Norwitz Notions

Sites, books, music, and more
For bat mitzvah, bar mitzvah, d’var Torah/drosh, aliyot, services, etc

From the adult education class at (the Reconstructionist)
Congregation Ner Shalom, Cotati, CA
in preparation for our b’nai mitzvah, June 14, 2014
(plus June 28 & July 11)

Last updated June 5, 2014

Torah Reading

Sh’lakh L’kha (Numbers 13:1 – 15:41) in English, JPS Tanakh. http://www.jtsa.edu/PreBuilt/ParashahArchives/jpstext/shelahlekha.shtml

and Haftarah for Sh’lakh L’kha (Joshua 2:1-24) http://www.jtsa.edu/PreBuilt/ParashahArchives/jpstext/shelahlekha_haft.shtml

For other parashot, go to http://www.jtsa.edu/ and put the name in the search box.

Here is a link to the parsha, which is Shelach.
http://www.chabad.org/parshah/torahreading.asp?aid=45586&p=1

Here is one brief description of the parsha from chabad.org
http://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/2201/jewish/Shelach-in-a-Nutshell.htm

Description with some good study questions, and some possible resources to check out.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/josh-fleet/shelach-torah-portion-summary-resources_b_1597080.html

To learn the Torah blessings: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlkXaE4tkfA

www.Hebcal.com: has listings of the weekly Torah portions. they also have a wonderful calendar app for your smartphone!

Shlach reading in Hebrew, English, and transliteration, plus an audio link for each verse. http://www.bible.ort.org/books/torahd5.asp?action=displaypage&book=4&chapter=13&verse=1&portion=37

Chukat: http://www.bible.ort.org/books/torahd5.asp?action=displaypage&book=4&chapter=19&verse=1&portion=39

For all other Torah portions, use the navigation menu on the left of the page.

This site has the entire Bible by chapter, with English and Hebrew and a link to audio. They also have Spanish, Portuguese, and French. http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0.htm

Numbers 15 is here: http://www.mechon-mamre.org/p/pt/pt0415.htm

Drosh

http://www.aish.com/tp/pl – Go to the site, click on your parsha, and a bunch of interesting resources show up.

www.Myjewishlearning.com – Go to the site, select the Texts menu at the top, and you can look at a whole array of texts and information.

Jewish Women’s Archive, www.jwa.org/encyclopedia . Type in a topic and see what comes up. You can do a general search there that seems well-linked, too. http://search.jwa.org

Chabad has a lot of good resources online for studying Torah. http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/76131/Texts-Writings.htm

Bemidbar Raba – the big source of Midrash for the Book of Numbers, translated into English. http://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/mhl/mhl08.htm

http://onlinebooks.library.upenn.edu/webbin/metabook?id=lotj

http://sacred-texts.com/jud/loj/index.htm

 

Siddur/Service

To learn more about the Shema and Its Blessings (the part of the service from the Barchu through the readings that follow the Shema), take a look here http://www.myjewishlearning.com/texts/Liturgy_and_Prayers/Siddur_Prayer_Book.shtml, (be sure to navigate around a bit to get more info on the individual prayer sections of the Barchu and Shema).

 

Music/Chants

Ner Shalom has 25 videos up on their YouTube page.
https://www.youtube.com/user/NerShalom/videos?shelf_id=3&sort=dd&view=0

Brian Shamash has a bunch of videos up.
https://www.youtube.com/user/BrianShamash/videos?sort=dd&view=0&shelf_id=3

The YouTube Rabbi.
https://www.youtube.com/user/TheUTubeRabbi/videos

Reconstructionist Shabbat Service Melodies, Rabbi Susan Falk
http://www.shabbatevemelodies.com/reconstructionist_service_melodies.html

Kol Haneshamah

Reb Irwin Keller & Lorenzo Valensi of Ner Shalom
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22NdxqSHNzM

Mah Tovu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzA5cCOVJd8
Simple version with transliteration on screen.

Elohai Neshamah

http://www.templehabonim.org/elohaineshamah.html
Audio files with read and chanted versions. Gives Hebrew & English.

Barchu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gQ8gj0Kwdh8
A slight twist with a High Holy Day melody, but very similar to the regular Shabbat one. Shows Hebrew & transliteration on screen. Short version with just the Hebrew line.

“Bar’chu (Siegel)” (Song 4 of 16) from Shabbat Unplugged
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3ZaR93fnBo
Sung with guitar in front of a congegation. Lai lai version plus the Hebrew line.

Bar’chu (Blessed Be) (led by Noori Dove)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S09Fv22iwB4
Dear One song, shown with congretation making set movements

Ahavah Rabbah

NeshamahInstitute. Simple version with a voice plus a picture of the Hebrew and transliteration.

Mi Chamocha

Mi Chamocha (1:49)
Play:

– Download
Ner Shalom’s Judith Goleman singing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNHhfpSrCTI
High Holy Day tune for Mi Chamocha (the evening version). The YouTube Rabbi. Simple voice with Hebrew and transliteration. Explanation of different versions.

Mi Chamocha- Hebrew Song- A capella
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3Y-J6Ea3TI
Lovely stylized version with harmonies.

Tzur Yisrael

Tzur Yisrael (0:34)
Play:

– Download
Ner Shalom’s Judith Goleman singing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G07YR02Fwoo
NeshamahInstitute. Simple version with a voice plus a picture of the Hebrew and transliteration.

Avot & Gevurot

Adonai S’Fatai/L’Cha Dodi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XaQhk9nyArk
Craig Taubman (who wrote Adonai S’Fatai) performing live.

