Book 2

Introduction

Many years ago a woman sent me an email with a link to her site called Words of Wisdom (Biblical Quotations In Reggae Lyrics).  In it she had a list of various Reggae artists including myself and Biblical quotes directly related to their lyrics. I was very surprised how she connected many of my songs to various verses in the Torah and Tanach. Most of these verses I was not aware of.  Maybe a few might have passed through my mind on a Shabbat years ago when I wrote some of my songs, for example ‘Bribes Blinds the Eyes of the Wise’ from Parsha Mishpatim.  Most of the quotes however, I was not familiar with.

I realized that I don’t really recall how and when I wrote many of my songs. As Rosh Hoshanna 2014 approached I thought it would be an interesting project to actually think about the Parsha and try and encapsulate some of the ideas in song.  Although many of my songs have been inspired by ideas from the Torah they are generally personal in nature. I never thought to connect any songs directly to the Parsha or catalogue those that were related in any way.

They say that every Rosh Hoshanna is a good time to add something new, turn a new leaf, or begin a new project. With this in mind I began this project on Rosh Hoshanna 2014.  The idea was to find the connections in my songs to relevant ideas in the Parsha as well as think of new songs inspired by various concepts found in the weekly Parsha. The gift of a writer is to say the most with the least amount of words; to encapsulate larger ideas into a few phrases that can be put into a song. I have a long way to go to make my songs shorter and sweeter and more poetic however life is a work in progress and there is no better place to start than today.

Each weekly section is part of a unified whole and every passage and letter is related one to the other. Just as the cells in the body work together so does the living Torah. It can be pondered and examined in sections but is part of a whole that we experience even though it is beyond our understanding.

As a musician I have always been attracted to what is called ‘roots’ music, whether we are speaking about reggae, ska, blues, or many other forms.  The more advanced musicians appreciate the simplicity of music; they listen well and leave space for others to enter. They are gentlemen with little ego, leaving room for the music to enter and play them, rather than be played. The Torah among many other things teaches this simplicity and balance between a healthy amount of ego and the nothingness that allows great things to flow through.

Much of my perspective on the Torah comes from my viewpoint here in Israel where one sees the recurring themes and variations of the Torah climax in an ever changing reality. This unfolding prophecy began before my time and will continue long after it.

Many years ago in Toronto I spoke about this topic with Rabbi Shmuel Spero and Yehoshua Sharfe at the Minsker shul. Yehoshua remarked that the prophecies the Rabbi has studied for years he now sees unfolding before his eyes.  We however who are baal teshuvas are on an even higher level.  Why is that asked the Rav?  Because we ‘are’ the prophecy.  He answered. I added ‘that’s a great idea for a song’ and the song and ‘We Are The Prophecy’ was born.

Indeed the G-d of Israel, the people of Israel, the Land of Israel and the Torah of Israel are all part of one thing. If you feel connected to any one of the above it will be well for you.  If you feel connected to all of the above, then your experience will be all the more enriched and vibrant.  Some of these songs were created long before I arrived at these ancient shores and even long before I was connected to my spiritual roots. Some are simply love songs that may have some Biblical reference in them. In addition there are many new songs inspired by the Land and the accumulation of thoughts over the years that have aged like wine.

With Hashems help, there will be many revisions in the future as each weekly question opens a new door to another question. One of the nice things about this book and b’h the four books to come is that not only can you read the book but you can also play it as a CD or playlist.  If you own one of these books the playlist will be improved, refined and embellished each year so that your original copy will continue to grow. In fact it is such a huge undertaking that many of the songs here are not produced at the level I would like for lack of time and money.  I hope to rectify some of these shortcomings in future editions. I hope you enjoy this compilation as much as I am enjoying putting it together. As my friend Rav Spero often says, ‘The best is yet to come’. I hope you enjoy the music and Shana Tova.

