1. |
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"B'CHOL LE'VAV'CHA" (by Jay Rapoport)
There’s a blessing that we place
On our doorposts and on our gates
We speak these words when we rise
When we lay down and close our eyes
B’chol Le’vav’cha (2x)
With all your heart (2x)
I shall love with all my mind
With all my soul, with all my being
Teach me faithfully, I will learn
I will teach you in return
B’chol Le’vav’cha (2x)
With all your heart (2x)
V’ahavta
Et Adonai
Elohehcha
B’chol Le’vav’cha (2x)
With all your heart (2x)
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2. |
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"SHEH'AY'LAH U'TSHU'VAH" (by Jay Rapoport)
When I was just a little kid
I’ll tell you what my mama did
When I got home after school she would say
Did you ask a good question today?
Sheh’ay’lah u’tshu’vah
It’s a question and a responsa
Sheh’ay’lah u’tshu’vah
If you wonder, it never hurts to ask
Throughout our history people wanted to know
About some things the Torah didn’t show
That’s when our rabbis came along to help us out
Their responsa gave us new things to talk about
All these answers bring us closer
Bring us closer to the truth
And all the questions bring me closer
They bring me closer to you
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3. |
It Could Be Amazing
03:36
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"IT COULD BE AMAZING" (by Jay Rapoport)
History could teach us anything
We look to our past and see where we’re going
But history won’t tell us everything
And some of those things are really worth knowing
If we say it’s not about us
It’s about the next generation
Take a look at the future we are facing
Some people say we are hopeless
Some people say we are crazy
But if we believe in a better dream
Hallelujah it could be amazing
Family is where we started
To know yourself you need to know where you come from
Eventually you choose your own path
Unsteady at first now look what you’ve become
If I say it’s not about me
It’s about the next generation
Take a look at the future I am making
Some people say we are hopeless
Some people say we are crazy
But if we believe in a better dream
Hallelujah it could be amazing
So forget what you knew
Look what we’re going through
Think about how you want it to be
Take a step on the way
To a brand new day
When the dreams that we dream come to be
We don’t think we are hopeless
We don’t think we are crazy
Cuz if we believe in a better dream
Hallelujah…
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4. |
We Are All Connected
03:12
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"WE ARE ALL CONNECTED" (by Jay Rapoport)
We are all connected
From the east side to the west
We all read our Hebrew
From the right to the left
Our holidays, traditions
And our sense of right and wrong
This is why
We belong
We are Jews
Amiyut
All our people
Connected
Around the world
We are all connected
From the US to Yisrael
No matter what our differences
No matter where our shul
We all read the Torah
When we turn thirteen years old
This is why
We are told
Chorus
We are all connected
From the first stars on Shabbat
Through candles and our blessings
And a nice big fresh challah
Dinner with our family
Recipes from the past
This is why
We last
Chorus
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5. |
On This Day
02:14
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"ON THIS DAY" (by Jay Rapoport)
On this day grant us strength
On this day grant us blessing
On this day exalt us
Seek us out for good
On this day inscribe us for a good life
On this day heed our cry
On this day accept our prayer
In mercy and in favor
On this day guide us with the hand
Of your righteousness
Amen
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6. |
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"TALMUD TORAH K'NEGED KULAM" (by Jay Rapoport)
Many, many years ago in the town of Lydda
There was a great debate between Rabbis Tarfon and Akiva
Of study or action, which is the best?
“Study leads to action,” said Akiva to the rest
(Talmud, Kiddushin 40b)
Talmud Torah K’neged Kulam
The study of Torah leads to them all
Better than being wise or rich
Study leads to action
Study leads to action
Study leads to action
And they lead to justice
(Mishna Peah 1:1; Pirke Avot 6:6)
So honor your parents, visit the sick
Celebrate with families, welcome in guests
Take care of people who need help
Start with the Torah, the rest will follow
(Talmud Masechet Shabbat, daf 127a)
And all your children will be students of God
And all your children will have peace
And all your children will be students of God
And all your children will have peace
(Isaiah 54:13)
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7. |
Pushups
03:41
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"PUSHUPS" (by Jay Rapoport)
My friend Danny is a good man
Likes to write and sing his songs
But every now and then someone wonders
How exactly did he get so strong?
