Congregation Sha'are Shalom Gates of Peace
Music and Meditation with Rabbi Tow
Tuesdays on Facebook
Each week, Rabbi Tow will post a new video on the CSS page for M&M: Music and Meditation. Each video will offer a short meditative moment of music and reflection. Click here for the CSS Facebook page or view the most recent videos below.
Music and Meditation 4/8/25
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Music & Meditation
Music & Meditation: The Exodus is a journey through a traumatic time for our ancestors. Years ago, I heard a country music song that reflects having hope through tough times, that there can be 'angels' (hopefully) to help us along the way. I hope this song can help lift us up during those tough times. Wishing everyone a meaningful Seder & Passover.
Remembering Kristallnacht & Honoring our veterans
Music and Meditation 3/12/25
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Music & Meditation - Purim Edition
Today we listen to Persian Jewish music as we get ready to celebrate Purim. Try closing your eyes and breathing - coming to an awareness of our breath - as we listen to this singing.
Remembering Kristallnacht & Honoring our veterans
Music and Meditation 2/25/25
​Music & Meditation:
Today's M&M is peaceful music and beautiful views primarily of Israel's natural wonders. May God bless us all with peace.
Remembering Kristallnacht & Honoring our veterans
Music and Meditation 2/18/25
​Music & Meditation:
We hope for all to return but know not all will come home alive. We pray those who suffer will know we're supporting them from a distance with all our hearts. We hear this feeling in the song by Meshina "Come back, come back".
Come back, come back, back me up,
when, when will I love
maybe, maybe I'm infatuated
dream, dream, leave off now.
It's written in the books
in the songs and astrological charts
what is everybody looking for?
hoping for happiness
and fate is colored in fog deep inside
don't cry little sister
it's not easy, you understand...
Tomorrow tomorrow's a new day
air air I'm excited
come back, come back give me your back
maybe maybe I will love
come back, come back give me your back
when when will I love
maybe maybe I'm captured
dream dream go now.
Remembering Kristallnacht & Honoring our veterans
Music and Meditation 1/28/25
​Music & Meditation:
As cultures around the world get ready to celebrate Lunar New Year, the Jewish people get ready to celebrate Rosh Chodesh Shevat tomorrow evening into Thursday. Shevat is the month of Tu Bishvat, the New Year of Trees, a time that signals the first stirrings of spring as the sap in trees rises. Today's music is a prayer for welcoming in the New Month.
Remembering Kristallnacht & Honoring our veterans
Music and Meditation 1/14/25
​Music & Meditation:
As we start reading from the Book of Exodus, a song from "The Prince of Egypt" through the voice of our ancestors asking God for help and deliverance from oppression. We also ask God to help the LA area to get through a horrific time & hopefully begin to rebuild soon.
Remembering Kristallnacht & Honoring our veterans
Music and Meditation 12/17/24
​Music & Meditation:
Chanukah is all about light, light of hope & courage in a time of darkness. May the light of the Chanukah menorah strengthen the light inside of us.
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We came to drive away the darkness
in our hands is light and fire.
Everyone's a small light,
and all of us together are a powerful light.
Fight darkness & further darkness!
Fight because of the light!
Remembering Kristallnacht & Honoring our veterans
Music and Meditation 12/3/24
​Music & Meditation: We just welcomed in the new month of Kislev, and in a few weeks we'll celebrate Chanukah. Ma'oz Tzur is a Chanukah song that reminds us of the power of courage, determination, and the wonder & mystery of God's miracles.
Remembering Kristallnacht & Honoring our veterans
Music and Meditation 11/20/24
​Music & Meditation: A spiritual lift from Matisyahu, reminding us of the power we can find in light, in giving each other strength, and being open to miracles....It's never to early for some Chanukah music, right?
