performance.

[@raycin313]

Beautiful!

[@beitsimchatucson6109]

So lovely

[@akellman]

Beautiful, my [very] old chaver! Wonderful to hear your voice and support your continued music development

[@yosgold]

Ari Kellman Thank you! And we’re not THAT old. ;)

[@akellman]

@@yosgold careful, or I'll share proof :-)

[@BA-gb3ol]

Hello dear Yosef! I miss you! (Breindl)

[@jenachenkin4421]

I loved this piece! The last chord is not the tonic key, though. Was it written this way?

[@albertlondon5188]

Do you have any Sephardic songs sang in Ladino/Spanish?

[@Hannelore17]

Can you please post the entirety of the lyrics?

[@Dhugo4511]

Wonderful, very right harmony makes an already beautiful song even more so. Is the language Yiddish? Is there any significance to the palms being held upwards during the singing?

[@yosgold]

David, thank you. It's a combination of Aramaic and Hebrew.

[@dfeuer]

I don't think the hand position has any special significance. Just general gesticulating.

[@hannah1943]

so much joy and beauty

[@RabbiJonathanKlein]

Does anyone have a way for me to get this annotated? Here's what I figured out chord-wise (font didn't translate well, should've done it in courier): D G D D G D LeSheim yichud Kudshah Berikh Hu uShkhinteih… D G D D G D Hineni muchan umzuman l’kayem mitzvat aseh Bm G Bm G A shel Sefirat Ha-Omer shel Sefirat Ha- O-mer Bm G Bm G A shel Sefirat Ha-Omer shel Sefirat Ha- O-mer Bm Bm G Bm A D Sheva shabba tot temimot tihyenah. Bm Bm G D A D Sheva shabba tot temimot tihyenah. D G D D G D Baruch ata A-donai E-loheinu Melech Ha-Olam D G D D G D Asher kid shanu B’mitzvotav V’tzivanu Bm G Bm G A Al sfirat ha-omer Al sfirat ha-omer Bm G Bm G A Al sfirat ha-omer Al sfirat ha-omer Bm Bm G D A D Sheva shabba tot temimot tihyenah. Bm G D A D Sheva shabba tot temimot tihyenah.

[@alyhalpert6892]

I love this! such beautiful harmonies.

[@yosgold]

Thank you, Aly!