He does pushups with his Judaism
With his Judaism on his back (2x)
If you ever been picked on
You know being different ain’t always a breeze
So let your Judaism make you stronger
Then you can handle anyone with ease
You got to do pushups with your Judaism
With your Judaism on your back (2x)
You may wonder how you can be
Like the great ones who came before
But the truth is you’re a “great” in training
So get started with that heavy Torah
You got to do pushups with your Judaism
With your Judaism on your back (2x)
You may have just a small voice
A still, small voice inside
But that small voice can do great things
So you better stand and sing with pride
You got to do pushups with your Judaism
With your Judaism on your back (2x)
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8. |
When We Get There
04:24
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"WHEN WE GET THERE" (by Jay Rapoport)
Been dreaming of a better world, not sure where to start
People got their stories, yeah people they got their scars
I got my own ideas like everyone else
But I’m not gonna make it by myself
Bells will ring
The children gonna sing
And we’re all gonna get there when we get there
Nothing’s ever easy if it’s worth working for
That’s why making peace is so much harder than making war
If you want to change the world start with where you live
Believe me, there is just so much you have to give
Bells will ring
The children gonna sing
And we’re all gonna get there when we get there
We will get there (2x)
And when we get there
You’re gonna see
Oh when we get there
And we will get there
Oseh Shalom
We’re making peace
And all you warriors can move along
And all those criminals should right what they did wrong
And all you secret-keepers, just give us some truth
And all you leaders show us what to do
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9. |
Open My Lips
04:18
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"OPEN MY LIPS" (by Jay Rapoport)
It may not bring water to dry fields
Or mend a broken bridge
Or rebuild a ruined city
But still I open up my lips
Adonai S’fatai Tiftach
Open up my lips
U’fi yagid tehilatecha
And my mouth will declare your glory
It may not tell you the future
Or get you want you want
But it can give you what you need
Adonai S’fatai Tiftach
Adonai S’fatai Tiftach
Open up my lips
U’fi yagid tehilatecha
And my mouth will declare your glory
So open up my lips
Help me find my voice
May the sound release
I won’t hold back (2x)
It can nourish a soul
It can mend a broken heart
It can rebuild a weakened will
Adonai S’fatai Tiftach
Adonai S’fatai Tiftach
Open up my lips
U’fi yagid tehilatecha
And my mouth will declare your glory
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10. |
Ruach Rockin'
02:23
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"RUACH ROCKIN'" (by Jay Rapoport)
At five years old I was rockin’ out
In my living room to Twist & Shout
Wearing my sunglasses
I was dancing
Before too long I was banging on the keys
Couldn’t reach the pedals yet with my feet
But I was rockin’
Ain’t no stoppin’
Ruach rockin’, ruach rockin’
If you got spirit than you’re never stoppin’
Ruach rockin’, ruach rockin’
If you got the ruach than you’re ready to rock
Couldn’t read a note just played what I heard
In music class I sang every word
Loved big headphones
And rock and roll
Ruach rockin’, ruach rockin’
If you got spirit than you’re never stoppin’
Ruach rockin’, ruach rockin’
If you got the ruach than you’re ready to rock
When everybody gets together and sings
It sounds better than anything
All you need is spirit and you got a lot
Anyone can Ruach Rock
Ruach rockin’, ruach rockin’
If you got spirit than you’re never stoppin’
Ruach rockin’, ruach rockin’
If you got the ruach than you’re ready to rock
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Jay Rapoport Chicago, Illinois
Jay Rapoport, RJE takes Jewish values and texts and transforms them into “Ruach Rock”, a catchy piano-pounding style influenced by Ben Folds and Billy Joel. In 2020 Jay appeared on the Disney Holiday Singalong, defeated his former student on “Who Knows One?” and received a Covenant Foundation grant to compose the theme song for the Jewish Education Center of Cleveland’s “La-bri’ut” curriculum. ... more
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