Remembering Kristallnacht & Honoring our veterans
Music and Meditation 11/9/24
Remembering Kristallnacht & Honoring our veterans
Remembering Kristallnacht & Honoring our veterans
Music and Meditation 10/28/24
Music & Meditation: At Sunday's Oct. 7th event - Senior Shlicha Tali Arnolf Wohlgemuth played this song for us to set a tone for the remembrance - the art in the thumbnail was created by students of the Betzalel art academy in Jerusalem. It's a picture of a field of one of the kibbutzim attacked on Oct. 7, 2023.
Music and Meditation 10/23/24
Music & Meditation: Tomorrow when we celebrate Shemini Atzeret, we will chant the Geshem prayer (prayer for rain) -- Our ancestors depended on rain for their crops to grow & Sukkot has been about hopeful praying for blessing in the New Year. While most of us are not farmers (some of us in the CSS community are farmers!), we all still hope and pray for blessing, for good health, happiness and peace in the New Year -- all these are our 'rain' that this prayer represents.
Rabbi's Message
10/16/24
Happy Sukkot from Rabbi Tow
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Sukkot, a joyful holiday - what does it mean to be joyful when there are reasons to be sad and reflective at the same time?
Rabbi's Message
9/26/24
We pray God protects all people in the area affected by Hurricane Helene & also the residents of northern Israel under rocket attack​
Rabbi's Message
Holy Moments: Elul 9/13/24​
Music and Meditation 9/10/24:
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Music & Meditation 9/10/24: Today is the 7th day of Elul, the month just prior to Rosh Hashanah that starts on the first day of the month of Tishray. The Hebrew word for Elul was seen by our ancestors as an acronym for Ani Le'dodi ve'dodi Li, words from the Song of Songs that mean 'I am my beloved and my beloved is mine.' This is a time of year when we usually think of God as the judge of the universe, examining our thoughts and actions...but God is not only that, God is, even more than that, a loving and forgiving Presence. This beautiful rendition of Dodi Li reminds of love and compassion - let's all have compassion on ourselves as we review the year that's passed and as we envision the New Year for ourselves, our families, and our community.
Music and Meditation 8/27/24:
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Snow in Israel is uncommon - when it does fall it is magical and, I'm told, can soften the hard edges between people and bring out a positive, "youthful" feeling. Here is a video with music from 2021 of snow falling in Jerusalem & the Golan Heights. I hope it can help us appreciate the beauty of Israel and help us find calm in the storms of our lives as well.
8/27/24:
A few minutes of Torah:
Dr. Tamar Kadari was one of my teachers years ago at the Schechter Institute in Jerusalem. Schechter is the headquarters for training Masorti/Conservative Rabbis, educators, and graduate level students.
She teaches on the special Haftarot of consolation we are reading during these weeks between Tisha B'Av and Rosh Hashanah.
Music & Meditation 8/7/24:
Looking back 100 years to the 1924 Paris Olympics and the struggles & triumph of Harold Abrahams, British-Jewish athlete who won the 100 meter dash.
Music & Meditation 7/30/24:
A wonderful Hineh Ma Tov melody by Mikey Pauker - We sang this at services last Shabbat and will sing going forward. Hineh Ma Tov (from Psalm 133) means "How good it is for all of us to be together." May God bless us with unity and strength.
Rabbi's Message 7/18/24
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Invitation for Chevra Kadisha
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Music and Meditation 7/9/24
It's always important to remind ourselves we're created in God's image (b'tzelem Elo-him). It's important mostly because we often forget this basic truth, and as the song says - while we're made this way by God we also have to 'bring it out' in ourselves and others...
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah (4x)
We've all got a life to live
We've all got a gift to give
Just open your heart and let it out
We've all got a peace to bring
We've all got a song to sing
Just open your heart and let it out
Yeah!
When I reach out to you and you to me
We become B'tzelem Elohim
When we share our hopes and our dreams
Each one of us B'tzelem Elohim
We've all got a tale to tell
We all want to speak it well
Just open your heart and let it out
We've all got a mountain to climb
We've all got a truth to find
Just open your heart and let it out
Yeah!