Exodus

Shmot

One may think that Judaism is a religion.  One may think that Israel is a country.  Both may think that they do not need each other.  A political reality and consciousness called Israel was born from within another nation called Egypt.  No other nation claims that their nationhood was born in a land far from their geographic origin. The only other similarity to what happened in Egypt is what is happening today as the people of Israel escaped the ovens of Aushwitz and re-built their ancient homeland.  Our modern day history, like our Biblical one, continue to be a work in progress.

_________

The Torah is like a bass note.  The civilizations we pass through are like different chords you place on that same bass note.  Each combination makes a different sound through the progression of time.  The bass note stays the same yet it is also beautified by the variations of the chords that it flows through.  The music of the Hebrew Nation is one of both protest and prayer, from hymns to anthems echoing through time.  The deeper the roots the stronger is the tree and the more varied and beautiful are its fruits.

______

“They said to them, May Hashem look upon you and judge, for you have made our very scent abhorrent in the eyes of Pharaoh and the eyes of his servants.”

(Shmot 5:21)

No people can exist that we did not elect

Without being sanctioned for being - Politically Incorrect

(Politically Incorrect)

______

“For precept by precept, precept by precept, measuring line by measuring line, and measuring line by measuring line a bit here and a bit there.  For as if with unintelligible speech and with a foreign tongue does one speak to this nation.”(Yeshayhu 28:10-11) 

This is the way the scales are set

Everything in just measure

You may add or detract or you might even

make things a little bit better and I say

Just weights and measures

Measure for measure

(Measure for Measure)

Politically Incorrect

Well they come with their pressure

And their edicts and their laws

They come with the press

To persecute you for your flaws

And they come in the name

Of those they think they must protect

And they sentence you for being - Politically Incorrect

Well they come with their new order

Every man must be free

Every saint and every sinner must be treated equally

And those who disagree

Well your forbidden to protect

One must denounce them right away

For being – Politically Incorrect

And if you have an authority that is higher

Well you’ll be forced to sing

In the inquisitors choir

No people can exist that we did not elect

Without being sanctioned for being - Politically Incorrect

Well Alexander the Great and Napoleon Bonaparte

Tried to free our minds from separations

That are keeping us apart

But in the end they lynched all those

Who refused to forget

And they sentenced then for being – Politically Incorrect

Well first they take your job and they blacken your name

If vanity you oppose and perversion you disdain

If you don’t weep for the cruel

And celebrate disrespect

Well they’ll sentence you for being – Politically Incorrect

Well you better be quiet

Be careful what you say

Don’t be close to those that stand in the way

Cause soon they’ll disappear

Then you they will suspect

For maybe once you were – Politically Incorrect

(Bridge)

There is a people in the east

That don’t follow your laws

You keep trying to convert them

And fix all their flaws

Their Lord is not your shepherd

And He’s making you upset

For He disobeys your rules and He’s - Politically Incorrect

On the first day– Yom HaRishon

It was the day of the dawning of creation.

And on the second day – Yom HaSheni

It was the birth

of strife and tribulation                     

Shabbat Shalom

And on the third day– Yom HaShlishi          

It was the day of the earth’s revelation

On the fourth day day – Yom RiVii

There was the sun

the moon and constellations

Shabbat Shalom

And on the fifth day – Yom Chamishi

It was the day of the dawning of redemption

And on the sixth day – Yom HasShishi

It was the day

He completed his creation

Shabbat Shalom

Measure For Measure

In the place of your haughtiness you will be brought low

And every law that you transgress

Is going to bring another sorrow

This is the way the scales are set

Everything in just measure

You may add or detract or you might even

make things a little bit better and I say

Just weights and measures

Measure for measure

And if the rains refuse to fall you know there is a reason

And if we burn the book of rules the punishment is treason

Don't blame the heavens no, look into the mirror

And if you suffer you'll see it's so

You can see things a little clearer and I say

And if the accuser brings evidence

And our fate is sealed forever

The judge can only set us free by raising an oppressor

So it will be until we see only He is our protection

And if you want to be redeemed

you got to earn a coin of redemption and I say

Don't worry my little child

Though it's dark it will get better

Our father will correct us all

Everyone in just measure

And I say

Just weights and measures

Measure for measure

Vayera

Therefore say to the Children of Israel: ‘I am Hashem,

and I shall take you out from under the burdens of Egypt;

I shall rescue you from their service; I shall redeem you

with an outstretched arm and with great judgments.

