Greetings,
For thousands of years Jews have greeted the new moon with a celebration of being renewed including the joyful singing and playing of particular Psalms of praise called Hallel. Working with Raphael Richard Becker, we have figured out the guitar chords to a version of Hallel that I have arranged from the various melodies I learned since childhood. We have created handouts with these musical chords that also contain the Hebrew and both English translation and transliteration so everyone can join in. We'll be doing this Hallel Project once a month on the New Moon.
In ancient days the new moon was first sighted, confirmed by the Court in Jerusalem, and the announcement made through the lighting of large bonfires on hilltops to spread the news across the land Israel and to the diaspora. In the days of the Temple, Psalms were performed by Levitical Choirs and Orchestras. The holiday was celebrated with the women refraining from physical work and a special additional offering at the Temple. We hope to recreate the sense of joyful celebration that marked this monthly holiday, each one marking a new moon and the approach of a unique holiday or season.
Here are the planned dates, times and locations. Please mark them in your calendars and bring musical instruments and your voices. Please feel free to invite others who would be interested in a musical jamming of Hallel.
Kol tuv,
-Shalom Bochner