Bereshit bar-ah (Bereshit barah Elohim)
El-o-him (All our hopes All our dreams)
Bereshit bar-ah (Bereshit barah Elohim)
El-o-him (Each one of us b'tzelem Elohim
Music and Meditation 7/3/24
Music & Meditation: Wishing everyone a day of peace & blessing. Let's continue to pray for the safe return of the hostages. #BringThemHomeNow
Music and Meditation 6/28/24
Pride Shabbat Message from Rabbi Tow
Music and Meditation 6/25/24
Music & Meditation: A beautiful & uplifting song sung by Shlomi Shabat - following up on the Haftarah from last Saturday about the power of the spirit, this song is about the spirit and will to live and be ourselves with the help of a spirit or 'wind' from God pushing us along.
What ever happens I will change things
I will fulfill my dream
The bearer of bad news, decrees and plagues
will not change who I am
You and I and God beside us will win
not because of strength
But because the spirit
and the wind that pushes me from behind
Only because the spirit in my body my mind my soul
Only because the spirit in my body my mind my soul
What ever I have to say I will shout it,
they will hear me even on the moon
Who ever doesn't believe me
will find out the I will prove my self correct
You and I and God beside us will win
Not because of the strength
only because of the wind that pushes me from behind
Only because the spirit in my body my mind my soul
Only because the spirit in my body my mind my soul
Music and Meditation 6/18/24
For today it's mostly about the music! A wonderful song by Naomi Shemer about guests who come to visit during the summer, each saying hello in their own language.
SUMMER GUESTS
IN OUR COURTYARD
In our courtyard
in the shade of olive trees
usually
many guests come for the summer
And each one of them
has their own language
and their own way
to say hello.
(x2)
A boy from Italy says "Buon Giorno"
a girl from France says "Bon Jour"
Ken from Japan says "Ohiyo"
when he comes to visit
Hai from Hawaii says "Aloha"
Tanya from Britain says "Hello"
everyone that comes to our home
has a "hello" of their own.
We painted the fence
cut the grass
children of the whole world
will now be able to come
To open to freely
the green gate
and to bring blessings
from afar.
(x2)
Junia from Kenya will tell me "Jambo"
Ian from Greece will say "Kalimera"
Chin from China will say "Nee hau ma"
and will say until tomorrow
Gil from Brazil will say "Bom Dia"
Coco from Morocco will say "Ahalan"
and the blessing that he'll bring me
is the most beautiful of all.
In our courtyard
in the shade of a blooming oak
children of the whole world
come to be guests
in our courtyard
children of the whole wide world
dance in a circle
and say hello.
Music and Meditation 6/11/24
Shavuot starts tonight - it's the holiday that celebrates the giving of Torah at Sinai & the ancient wheat harvest. In this choral piece, we hear words of Akdamut, a classic Shavuot poem, and also excerpts from the Ten Commandments.
Music and Meditation 5/28/24
This past Sunday was L'ag Ba'omer, the 33rd day of the counting of the Omer. It's a day of celebration during an otherwise somber and reflective time. The day also marks the Yahrzeit of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yohai, who's celebrated on this day at his burial place with bonfires on Mt. Meron in northern Israel.
For meditation today, listen to this traditional Sephardic song that honors R. Shimon bar Yohai.
Music and Meditation 5/14/24
Today marks Israel's 76th birthday - a more somber occasion given current events, but still a moment to pause, reflect, and most of all to stay hopeful - please take a few minutes to watch this uplifting video, with music by the IDF's special in uniform band - Am Yisrael Chai!
Music and Meditation 5/8/24
From March of the Living 2012 - I will post the Israeli soldier playing the Schindler's List theme from this past week's March of the Living when it's available - May God continue to hold the 6 million under the wings of God's loving Presence
Music and Meditation 4/16/24
Looking to God for strength & consolation at this difficult time as we get ready to celebrate Passover. Ve'hi She'amda is a part of the Seder, "May the one who stood up for ancestors, and for us, against enemies in every generation, continue to be a saving light and Presence for us."