(Shmot 6:6)

And the world we lived in this morning

Is not the same world were living in now

Lift up the stones and go, go through the gates

Who can’t see through the smoke the signs

That are so clear - It’s time to return for

The dawn of redemption is here

(Dawn of Redemption)

Dawn of Redemption

Pease don’t despair my brothers and sisters

Though we’ve been shattered and still we grieve

The messengers failed to convince us

But now who doesn’t believe

Be strong and you’ll be strengthened

Forget the comforts that you hunt

Pick up the double edged sword from within you

For beside you is the battlefront

Just as it came without warning

Or is that really so my friend

Weren’t there two giants that fell before you

Like two towers that you had condemned

And the world we lived in this morning

Is not the same world were living in now

Lift up the stones and go, go through the gates

Who can’t see through the smoke the signs

That are so clear

It’s time to return for

The dawn of redemption is here

And the wild man who’s hand is against all

And all whose hand is against him

With all their might he remains undefeated

For his assassins lurk within

And the king says get the sheriff that I fired

Tell him now everyone is convinced

They said your highness don’t you recall

Last night you got drunk

And you told us to have him lynched

And the world we lived in this morning

Is not the same world were living in now

Lift up the stones and go, go through the gates

Who can’t see through the smoke

The signs that are so clear

It’s time to return for the dawn of redemption is here

I wish I could tell you sweet things

And say everything will be just fine

But our story is more than life itself

It’s the unfolding of the divine

If there’s comfort let it be in this

That the future is finally arrived

And the land will not reject you

She’s waiting there like a bride

This is the price we paid for indifference

But when we stand up though we be small

We stand with the kingdom of heaven

Whose towers will not fall

And the world we lived in this morning

Is not the same world were living in now

Lift up the stones and go, go through the gates

Who can’t see through the smoke

The signs so clear

It’s time to return for the dawn of redemption is here

And tomorrow may be worse than today

My brothers i fear

So please leave right away for

The dawn of redemption is here

The answer is not in Heaven and

It’s not beyond our grasp

We could have saved so many in Europe

Had we learned this lesson in the past

Better leave now before they close all the borders

And every safe harbor is sealed

The secret things remain hidden

But sometimes the gateway is revealed

And the world we lived in this morning

Is not the same world were living in now

Lift up the stones and go go through the gates

Who can’t see through the smoke the signs

That are so clear

It’s time to return for the dawn of redemption is here

And we’ll all be together

And watch it appear

And it’s time to return for

The dawn of redemption is here

Lets remove all this rubble and make the path clear

And it time to return for the dawn of redemption is here

Yes it here the dawn of redemption is here

Bo

Hashem said to Moshe and Aaron in the land of

Egypt, saying, “This month shall be for you the

beginning of the months, it shall be for you the

first of the months of the year.” (Shmot 12:1)

For every tear that has been shed
Going to lead us back though we been misled
(Chaverim Kol Israel)

It was at midnight that Hashem smote every firstborn

in the Land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh sitting

on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the

dungeon….It was at the end of four hundred and thirty

years, and it was on that very day that all the legions of

Hashem left the land of Egypt. (Shmot 12:28, 12:41)

On the night that we were waiting Anticipating

Have you ever known a nation to be born

From a foreign land from which they were torn

(Night of Anticipation)

Chaverim Kol Israel

Chaverim Kol Israel
Were Coming to rebuild Jerusalem
Better make way for the new generation
Don't be afraid don't stand in the way
Don't be afraid of what the people might say
With a double edged sword in our right hand
We'll all come together all across the Land

Every hand that is raised high
And every voice that you hear cry
Am Israel Am Israel chai
Never again going to lay down and die
For every tear that has been shed
Going to lead us back though we been misled
Chaverim Kol Israel

