The Viral Yom Kippur Song of Ricka Razel’s Daughter
I (and thousands of others) watched this incredibly uplifting song from the Yom Kippur service performed by Ricka Razel and her daughter Halleli right before Yom Kippur, and I sang it over and over during the fast.
I’d heard Halleli was a good singer but I had no idea just HOW gifted she is! By the way, in addition to being an awesome singer (like her mother and uncles) she is also my daughter Moriah’s incredibly devoted youth-group counselor! (watch the entire song here: https://tinyurl.com/y6lutj6m)
The words of this song, which appear in the Yom Kippur service, are: אוֹחִֽילָה לָאֵל. אֲחַלֶּה פָנָיו. אֶשְׁאֲלָה מִמֶּנּוּ מַעֲנֵה לָשׁוֹן:
אֲשֶׁר בִּקְהַל עָם אָשִֽׁירָה עֻזּוֹ. אַבִּֽיעָה רְנָנוֹת בְּעַד מִפְעָלָיו: לְאָדָם מַעַרְכֵי לֵב. וּמֵיְהֹוָה מַעֲנֵה לָשׁוֹן: אדושם, שְׂפָתַי תִּפְתָּח. וּפִי יַגִּיד תְּהִלָּתֶֽךָ:
Translation of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks
I shall await the LORD, I shall entreat his favor,
I shall ask Him to grant my tongue eloquence.
In the midst of the congregated nation I shall sing of His strength;
I shall burst out in joyous melodies for his works.
The thoughts in man’s heart are his to arrange,
but the tongue’s eloquence comes from the Lord.
O LORD, open my lips, so that my mouth may declare Your praise
As a writer, since I first heard them, I’ve connected deeply with these words. I also feel like my thoughts are “mine to arrange” but “the tongue’s eloquence comes from the Lord.” What I mean is, I can think all sorts of wonderful thoughts, but it is only Hashem Who enables me, at times, to express them.
Bs”d
Beautiful, thanks!.
Chag Sameach!