Music and Meditation 4/10/24
Seeking strength from one another - Nefesh Mountain sings Hine Ma Tov, "How good it is for us to dwell together."(From Psalm 133)
Music and Meditation 4/2/24
Take a short visual and musical tour of the Dead Sea (Yam Ha'Melach) - On this rainy & gray day in the Mid-Atlantic, take a tour of the warm desert lands and waters of the Dead Sea
Music and Meditation 3/22/24
A little Purim music....
Music and Meditation 3/12/24
As we wait and hope for the Israeli hostages to come home, we pray with the families who are waiting for their loved ones. Today's Music & Meditation is a song from Israeli artist David Broza, one of the few blues songs in Hebrew. The blues melody, apart from the lyrics, can help us feel the sense of sadness, lament, and not knowing what is going to happen. And it can help us identify with the same 'blue' emotions we may be feeling about events in our lives as well.
Music and Meditation 3/6/24
Take a moment of peace to watch the waves roll onto Gordon Beach in Tel Aviv, ‘Above the sea and its waves, is Almighty God’ (Ps 93)
Music and Meditation 2/13/24
Take in beautiful Haifa from the Carmel down to the sea - Haifa has consistently been a city of fellowship between Jews, Christians, and Muslims.
Music and Meditation 1/31/24
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As the conflict in Israel/Gaza grinds on, as war in Ukraine grinds on, as we mourn the death of American service people in Jordan, let's hope and pray and envision the 'one day' we hope for. This video records thousands of people at the Israel rally singing 'One Day' with Matisyahu.
Music and Meditation 1/16/24
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Today as we look out on the first major snowfall of the year, let's give ourselves the chance to breathe and focus on the sounds of winter. Click through to the video here to listen to nature's winter music. "Fire and hail, snow and smoke all carry out God's will, all mountains and all hills, all fruit trees and cedars...let them all praise God...whose splendor covers the earth." (Psalm 148)
Music and Meditation 1/9/24
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We look ahead to MLK Day 2024, and we're already reading the Exodus story in our weekly Torah readings. A classic hymn speaks about the fear we may get close to our goal(s), the Jordan River in the hymn, and find 'trouble at the river'. We may find even more challenges waiting us to get us 'across' to our next steps in life. Let's take inspiration from the singing of this song that recognizes this fear, and encourages us to stay strong and determined. I heard this song every year at the annual MLK day ceremonies when I served in northern New Jersey.
Music and Meditation 1/2/24
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As 2024 begins, and as we get ready to start reading from the Book of Exodus this week, we pray for strength and for God to guide us toward liberation from all the negative forces that prevent us from self-fulfillment. This chant by Shefa Gold is a meditation on these themes.
Music and Meditation 12/20/23
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With so many Israeli soldiers called up for service, and now many who gave their lives in service, let's hear the song Uf Gozal sung by Arik Einstein (of blessed memory), a song about children growing up, leaving home, and facing the world and its dangers. We all grow up and leave home, and facing a turbulent world can be scary. May God bless us on each day of our journey in this world.
Music and Meditation 12/14/23
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Music can come from instruments or directly from nature. This week, let's breathe deeply as we watch and listen to the wonder of the annual bird migrations over the skies of Israel.
Music and Meditation 12/5/23
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A beautiful song by Yishai Ribo about faith in difficult times, reaching out to God for healing and hope.
Music and Meditation 11/28/23
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This morning I was watching Israel's Kan network and I saw the moving video of the Brodatch children who had been held captive by Hamas meeting up, now back in Israel, with their dog Rodney. We hope and pray the love of family and furry friends will help these children begin to heal. This meetup, typical excitement of a dog welcoming home their family with excitement, got me thinking about Carole King's beautiful song, "You've got a friend...". There are links for the Rodney meet-up and the song here. May the returning hostages find a moment of peace, and may those still held captive come home soon.
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Music and Meditation 11/7/23