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Music and Meditation with Rabbi Tow

Tuesdays at 12:00pm 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 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 1/20/24

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Shabbat Shalom from Rabbi Tow & Sha’are Shalom!

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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https://www.kikar.co.il/israel-news/s4tr8h

Music and Meditation 11/7/23

Music and Meditation 10/24/23

Click here to read Rabbi Tow's weekly messages

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