Month: May 2025

Omer Learning: Day 46

Tonight, after sundown, we count the following day of the Omer:

Today is 46 days, which is 6 weeks and 4 days of the Omer

How to: the blessings and procedure for counting the Omer.

From Our Community:

Contributed by: Deborah Meyers & Tod Cohen. B’yado by David Paskin .

I met David Paskin when we were both freshman at Brandeis long ago, and I have loved listening to the songs he writes, sings, and plays ever since.
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This one is helpful for falling asleep

Omer Learning: Day 43

Tonight, after sundown, we count the following day of the Omer:

Today is 43 days, which is 6 weeks and 1 day of the Omer

How to: the blessings and procedure for counting the Omer.

From Our Community:

Contributed by: Rose-Ella Slavin. V’shamru by Unknown.

Alan Youkeles was the first person I met at CEH. He was so warm and welcoming and he is the reason that I started getting involved at the synagogue (he put Adam Cohen and me on a strategic planning committee that he was running). V’Shamru is his favorite Friday night prayer – always sung loudly and with his whole body moving from side to side. Singing this on Friday nights reminds me of him and encourages me to follow his example and welcome people to the shul. May his memory be for a blessing.

Editor’s note: we had two submission for V’Shamru. So thanks to Rose-Ella and an anonymous submittor for highlighting this piece of music. Learn More.

Omer Learning: Day 41

Tonight, after sundown, we count the following day of the Omer:

Today is 41 days, which is 5 weeks and 6 days of the Omer

How to: the blessings and procedure for counting the Omer.

From Our Community:

Contributed by: Suzanne Gold. The Sound of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel.

It was written by Paul Simon when he was 21. It is part of an album I owned on cassette as a teenager, one of my favorite albums with its haunting melodies and beautiful harmonies.

Omer Learning: Day 40

Tonight, after sundown, we count the following day of the Omer:

Today is 40 days, which is 5 weeks and 5 days of the Omer

How to: the blessings and procedure for counting the Omer.

From Our Community:

Contributed by: Stephen Schwartz. Kol ha’olam kulo Baruch Chait, Inspired by Rabbi Nachman of Breslov.

The song adapts a saying of a Hasidic rabbi: “The whole world is a very narrow bridge, and the main thing is to have no fear at all.” In a traditional view of the committed Jewish life, we are all on a spiritual journey from one place to another. Jewish practice gives us a particular path to follow. The path is narrow, and departing from it carries risks. But that turns out to be at least as liberating as it is frightening: All you need to do, ultimately, is be brave enough to keep on the way laid out in front of you.

The tune brings a sense of combined tension and excitement that complements the text’s meaning. Learn More.

Omer Learning: Day 39

Tonight, after sundown, we count the following day of the Omer:

Today is 39 days, which is 5 weeks and 4 days of the Omer

How to: the blessings and procedure for counting the Omer.

From Our Community:

Contributed by: Michael Stein. Avodath Hakodesh (Sacred Service) by Composer: Ernst Bloch Performers: NY Philharmonic, Leonard Bernstein; Choir of the Metropolitan Synagogue; Chior of the Community Church of NY.

Settings of selections from the Shabbat Shacharit service Learn More.

Omer Learning: Day 38

Tonight, after sundown, we count the following day of the Omer:

Today is 38 days, which is 5 weeks and 3 days of the Omer

How to: the blessings and procedure for counting the Omer.

From Our Community:

Contributed by: Paula Levin-Alcorn. Keep Going by Nissim Baruch Black.

“Keep Going,” released as a standalone single, embodies this journey of resilience. From its opening lines—“You see your story is our story / The individual no matter how much they try can never separate themselves from the whole”—Nissim binds his personal struggles to the collective Jewish experience. It’s a nod to the unity of the Jewish people, where every soul’s battle echoes the nation’s enduring saga. “Adversity will be inevitable,” he raps, “but through it all you have to keep going.” For a people who’ve weathered exile, persecution, and rebirth, these words strike a deep chord.

Nissim Baruch Black (born Damian Jamohl Black) is an African-American-Israeli rapper, songwriter, and record producer. He was born and raised Sunni Islam in Seattle, converted to Christianity in his teens, and in 2011 converted to Judaism. He and his wife, Adina, had an Orthodox Jewish wedding in 2013, have 7 children and made aliyah to Israel in 2016. They live in Jerusalem and consider themselves Breslov Hasidim.

I’m just fascinated by controversial, interesting and talented humans, especially ones who have faced great adversity and shown extreme resilience. Learn More.

Omer Learning: Day 37

Tonight, after sundown, we count the following day of the Omer:

Today is 37 days, which is 5 weeks and 2 days of the Omer

How to: the blessings and procedure for counting the Omer.

From Our Community:

Contributed by: Ian Alcorn. Valerie live at BBC Radio. This is a very relaxed version and reminds me of a day at the beach. by Amy Winehouse.

Amy Winehouse was described by her brother as “a little Jewish kid from North London.” She was born to Jewish parents and raised Jewish, attending Hebrew School and weekly family Shabbat dinners. She rose to great fame, winning 5 Grammys in 2008. Sadly, her brilliant career ended when she tragically died in 2011 at the age of 27.

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