Night of Anticiation

On the night that we were waiting

Anticipating

The night for which we had prayed

Like a birth that cannot be delayed

What is promised you will see

Though it seems full of uncertainty

Though we hear wailing through the night

First there was darkness

Then there was night

On the night that we were waiting

Anticipating

The night full of joy and dread

A mother weeping from her birthing bed

And Heaven up above

Delivering us with love

Though death walks through the night

First there was darkness then there was light

On the night that we were waiting Anticipating

Have you ever known a nation to be born

From a foreign land from which they were torn

And every first born child has a debt

From which he must give

For he remembers on that night

Those who died so that he might live

On the night that we were awaiting

Anticipating

A mother in her labor pains

I’ve died so many times and been reborn again

But my people comfort me

as I walk through my own raging sea

And though the end is near in the night

First there was darkness then there was light

Although the end is near in the night

Firs there was darkness then there was light

Bring Them Home

They see the rod but do they know the smiter
They see the uprising but do they know the inciter
Ah is there anyone among the Nation
Who could lead this generation
And bring the children home - once again

They curse their burden
But do they see the taskmaster
They curse their problems
But do they seek the answer
(chorus)

They feel the heat but do they see the sunshine
They drive so fast but can they read the road signs
(chorus)

They witness crimes but do they understand them
The dogs run free but is there anyone to command them
(chorus)

Parsha Beshalach

..the Children of Israel walked on the dry land amid the sea.

Miriam the prophetess, sister of Aaron, took the drum in her

hand and all the women went forth after her with drums

and with dances.

(Shmot 15:19-20)

Ahh -This is the place I want to be

Just sitting under my lemon tree

In the middle of the raging sea

(Middle of the Raging Sea)

Pharaoh’s chariots and army He threw in the sea, and the

pick of his officers were mired in the Sea of Reeds.

(Shmot 15:4)

And you wonder who’s really in charge

You sent your army and your tanks and guards

Just a handful of hippies

With their Holy Books in their hands

(Kings and Queens of Zion)

