A Shabbat Surprise Gift! I couldn't wait any longer! 🎁

Yomam VaLailah - יוֹמָם וָלַיְלָה

Yomam VaLailah - Click to watch!
Rabbi Josh Warshawsky and the Chaverai Nevarech Band

I couldn't wait until next week to share!

Shabbos is coming, and I had to share this video with you. Each week as Shabbat arrives we go out together to greet it with open arms. We let go of our worries and stresses from the week and allow ourselves to enter with true Shabbat joy. One of my favorite things about Shabbat growing up was singing Zemirot with my family and friends around the table. As I've mentioned before, I love the Hebrew language - how words and letters are connected to each other in mystical and intentional ways. Normally in Hebrew we call a song a "shir (שִׁיר)," but on Shabbat we call it a "zemer (זֶמֶר)." When you flip the word zemer backwards you get "remez (רֶמֶז)," or a hint. Shabbat is a hint of elevation, a hint of divinity, a hint of something more. 

Many of these Shabbat table songs that we sang when I was growing up (and still sing today!) were written around the 14th and 15th centuries. Many are on themes of Shabbat like celebration, weddings, food, rest, and joy. They are also often "littered" with verses and textual references from all over the Jewish canon, and specifically with verses from Shabbat related texts like the Shabbat liturgy and the Song of Songs. Following in the footsteps of paytanim (Jewish liturgical poets) who have been writing these types of poems and songs for centuries, I have written a new 21st century Shabbat zemer text. As you listen, I hope it brings you feelings of joy, celebration, unification, uplift, and inspiration as we make our way towards Shabbat.
 
Shabbat Shalom,
Josh

Pre-order the Shabbos EP and immediately stream Yomam VaLailah by clicking here!