Flemington Oratorio
On the Dedication
of the New FJCC
by
Eric B. Sirota
Dedicated to
my parents, my wife and my children.
©2005 Eric B. Sirota
Eric B. Sirota,
As performed at the dedication: February 26, 2006:
|
(Chorus) |
||
|
(Leslie Dudzinski
& Jim Cohen) |
||
|
(Chorus) |
||
|
(Ivan Gilbert
& Jim Cohen piano) |
||
|
(Chorus) |
Full oratorio
(as composed):
|
SATB and accompaniment |
EBS English |
|
|
SATB a cappella |
Hebrew (Liturgy) |
|
|
SATB and accompaniment |
EBS English |
|
|
Duet a cappella
(SA) |
Hebrew (Liturgy) |
|
|
Violin and Piano |
instrumental |
|
|
Accompanied solo |
EBS Engl. &
Heb. |
|
|
Accompanied solo |
Hebrew (Liturgy) |
|
|
SATB a cappella |
Hebrew (Liturgy) |
|
|
SATB and accompaniment |
EBS English |
BUILDING (words by Eric B. Sirota)
mp3 Building: As performed at the dedication by the FJCC
Chorus
(synthesizer accompaniment,
SATB reduced to unison)
|
Building a new
house |
Building our
faith, |
|
Building our
new home, |
Building our
strength, |
|
Building our
future, |
Building our
courage, |
|
One brick at
a time. |
One prayer at
a time. |
|
|
|
|
Building our
dreams, |
Building our
people, |
|
Building our
present, |
Building our
heritage, |
|
Building our
future, |
Building our
future, |
|
One nail at a
time. |
One child at
a time. |
|
|
|
|
A place for the
congregation, |
A place for perpetuation, |
|
A place for elevation.
|
A place for participation. |
|
|
|
|
Building our
friendships, |
Building our
knowledge, |
|
Building compassion,
|
Building our
strength, |
|
Building connections,
|
Building our
culture, |
|
One heart at
a time. |
One song at a
time. |
|
|
|
|
Building commitment,
|
Building a new
house |
|
Building community,
|
Building our
new home, |
|
Building Yisrael,
|
Building our
future, |
|
One mitzvah at
a time. |
One brick at
a time. |
|
|
|
|
A place for the
congregation, |
One brick at
a time. |
|
A place for celebration, |
|
|
A place for consecration.
|
|
|
A place for education, |
|
|
A place for inspiration, |
|
|
A place for generations.
|
©2005 Eric B.
Sirota |
|
|
|
Giving Thanks - Tov L'Hodot (Psalm 92) (liturgy)
mp3 draft
recording EBS singing - 4 part a cappella played
by synthesizer
|
Transliteration |
Translation (after Silverman) |
|
Tov li-ho-dot la-do-nai u-li-za-mer
li-shim-cha el-yon, |
It is good to give thanks
unto the Lord, |
|
Li-ha-gid ba-bo-ker chas-de-cha
ve-e-mu-nat-cha ba-lay-lot. |
and to sing praises unto
thy name, O most High: |
|
A-lay a-soor ve-a-lay ne-vel a-lay he-ga-yon bi-che-noor. |
To declare thy lovingkindness
each morning, |
|
Kee si-mach-ta-nee a-do-shem
be-fa-a-le-cha |
and thy faithfulness every
night, |
|
bi-ma-a-say ya-de-cha a-ra-nen.
|
Upon an instrument of ten
strings, and upon the lute; |
|
Ma-gad-lu
ma-a-se-cha a-do-shem me-od-am-ku mach- shvo-te-cha. |
with sacred music upon the
harp. |
|
Eesh Be-ar lo ye-dah u-chseel
lo ya-veen et zot. |
For thou, Lord, hast made
me rejoice in thy work: |
|
Be-fro-ach ri-sha-im ki-mo
e-sev |
I will glory in the works
of thy hands. |
|
vi-ya-tsi-tsu kol po-a-lay
a-ven. |
How great are thy works O
Lord! |
|
Li-he-sham-dam a-day _ad. |
Thy thoughts are very deep. |
|
Ve-a-ta ma-rom a-do-shem. |
A brutish man knoweth not;
|
|
Kee he-nay
oy-ve-cha a-do-shem kee he-nay oy-ve-cha yo-vay-du |
neither doth a fool understand
this. |
|
Yit-par-du kol po-a-lay a-ven. |
The wicked may spring as
the grass, |
|
Ve-te-ren kir-em kar-nee
be-lo-tee be-she-men ra-a-nan. |
and the workers of iniquity
may flourish; |
|
Ve-te-bet ai-nai be-shu-rai
be-ka-mim a-lai __ |
Only to be destroyed for
ever: |
|
mer-im tesh-me-na az-nai tesh-me-na
az-nai. |
But thou, O Lord, art most
high for evermore. |
|
Tsa-dik Ka-ta-mar yif-rach ke-e-rez bal-va-non yis-geh. |
For, lo, thine enemies, O
Lord, |
|
Shi-tu-lim be-vait a-do-shem
be-chatz-rot e-lo-ke-nu ya-free-chu. |
for, lo, thine enemies shall
perish; |
|
Od yi-nu-vun bi-seh-va di-shay-nim vi-ra-na-nim yi-hee-yu.
