Hebrew texts: King David (Psalms) or liturgy.
Kit Worton recorded, mixed and mastered at his Right Touch Studio, Northfield, New Jersey. Thank you, Kit, for helping me realize the promise of these tunes.
Dedicated to Ellen Rebecca Helfman Kremer
There isn’t enough space here to express appreciation and gratitude to Ellie for enduring my youthful immaturity, then aiding and encouraging my growth as lover, artist, husband, father, grandfather and rabbi.
We’ve learned love is trust and laughter and lust.
Ellie, This is one heck of a birthday present! Thank you.
Lyrics (some with chords, some sheet music) at: www.jonathankremer.com
Design: Jonathan Kremer
With thanks to:
my next-older brother Dan, whose guitar-playing in high school led to mine; my high school Talmud teacher’s brother-in-law and my parents (who had a small wonderfully eclectic record collection) for enabling me to acquire the 1969 Guild f30 heard here; Elias Lieberman, early collaborator; Hamakor Israeli Dance Troupe (Boston) for six years of musical, social and cultural pleasure; Kol Minor a cappella (Wynnewood, Pennsylvania) for a joyful confidence-building musical decade; Laura Huberman, partner in performance and musical exploration; Suzie Neustadter, vocal guidance; John Crotty, luthier extraordinaire; and a wealth of soulful prayerful music at Ramah camps and elsewhere; Kavveret (סיפורי פוגי); also, jug band and folk (thank you Marty and Dan!), and much more.
Dedicated to Ellen Rebecca Helfman Kremer
There isn’t enough space here to express appreciation and gratitude to Ellie for enduring my youthful immaturity, then aiding and encouraging my growth as lover, artist, husband, father, grandfather and rabbi.
We’ve learned love is trust and laughter and lust.
Ellie, This is one heck of a birthday present! Thank you.
• Jonathan Kremer: vocals, guitar, kazoo
• Kit Worton: bass, keyboards, mandolin
• Barney Lihn: drums, djembe, goat hooves, tambourine
• Ken Ulansey: saxes
מוֹדֶה אֲנִי horeini | 2022 | 1:58 | Psalms 27:11
Show me your way… lead me on a level path.
+ Joe Handler: piano
מִמְּקוֹמְךָ mimekomcha | 2023 | 1:38
Shabbat morning liturgy: … reign over us, for we await You .…
+ Susan Davenport-Elsayed: violin
טוֹב לְהוֹדוֹת tov l’hodot | 2021 | 2:29 | Psalms 92
A song of Shabbat: ‘tis good to thank Adonai, to sing to God’s exalted Name.
+ Joe Handler: piano
מוֹדֶה אֲנִי mode ani | 2011 | 1:38
First prayer of the day.
מוֹדִים modim | 2022 | 1:23
We thank you God… For your daily miracles…
הרופא harofei | 2019 | 1:29 | Psalms 147:3
God, the Healer + Joe Handler: piano
Introductionr + Jodie Handler: vocals
הַלְלוּ halelu | 2007 | 1:59 | Psalms 150
Praise God with instruments, drum and dance … every being should praise God!
+ Aviva Fellman: vocal
מַה טוֹבוּ ma tovu | 2016 | 1:52 | Numbers 24:5
In honor of the merger of Cong. Beth Judah (Ventnor) and Temple Emeth Shalom (Margate) into Shirat Hayam (“song at the sea”)
+ Jodi Handler: vocal
אֲשְׁרֵי ashrei | 2011 | 1:34 | Psalms 84:5; 144:15
לִשְׁמוֹרךָ lishmorcha | 2011 | 1:42 | Psalms 91:11
For God will appoint angels to watch over you wherever you go.
שַׂמֵחַ תְּשַׂמָח sameiach t’samach | 1984 | 1:42
(for Elias & Lori) Give these beloveds to rejoice as You did for Your first creations in the Garden of Eden.
+ Joe Handler: piano
יַעֳלֶה yaale | 2002 | 4:29
erev Yom Kippur: may our supplication rise this evening, reach Your celestial heights by next evening.
+ Susan Davenport-Elsayed: violin
לֶקַח טוֹב lekach tov | 2005 | 1:40
I give you good instruction; do not forsake My teaching… Texts from Proverbs and Lamentations closing the Torah service.
אֵשֶׁת חַיִּל eshet hayil | 2011 | 3:09 | Proverbs 31:31ff
For Ellie — Woman of Valor? Woman of wonder!
+ Lew London: violin
כִּי הִנֵה כַחוֹמֶר ki hinei chachomer | 2011 | 3:09
erev Yom Kippur. As clay in the hands of the potter, so we are to you…
מֵעֵין עוֹלָם הַבָּא mei’ein olam haba | 2:25
Learned from and in tribute to Reb Moshe Holcer ז״ל, shammes and soul of the Tremont Street shul in the later 20th c. I am certain he was a ל״ו–נִיק.