In The Middle of the Raging Sea

Whatever life has in store

Whatever it will be

The only comfort I find

Is in the middle of the raging sea

Whichever way the winds will blow

Through the pages of history

The only place for me

Is in the middle of the raging sea

Ahh – There’s no other place for me

No place I’d rather be

Than the middle of the raging sea

Ahh – There’s no other place for me

No other place where I feel free

But the middle of the raging sea

And if I’m before my time

Or if I’m already late

I don’t really mind

No I don’t hesitate

And if the winds will bow

And if the waters rise

I just build my house right here

Between the tides

Ahh – There’s no other place for me

No place I’d rather be

Than the middle of the raging sea

Ahh – Theres no other place for me

No other place that I feel free

But the middle of the raging sea

Whatever way the tables turn

Whatever lessons I need to learn

I pray that I will always be

In the middle of the raging sea

Whichever way the winds will blow

Through the pages of history

There’s only one place for me

In the middle of the raging sea

You can go against the tide

You can run but you can’t hide

You can escape but you can’t flee

Ahh -This is the place I want to be

Just sitting under my lemon tree

In the middle of the raging sea

Ahh- there’s no other place for me

No place I would rather be

But the middle of the raging ea

Ain’t no other place that I feel free

Only place for me

Is in the middle of the raging sea

Kings and Queens of Zion

Here you talking to the Presidents men

Former enemies are suddenly friends

Everyone got the same thing on their mind

Got to stop this settlement town

And Heaven from coming down

But the sun keeps shining on them

And you wonder why

Cause these are the Kings and the Queens

Sheltered under His wings

Sleeping by the fire

Under the moon of Bat Ayin

These are the Kings and the Queens

Today you call them extreme

But these are the Kings and the Queens of Zion

And you wonder why they never grow old

You try to buy them and they can’t be sold

You break down their building

And they build them back up again

And you wonder who’s really in charge

You sent your army and your tanks and guards

Just a handful of hippies

With their Holy Books in their hands

But these are the Kings and the Queens

Sheltered under His wings

Sleeping by the fire

Under the moon of Bat Ayin

These are the Kings and the Queens

Today you call them extreme

But these are the Kings and the Queens of Zion

And you talk about the hilltop youth

But no matter how you twist the truth

Ain’t nothing you can do

Going to bend this blade of grass

And you think that you’re mighty and strong

But maybe you could be wrong

Maybe you were but maybe your time has past

Cause these are the Kings and the Queens

Sheltered under His wings

Sleeping by the fire

Under the moon of Bat Ayin

These are the Kings and the Queens

Today you call them extreme

But these are the Kings and the Queens of Zion

Az Yashir Moshe

Az Yashir Moshe

Mi Chamocka Nadar BKodesh

(The Song of the Sea in Hebrew with Ska Beat)

Yitro

The entire people saw the thunder and the flames, the sound of the shofar and the smoking mountain; the people saw and trembled and stood from afar. (Shmot 20:15)

Down by the Mountain

I met my true love

She brought Heaven down below

And I was walking in the clouds above

(Down by the Mountain)

And now if you hearken well to Me and observe My covenant, you shall be to Me the most beloved treasure of all peoples, for Mine is the entire world. (Shmot 19:5)

Pleasures of the mind

All the treasures we can find

Sailing on the ocean deep

Over mountains we will leap

Pleasures of the mind

Growing in the glowing light

(Pleasures of the mind)

Down by the Mountain

Down by the Mountain

I met my true love

She brought Heaven down below

And I was walking in the clouds above

Down by the Mountain

Suddenly everything was clear

Every troubled road that I travelled

Everything that brought me here

Down by the Mountain

It was clear for all to see

That freedom depends

On the love between you and me

Down by the Mountain

It was clear for all to know

That Heavens born a Kingdom

Down here below

Down by the Mountain

I saw the future and the past

Every soul that would enter

And every soul that would pass

Down by the Mountain

My true love spoke to me

With words made of fire

That grew inside of me

Down by the Mountain

It was clear for all to see

That freedom for you

Means freedom for me

Down by the Mountain

It was clear for all to know

That Heavens born a Kingdom

Down here below

Down by the Mountain

I heard the trumpets blow

On the night we chose each other

And in the morning it was so

Down by the Mountain

We were unified in love

When Heaven came down

And lifted me up above

Down by the Mountain

It was clear for all to see

That freedom for you

Means freedom for me

Down by the Mountain

It was clear for all to know

That you’ll always be with me

No matter where I might go

Pleasures of the Mind

Pleasure of the mind

Moving through this time

Reaching out to the sky

See how easy we can fly

Pleasures of the mind

Seeking you will find

Pleasures of the mind

All the treasures we can find

Sailing on the ocean deep

Over mountains we will leap

Pleasures of the mind

Growing in the glowing light

Pleasures of the mind

Moving through my mind

Beyond all flesh can touch

Pleasures that we can trust

Pleasures of the mind

Climbing to a place on high

Etz Chaim He

Etz chaim he. Le machazikim ba. Ve tomcheyha Mayushar.

It is a tree of life – for those who grasp it.

Mishpatim

Do not accept a bribe, for the bribe will blind those who see and corrupt words that are just. (Shmot 23:8)

Bribes, Blind the eyes of the Wise

(Bribes)

Bribes

Bribes - Blind the eyes of the wise
Just a taste you tell yourself
It's just one time
It's nothing more
Then it's two, and three, and four
Bribes - Blind the eyes of the wise

Forbidden fruit it tastes so sweet
You love to lie and tell yourself why
It's really meant to eat
Bribes - Blind the eyes of the wise

Truma

Speak to the Children of Israel and let them take for Me a portion, from every man whose heart motivates him you shall take My portion. (Shmot 25:2)

Bring the best of yourself to me.