|
all the workers of iniquity
shall be scattered. |
|
Li-ha-geed kee ya -shar a-do-shem tsu-ri vi-lo av-la-ta bo. |
But thou dost raise me to
high honor; |
|
|
I am anointed with fresh
oil. |
|
|
Mine eyes have seen the defeat
of my foes. |
|
|
My ears have heard the defeat
of evil doers |
|
|
that rise up against me. |
|
|
The righteous shall flourish
like the palm tree: |
|
|
and grow mightily like a
cedar in |
|
|
Planted in the house of the
Lord |
|
|
they shall flourish in the
courts of our G-d. |
|
|
Even in old age they shall
bring forth fruit; |
|
|
they shall be full of vigor
and strength; |
|
|
Declaring that the Lord is
just: |
|
|
My rock, in whom there is
no unrighteousness. |
|
|
|
CHILDREN (words by Eric B. Sirota)
mp3 Children: As performed at the dedication by the FJCC
Chorus
(synthesizer accompaniment,
SATB reduced to unison)
|
Children playing |
Children yearning |
|
Children singing |
Children learning |
|
Children laughing |
teachers teaching, |
|
Children needing, to learn
of the past, |
Children reaching up higher
and higher |
|
and to open the future. |
and higher still more |
|
To realize all their dreams. |
Then finding their limits
|
|
|
and reaching some more. |
|
Children running |
|
|
Children jumping |
Running, shouting, whinning,
pouting, |
|
Children singing |
smiling, laughing, |
|
Children bringing their innocent
smiles |
Children everywhere. |
|
and their eyes opened wide, |
Hearing, seeing, saying,
singing, |
|
Their hopes and their fears
|
growing, knowing, |
|
and the dreams in their hearts. |
Children growing fast. |
|
|
Sharing, caring, knowing
showing, |
|
Learning, dreaming, playing
singing, |
reading, leading, |
|
songs of our people. |
Now almost all grown up. |
|
Words of Torah in their ears
while they are |
Toddlers, babies, infants,
newborns, |
|
running all around |
keep on coming, |
|
|
Pray never ever stop. |
|
Children seeing |
|
|
Children hearing |
Children playing, Children
praying |
|
Children learn. |
Children sharing, Children
caring, |
|
|
Children growing, Children
knowing |
|
Children wonder, |
Children giving, Children
living |
|
Children hunger |
lives filled with joy, |
|
Children reaching |
guided by the Torah. |
|
Children teaching, one to
another, |
Singing songs of our people,
|
|
another to one. |
with true ka-va-nah. |
|
|
Living lives filled with
joy, |
|
|
guided by the Torah, |
|
|
Singing songs of our people,
|
|
©2005 Eric B.
Sirota |
with joy and with love. |
|
|
|
mp3 draft
recording EBS singing - 2 part a cappella
played by synthesizer
Hash-ki-vay-nu a-do-shem e-lo-ha-nu li-sha-lom.
Ve-haa-me-da-nu mal-kay-nu li-cha-im.
U-fros a-lay-nu su-cat shlo-me-cha
vi-tak-na-nu be-etz -a to-va mil-fa-ne-cha ve-ho-she-ay-nu li-ma-an shi-me-cha.
Vi-ha-gen ba-a-day-nu
vi-cha-ser mi-a -lay nu oy-yev
vi-de-ver vi-che-rev v-ra-av vi-ya-gon
vi-ha-ser sa-tan mil-fa-nay-nu
u-mi-a-cha-ray -nu.
U-ve-tsel ki-na-fe-cha tas-te-ray-nu
key el shom-ray-nu u-ma-tse-lay-nu a-tah
key el me-lech cha-nun vi-ra-chum
a-tah.
