In honor of Chai Elul, the birthday of the founders of Chassidus – the Baal Shem Tov and the Baal Tanya – ‘Tzama‘ as a special gift for the soul: an EP of 3 singles performed by Daniel Weiss, Avraham Fried and Raviv Kner – melodies that stir the heart and soul, for the month of mercy and forgiveness. Arrangement and musical production: Naor Carmi.
The song ‘Kol Biyaar‘ attributed to the grandfather of Shpoli (a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov) is performed by Daniel Weiss, son of Shmulik and Yehudit Weiss. The song ‘Haneshama Yoredet El Toch Haguf‘ – live from the events of Tzama 5775, performed by Avraham Fried. The song ‘Areshet Sfaseinu‘ from the High Holy Days prayers, performed with emotion by Raviv Kner.
‘Kol Biyaar‘ – an ancient Chassidic melody of longing connects to a contemporary story of pain, memory and faith. A dialogue of longing between a father and his sons. A father searches for his sons. He calls them to return home. The sons answer him, asking to return, but find the gate locked by the guard who does not know them. The story is the story of the Shechinah, who searches for the souls of the children of Israel – Her children. They also search for Her, but it is not always easy to return to the Father. There is an evil inclination that lies at the gate and interferes.
This deep melody is attributed to ‘Saba M’Shpoli‘ – a disciple of the holy Baal Shem Tov. It is said that he would play it before saying the Tikkun Chatzos. Now, Daniel Weiss, son of Shmulik and Yehudit Weiss, is singing the melody of longing for his father. Daniel’s rendition of “Tzama” adds a personal and touching layer to the melody, especially these days, the days of mercy and forgiveness, when we will soon mark 3 years since the 7/10 disaster on Simchat Torah 5774.
Weiss says that the music allows him to connect with his emotions, the memory of his parents, and their spirit that accompanies him: “Working on the single “Kol Biyaar” is a personal and moving closing of a circle for me. It all started with a meeting at the Tel Aviv Radio studios (where I was a sound technician) with Bracha Shilat at Tel Aviv Radio, which later led to a powerful tour in Be’eri and a deep connection to the “Tzama” project. The experience in the studio with Naor Carmi, who did an amazing job with the production, and the filming in the Ben Shemen Forest, allowed me to bring all my emotions and personal story to expression in the most honest way possible.”
The soul descends. These are the days of mercy and forgiveness. We are busy with the soul, with a spiritual annual summary and with drawing closer to the Creator. This Chabad niggun deals with the existential question: Why did we come to this world? What is the purpose of the journey? The soul seeks to return to its source, it has challenges and trials, both physical and spiritual. It prefers to return to the top and be close to the Creator. The understanding that the descent, the difficulties and trials, have a purpose and are for the sake of ascent, makes one feel that the effort is worthwhile! It is precisely within earthly life, in its difficulties and downfalls, that lies the possibility of greater growth and ascent.
In the midst of the month of Elul, Tzama is excited to present a ‘live’ performance of Avraham Fried for the niggun, from the Tzama performances of 2016. Avraham Fried writes on a personal note: Dear friends, Did you know that your soul knows how to shout from one end of the world to the other? This happens when God says to her: “My dear soul, I know that it is best for you here by my side, in the spiritual and pure world. But I have a mission for you: to descend below, into the physical world and into the body of a Jew.” Then from the depths of the soul comes the cry: “Why?! What was I missing up here, right next to the throne of honor?!” And the Creator explains to her: “There, in the physical world, there is the possibility of learning Torah and keeping the commandments. You will breathe life into that Jew and through this you will have a much higher ascension than if you had stayed here by my side.” So the soul replies: “Then the descent is for the purpose of ascension! All of this is worth it!”
The sound of our lips. There are moments when there are no words, but only a cry. Sometimes, after the cry – the words will come. On Rosh Hashanah, the shofar cries for us, and only after it do the words come. In prayer we ask: “Areshes Sifaseinu Yeerav Lifaneicha-The sound of our lips will come before you” – that even our hesitant words, which come from the tip of our lips, and also what is hidden behind them, will be accepted and heard. And the Creator? He not only hears. He also “understands and listens, looks and listens”! And he understands even before he hears. He understands the cry from which it was created in prayer.
This melody was used by the public servants in the town of Lubavitch to play after the blasts of the Musaf prayer of Rosh Hashanah. Now the melody is receiving a new performance by Raviv, a violinist for ‘Tzama‘, in a prayer that the Creator will hear all of our prayers, those in the shofar call, those that we managed to say, and also those that we did not. Raviv shares: “I am excited to take part in the special project. I have been exposed to the beautiful melodies over the years, but when you delve deeper you realize how special it is. Proud to be a Jew in this time, a believing Jew. A connected Jew.”
A must listen!
קול ביער
הנשמה יורדת
ארשת שפתינו