HIGH HOLY DAYS MELODIES
To help you have an enjoyable and meaningful worship experience, we encourage you to become familiar with the melodies for the High Holy Days season.
Avot V’Imahot
Services: Rosh Hashanah evening, Rosh Hashanah morning, Kol Nidre, Yom Kippur morning
Mishkan HaNefesh Rosh Hashanah (Gold): pp. 44 & 168
Mishkan HaNefesh Yom Kippur (Silver): pp. 48 & 200-202
This prayer is recited at every Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur Evening and Morning service. Avot V’Imahot is also part of weekday and Shabbat liturgy and it reminds us of our connection to our ancestors. We also chant Avot V’Imahot in the N’ilah service, but the prayer is chanted to a special N’ilah melody that we only hear once a year in this final service of Yom Kippur.
Areshet S'fateinu (Yossele Rosenblatt)
Service: Rosh Hashanah Morning
Gold: pp. 207, 269 & 285
This prayer concludes each of the three parts of the shofar service and expresses our hope that the sounding of the shofar and the accompanying prayers will be pleasing to God.
Asher Yatzar (Dan Nichols)
Service: Yom Kippur Morning
Silver: p. 156
This prayer is part of the morning liturgy during the week, on Shabbat and during the High Holy Days. It expresses our appreciation of the miracle that is our body. Dan Nichols’ setting of this prayer recognizes that even our imperfections are a blessing too and something we can learn to appreciate and grow from.
B'seifer Chayim (Israel Goldfarb)
Service: Rosh Hashanah Evening
Gold: p. 66
This prayer is a special High Holy Days addition to the prayer for peace. It asks that God inscribes us in the Book of Life for goodness, blessing, prosperity and peace. This prayer will also be sung on Kol Nidre, but to a different melody.
Elohai N'shama (Craig Taubman)
Service: Rosh Hashanah Morning
Gold: p. 121
This prayer is part of the morning liturgy during the week, on Shabbat and on the High Holy Days. It thanks God for creating within us a soul that is pure. We will also sing this prayer on Yom Kippur morning, but to a different melody.
Kadsheinu and V'taheir Libeinu
Service: Rosh Hashanah Evening
Gold: pp. 56-58
Kadsheinu and V’taheir Libeinu are prayers that can be found in Shabbat liturgy, but on the High Holidays, they appear as part of the M’loch unit, which captures the theme of God as a Supreme Ruler. Kadsheinu asks God to lead us to holiness through the fulfillment of commandments and V’taheir Libeinu pleads for help in serving God in truth and with a pure heart. Also part of the M'loch unit is Melech Al Kol Ha’aretz, which reminds us that God is Sovereign over all the earth.
M'chalkeil Chayim (Solomon Braslavsky)
Services: Rosh Hashanah Morning and Yom Kippur Morning
Gold: p. 170;
Silver: p. 204
M’chalkeil Chayim is part of the G’vurot prayer, which is recited at every evening and morning service, but we will only sing this prayer during the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur morning services. It reminds us year round that, through God’s power, the falling are supported, the sick are healed and the imprisoned are released out of their confinement, whether physical or spiritual. Mi Chamocha El Harachamim (see below), also part of the G'vurot prayer, is a special High Holy Days insertion that reminds us God remembers all creatures for life with tender compassion.
Melech Al Kol Ha'aretz
Service: Rosh Hashanah Evening
Gold: pp. 56-58
Melech Al Kol Ha’aretz reminds us that God is Sovereign over all the earth. It is part of the M’loch unit, which captures the theme of God as a Supreme Ruler, and includes the M'loch Niggun and the prayers Kadsheinu and V’taheir Libeinu. Melech Al Kol Ha’aretz also appears at the end of the Festival Kiddush, the prayer chanted at the end of the Rosh Hashana Evening service.
Mi Chamocha El Harachamim (Israel Goldfarb)
Services: Rosh Hashanah Morning and Yom Kippur Morning
Gold: p. 170
Silver: p. 204
Part of the G'vurot prayer, Mi Chamocha El Harachamim is a special High Holy Days insertion that reminds us God remembers all creatures for life with tender compassion. It is accompanied by M'chalkeil Chayim (see above), which reminds us that through God’s power the falling are supported, the sick are healed and the imprisoned are released out of their confinement, whether physical or spiritual.
Mloch Niggun
Service: Rosh Hashanah Evening
Gold: pp. 56-58
M’loch Niggun is the melody that introduces M’loch, one of Rosh Hashanah’s most central prayers, which captures the theme of God as a Supreme Ruler. During the High Holy Days, M'loch Niggun is part of a M'loch unit that also includes the prayers Kadsheinu and V’taheir Libeinu. Kadsheinu asks God to lead us to holiness through the fulfillment of commandments. V’taheir Libeinu pleads for help in serving God in truth and with a pure heart. Also part of the M'loch unit is Melech Al Kol Ha’aretz, which reminds us that God is Sovereign over all the earth. Melech Al Kol Ha’aretz also appears at the end of the Festival Kiddush, the prayer chanted at the end of the Rosh Hashanah Evening service.
Psalm 150 (Brazillian)
Service: Rosh Hashanah Morning
Gold: p. 135
This prayer is part of the morning liturgy during the week, on Shabbat and during the High Holy Days, though we will only sing it on Rosh Hashanah Morning. This prayer calls on us to praise God with the blast of the shofar, harp and lyre, drumbeat and dancing, strings and flute, resounding cymbals and joy. It also reminds us that every quiet breath is, indeed, a praise of God as well.
Zochreinu (Israel Goldfarb)
Services: Erev Rosh Hashanah, Rosh Hashanah Morning, Kol Nidre, Yom Kippur Morning
Gold: pp. 44 & 168
Silver: pp. 48 & 200-202
This prayer is recited at every Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur Evening and Morning service. Zochreinu is a special High Holidays insert that asks God to remember us for life and to inscribe us in the Book of Life. We also the Zochreinu insert in the N’ilah service, but the prayer is chanted to a special N’ilah melody that we only hear once a year in this final service of Yom Kippur.
Choral Gems