Adonai S’fatai
http://www.adatelohim.org/Adonai-Sfatai-s/7644.htm#
English, Hebrew, transliteration, with voice singing as Ner Shalom does

Adonai S’fatai Tiftach
http://www.reformjudaism.org/practice/prayers-blessings/shabbat-evening-worship-services-adonai-sfatai-tiftach
English, Hebrew, transliteration, with voice chanting it straight

Avot V’imahot (First blessing of the Amidah/Tefilah prayer)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OhO7Nx88F8
The YouTube Rabbi. Simple voice with Hebrew and transliteration. All Patriarchs before Matriarchs.

Gevurot (Second part of the Amidah/Tefilah prayer)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRb4zciXvTc
The YouTube Rabbi. Simple voice with Hebrew and transliteration.

Avot Ve’Imot Reconstructionist Version
http://www.behrmanhouse.com/avot-veimot-reconstructionist-version
First line is Adonai s’fatai. Patriarchs then Matriarchs. Hebrew only, with English on popup. Click each line to hear a very clear voice stating the words with no chanting or singing, with word highlighted. Click musical note to hear entire thing sung.

Gevurot Reconstructionist Version
http://www.behrmanhouse.com/gevurot-reconstructionist-version
Has summer & winter versions. Hebrew only, with English on popup. Click each line to hear a very clear voice stating the words with no chanting or singing, with word highlighted. Click musical note to hear entire thing sung.

Oseh Shalom

Oseh shalom bimromav
Hu ya’aseh shalom aleinu
V’al kol Yisrael
V’imru, v’imru amen

Ya’aseh shalom, ya’aseh shalom
Shalom aleinu v’al kol Yisrael
Ya’aseh shalom, ya’aseh shalom
Shalom aleinu v’al kol Yisrael

(V’al kol yoshvei teiveil)

Oseh shalom bimromav – by Attila Rontó & Friends
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYW6yuBbcdM
I really love this video. It’s the same tune we use, with a variety of rhythms, with guitar and hand drum

Oseh Shalom, Hebrew Peace Song By Tum Balalaika Klezmer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouziQ9bxTWU
Klezmer style!

Oseh Shalom / Druschba – Chaverut Choir
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lkox2PcSPkI&feature=related
Traditional version.

The words in English, Hebrew, and transliteration.
http://www.zemirotdatabase.org/view_song.php?id=234

Removing the Torah from the Ark

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-3VU79EwHM
NeshamahInstitute. Simple version with a voice plus a picture of the Hebrew and transliteration.

L’kha (Leha) Adonai

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvs14UQtTAE
NeshamahInstitute. Simple version with a voice plus a picture of the Hebrew and transliteration.

Torah Blessings

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xl2NhwFtG7Q
NeshamahInstitute. Simple version with a voice plus a picture of the Hebrew and transliteration

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5MNWQX0ehY&list=PLcRF_zFl6hpHHw-VwR4f9o9mSFiAEGjT6
The YouTube Rabbi. Simple voice with Hebrew and transliteration.

Torah Blessings Reconstructionist Version
http://www.behrmanhouse.com/torah-blessings-reconstructionist-version
Hebrew only, with English on popup. Click each line to hear a very clear voice stating the words with no chanting or singing, with word highlighted. Click musical note to hear entire thing sung.

V’Zot HaTorah

V’zot HaTorah (0:21)
Play:

– Download
Ner Shalom’s Judith Goleman singing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGfKJWBqXuQ
Simple and short. Young man singing the song.

El Na R’fa Na Lah

Ner Shalom’s version, done as a 5 minute chant with transliteration.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaTCCfwwrYE

Aleinu

Brian Shamash
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lf0ZDAvYInU
It’s the Aleinu sung with a video showing the Hebrew and stage directions. Very clear and easy and the same tune we use, though the version is different and a large center section is spoken.

Aleynu Reconstructionist Version

http://www.behrmanhouse.com/aleynu-reconstructionist-version
Exactly the same version Ner Shalom uses (except “muttered” line near end is missing). Hebrew only, with English on popup. Click each line to hear a very clear voice stating the words with no chanting or singing, with word highlighted. Click musical note to hear entire thing sung. Requires Flash.

Reconstructionist Aleniu, with Rabbi Susan Falk
http://www.shabbatevemelodies.com/Tracks/Disk2_MP3/58_Aleinu_p121.mp3
Spoken intro then single voice singing. Exact version Ner Shalom uses.

Kiddish

Kiddush Reconstructionist Version
http://www.behrmanhouse.com/kiddush-reconstructionist-version
Song Ner Shalom sings with wine for Kiddish at oneg. Hebrew only, with English on popup. Click each line to hear a very clear voice stating the words with no chanting or singing, with word highlighted. Click musical note to hear entire thing sung.

Books

A modern classic you could find useful is Back to the Sources: Reading the Classic Jewish Texts, edited by Barry Holtz.

Shefa Gold’s Torah Journeys

“My People’s Prayerbook: The Shema and Its Blessings.” You can find it here http://www.jewishlights.com/page/product/978-1-879045-79-8

A resource for learning the meaning of prayer book Hebrew. It got rave reviews. http://www.ekspublishing.com/prayerbook-hebrew/prayerbook-hebrew-the-easy-way

Ellen Frankel’s The Five Books of Miriam

Rabbi Elyse Goldstein’s The Women’s Torah Commentary

“In terms of feminist perspectives, I have been using Rabbi Shefa Gold’s Torah Journeys and just got copies of Ellen Frankel’s The Five Books of Miriam and Rabbi Elyse Goldstein’s The Women’s Torah Commentary. All three have commentary on each of the weekly parashat.”

Louis Ginzberg’s LEGENDS OF THE JEWS

Tikkun Olam

The Remember Us Project: http://www.remember-us.org/index.shtml