And I’ll always be close

If you build me a house

Build Me a House

Build me a House

Where I can dwell

With a table made of wood

And a covering of gold

And seven candles burning

And a window where the light shines through

Bring the best of yourself to me

And we’ll always be close

If you build me a house

I’ll bring the best of myself to you

And I’ll always be here

Ahh – next to you

Build me a house

Where I can dwell

With a fence standing straight and tall

And curtains of scarlet wool

Attached all in a row

Bring the best of yourself to me

And we’ll always be close

If you build me a house

I’ll bring the best of myself to you

And I’ll always be here

Ahh – next to you

Tezaveh

You shall place both stones on the shoulder straps of the Ephod, remembrance stones for the Sons of Israel.  Aaron shall carry their names before Hashem on both his shoulders as a remembrance. (Shmot 28:12)

Well the world isn’t made

For those who sin and celebrate

But its carried on the shoulders of the one

Who carries the weight

(Carries the Weight)

The Weight

Though you try to blind the one

Who gave you your sight

Though he’s seldom praised

He gave you courage to fight

Who’s this nameless man

You hardly appreciate

Well hes the one

Who carries the weight

Who leads us through the night

While we complain and hesitate

He’s always marching forward

While we were always arriving late

Who’s the one were blaming

For all of our mistakes

Well it’s the one

Who carries the weight

Well the world isn’t made

For those who sleep or celebrate

But its carried on the shoulders of the one

Who carries the weight

Who’s love is returned with scorn and regrets

Who can bear the reward of ridicule and threats

Who can give to the ungrateful

His freedom small and great

Well it’s the one

Who carries the weight

Who’s erased from the book

So that others will not fall

Who understands without him

There wouldn’t even be any book at all

Who pushes others to safety

While he’s denied their fate

They are carried on the shoulders of the one

Who carries the weight

Well the world isn’t made

For those who sin and celebrate

But its carried on the shoulders of the one

Who carries the weight

Ki Sissa

Joshua heard the sound of the people in its shouting, and he said to Moshe, ‘The sound of battle is in the camp!’ He said, ‘Not a sound of shouting strength nor a sound of shouting weakness; a sound of distress do I hear!’ (Shmot32:17)

And they say the divine

Ain’t nothing but the image of their own design

Yet they can’t seem to wish away

The big black clouds

Where the sun used to shine

(Modern Idols)

Modern Idols

Talking bout the junkies fix and the skinheads fist and the planets course
And the new titanic and the instamatic and the Trojan horse
And they make them out of clay
They make them out of words philosophers say
And in the end your all alone and your flesh turn to bone
And it fades away and I say
These - Are the Modern Idols

And they worship the State, their wealth
And their pleasure and their power and their pain
And they worship themself
Their birth and their health and the size of their brain
And they say the Divine
Ain't nothing but the image of their own design
But they can't seem to wish away the big black cloud
Where the sun used to shine and I say
These - Are the Modern Idols

They say a cultured man
Is the symbol of emancipation
And they pray to the gods of science for salvation
But while the symphony plays the SS sprays poison gas
They say a cultured man has only learned to kill
With a touch of class and I say
These - Are the Modern Idols

Exodus  Play CD

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Exodus Play Ebook

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Album Notes and Credits

Politically Incorrect

Guitar: Yair Fine

Measure for Measure

Oud: Joshua Benchetrit,

Guitar: Noah Zacharin

Dawn of Redemption

Guitar: Yair Fine

Chaverim Kol Israel

Guitar: Simon Nachum

Night of Anticipation

Guitar: Yair Fine

Bring Them Home

Guitar and Drums: Neil Gertler

Harmonies: Sister Levi

Middle of the Raging Sea

Guitar: Simon Nachum

Guitar : Yair Fine

Kings and Queens of Zion

Guitar: Simon Nachum
Drums: Erez

Bass: Alon

Az Yashir Moshe

Drums: Neil Gertler

Down By the Mountain
Guitar: Yair Fine

Vocals: Shachar Dawn

Pleasures of the Mind

All Instruments: Ron Wiseman

Bribes
Backed by the Band: JFK and the Conspirators   

Build Me a Houses
Guitar: Arie Yariv Gzanda

The Weight
Guitar: Yair Fine

Modern Idols

All Instruments: Ron Wiseman

All other instruments played by Ron Wiseman including drum tracks that were either recorded on electronic drums or edited Studio Drum Tracks. (Completed Shavuot 2016)