Sh'ma Koleinu
Music by Max Helfman, 1973 Text: High Holy Day Liturgy
Lauren Furman, Voice and Joyce Rosenzweig, Piano
Sh'ma koleinu, Adonai Eloheinu. Chus v'rachem, aleinu.
Hear our voice God, have compassion upon us.
V'kabel b'rachamim, b'rachamim uv'ratzon et t'filateinu.
Receive our prayer with mercy and righteousness.
Hashiveinu Adonai Elecha, v'nashuva: chadesh yameinu k'kedem.
Return us to You, Adonai, and we will return. Renew our days as of old.
Al tashlicheinu, l'et ziknah kichlot kocheinu, al taazveinu.
Do not turn us away in our old season, as our strength diminishes, do not abandon us. Do not be far from us.
This composition by Max Helfman is one of the most famous settings of this text. It is stark, jolting, haunting and beautiful.
Most of all, this piece is prayerful. Helfman expertly sets the text with a leap in the voice over the word “Shema” drawing
out the cry for God to hear our prayers. The music is speech-like and yearning over the words “Hashiveinu Adonai Eilecha” highlighting our yearning to return to God. The tension over “Al Tashlicheinu” emulates our fervent wish that God not turn away from us. The music peaks, ebbs, and flows throughout, echoing our cries, emulating our hopeful prayers.
Hear our voice God, have compassion upon us.
V'kabel b'rachamim, b'rachamim uv'ratzon et t'filateinu.
Receive our prayer with mercy and righteousness.
Hashiveinu Adonai Elecha, v'nashuva: chadesh yameinu k'kedem.
Return us to You, Adonai, and we will return. Renew our days as of old.
Al tashlicheinu, l'et ziknah kichlot kocheinu, al taazveinu.
Do not turn us away in our old season, as our strength diminishes, do not abandon us. Do not be far from us.
This composition by Max Helfman is one of the most famous settings of this text. It is stark, jolting, haunting and beautiful.
Most of all, this piece is prayerful. Helfman expertly sets the text with a leap in the voice over the word “Shema” drawing
out the cry for God to hear our prayers. The music is speech-like and yearning over the words “Hashiveinu Adonai Eilecha” highlighting our yearning to return to God. The tension over “Al Tashlicheinu” emulates our fervent wish that God not turn away from us. The music peaks, ebbs, and flows throughout, echoing our cries, emulating our hopeful prayers.
