A song for Parasha Shemot

While I was preparing a project for the children to work on, a tune came to my head. I love when that happens, it reminds me of what it might have been like for the Rebbes to hum their niggunim. I know my little tunes may not be from the highest of the mystical places, but nonetheless, they feel like they come somewhere up there. As the tune became more and more defined so did some words. So here are the words to my once wordless melody. I thought I would teach it to the children, but that I think is a bit too long for them. It is rather a folksy tune, so it would be better at a campfire with a guitar and my new mandolin.

Shemot

In Mitzrayim we were enslaved,
Treated badly every day.
The Paro made a cruel decree,
but Shifra and Pu'ah did not agree.

(Chorus)

Soon there will come a day,
The Jewish Nation will all say:
Geulah is finally here!
Baruch Hashem the day is near!

Yocheved trusted in Hashem,
She knew in this she could depend.
Moshe down the river went
In the clay lined box that he was sent.

(Chorus)

Soon there will come a day,
The Jewish Nation will all say:
Geulah is finally here!
Baruch Hashem the day is near!

Batya heard a baby cry,
And stretched her hand to find out why.
Hidden in reeds no one could see
Miriam watching carefully.

(Repeat chorus)

Batya saw the baby was a Jew,
And Miriam knew just what to do!
She came out of her hiding place
And gazed into the princess' face.

(Repeat chorus)

"A nurse for the baby I shall find,
A gentle woman good and kind."
Miriam ran to her family,
And told her mother so she would see.

(Repeat chorus)

Yocheved nursed her baby boy,
Her heart was bursting with such joy!
Back to the palace Moshe was sent,
Until the time that he was meant.

(Repeat chorus)

Soon there will come a day,
The Jewish Nation will all say:
Geulah is finally here!
Baruch Hashem the day is near!

By Philly Farmgirl Tevet 5769/01-2009

Vayeishev

Darkness over powers me, shrouding me in confusion,
so thick I struggle to catch my breath.
There is no light.

I lift my hand, straining to see it's outline,
It seems I have been swallowed,
Swallowed whole into a pit.

I try to walk forward
but the dark dream has shackled my legs...
and my heart.

The silence screams at me,
and the voices mock me.
I look and look and find not even a shadow.

I sink to the ground and I weep.
My tears sting my eyes,
and the darkness places a blanket of despair upon me.

Opening my swollen and bitter eyes,
I see a pin prick of light.
A single tiny spark, perhaps a flame...

Burning, burning in the distance.
I reach out, but cannot stand.
My legs will not hold me.

I begin to crawl,
to crawl to the light.
How ever faint it or I may be.

by: Philly Farmgirl

The Cry of the Converso

You hate me because I survived.
You hate me because my family tried.
You hate me because they didn't want to see
their children brutalized.

You don't believe me because I don't know.
you don't believe me because we didn't know.
You don't believe me because my family just found out.

No matter how much you doubt, it's true!
No matter how much you doubt, I will prove it to you!
No matter how much you doubt...
Deep down inside I always knew.

No matter how little custom my family held onto,
No matter how little Jewish we may seem,
No matter how little faith my family had,
We still Believe.

I'll prove to you I am a Jew!
I'll prove it by doing any thing!
I'll prove it by immersing myself...
Because I am a Jew.

~Racheli Zohara bat Yael Nehama bat Karmit (Carmen Lydia) bat Sarah...

NOTE: This is a poem written by my daughter. The term Converso is used instead of marrano which is a horrible, derogatory term meaning pig. The Conversos, Crypto Jews, B'nei Anusim, are the 'fortunate' ones who somehow escaped the Spanish Inquisition physically (sadistic murder and torture of Jewish bodies and souls) but lost most, if not all of their Jewish connection. Some retained a residual trace of Judaism, but many do not even know why their family does the strange things they do. There may only be a trace of an oral tradition of the family being Jewish many, many years ago. But nobody talks about it. Many of these lost ones are returning home, Baruch Hashem, but not without a fight from family outside the Tribe and even among members of The Tribe. It is not an easy journey to be standing outside one's home, longing to come in and your brothers and sisters, who do not know or recognize you asking for proof of who you say you are. But prove it these lost ones do! Even to the point where the Converso will 'convert/return' to erase all doubt of their family lineage. Never again to have to hide! Never again to have anyone question who they are! Never again to stand outside in the cold, longing, waiting to be embraced by their family and warm themselves by the Fire of Torah. This ingathering has been said to be a precursor to the coming of Moshiach...please let it be soon and in our time.
Por favor, Di-s de mis padres, Di-s de Avraham, Yitzhak y Ya'akov, por favor ten piedad en tus ninos, en tus ninos que no estan regresado todavia, ayudalos por favor Abba, manda a el Moshiach rapido, rapido Abba, bimhierah b'yamienu!!!
Amen v'amen

A love song to Abba

By Philly Farmgirl


Knowing with my whole heart that You are really there
Feeling in my deepest soul that You truly care
Although everything around me is blowing out of control
I hold on to Your words to calm my restless soul

You are the Beloved
My only truth and hope
You are my safety
My only way to cope

Provider of all my needs, guiding me through each day
Giving me the strength to move, keeping me on this way
I know You want what is best for me, and all You do for my good
I place my simple trust in You as I know I should

I know that You Love me
I know that You Care
I know that You are Compassion
I know that You are there