U-shmor tse-tay-nu u-vo-ay-nu
li-cha-yim u-li-sha-lom
mi-a-tah vi-ad o-lam.
U-fros a-lay-nu su-cat shi-lo-me-cha.
Ba-ruch a-tah a-do-shem ha-fo-res
su-cat sha-lom a-lay-nu vi-al kol a-mo yis-ra-el vi-al yi-ru-sha-la-yim.
Translation (after Silverman)
Cause us, O Lord our G-d to
lie down in peace, and raise us up again, O King, unto life.
Spread over us Your tabernacle
of peace. Direct us aright through Your own good counsel.
Save us for Your name's sake. Be Thou a shield about us.
Remove from us every enemy,
pestilence, sword famine and sorrow.
Help us, O Lord to resist temptation. Shelter us with Your protecting love, for You are a guardian
and deliverer.
Yes, Thou G-D and King are
gracious and compassionate.
Guard our going out and our
coming in unto life and peace henceforth and forevermore.
Spread over us the tabernacle
of Thy peace.
Blessed be Thou, O Lord, who
spreads the tabernacle of peace over us, over
mp3 draft recording
Synthesized violin and piano
Instrumental variations on
a theme: Hayom from the High Holiday liturgy.
REMEMBRANCE (words by Eric B. Sirota) (thanks
to Zvi Karcz for Hebrew editing)
mp3 Remembrance: As performed at the dedication (Ivan Gilbert vocal, Jim Cohen piano)
As we build this new and sacred house,
and look to the future, we remember our past.
Bi-zman
she-a-nu bo-nim ba-yit cha-dash vi-ka-dosh
Tso-fim le-a-teed, vi-zoch-rim et ha-a-var.
Hem she-ba-u le-pha-nei-nu.
Those who came before us;
Those who built the foundation of this house.
Not the foundation of stone in the earth below us.
We remember those who built our congregation
and the building where we gathered years ago.
Hem
she-yas-du et ha-ba-yit ha-ze,
Lo ha yi-sod ba-ha a-da-mah.
Z'-chor et e-lu she-ba-nu
et ha-ki-hee-lah,
v-et ha bin-yan sham heet-ka-nas-nu b-a-var.
Zi-chor
Those who taught our parents
and us.
Those who instilled in us love of Torah,
led us in worship, and set an example,
through acts of righteousness.
Hem
she-lim-du et a-vo-ta-nu ve-o-ta-nu.
Hem she-za-ru b-a-nu a-ha-vat To-rah.
She-ha-yu la-nu ba-a-le ti-fi-la, vi-hee-vu la-nuu dug-ma bi-gimi-lut
cha-sa-dim.
Those who are still among us
and those who have passed to life eternal.
Before we honor ourselves for what we have built,
we honor those who built and maintained what came before.
Hem
she cha-yim ha-yom
Hem she cha-yim bei-nei-nu b-o-lam ha-zeh,
ve hem she-av-ru le-o-lam ha-ba.
Bi-zman
she-a-nu ni-chab-dim et atz-mai-nu, al she-ba-nee-nu,
a-nach-nu cha-ya-vim li-ka-ved et
e-lu she ba-nu vi-kee-mu et she-ha-ya.
The foundation of this house
is stronger than stone.
It is built on Torah.
Ye-so-dot
ha-ba-yit cha-za-kim, mi-e-ven; Yo-tzed ha-bin-yan
he ha-To-rah.
A-nu
bo-nim li-ba-nei-nu u b'-no-tei-nu, k'fi she-ho-rei-nu ba-nu la-nu.
We build for our children
as our parents have built for us.
We leave one house behind and
move to another,
but the Torah and our memories will always be with us.
A-nu
oz-vim ba-yit e-chad ve ov-rim li-a-cher;
A-val
ha-To-rah, v-zich-ro-no-tei-nu lo ya-az-vu o-ta-nu.
©2005 Eric B.
Sirota
Prayer
for the Congregation: MI SHEBEIRACH (liturgy)
mp3 MiShebeirach: As performed at the dedication (Leslie Dudzinski vocal, Jim Cohen piano)
|
Mi-she-bay-rach a-vo-tay-nu
|
Translation |
|
Av-ra-ham Yitz-chak ve-Ya-a-kov
|
May he who blessed our ancestors,
|
|
Sa-ra Riv-ka Ra-chel ve-Lay-a.
|
Abraham Isaac and Jacob, |
|
Hu-yi-va-rech et kol ha-ka-hal
ha-ka-dosh ha-zeh |
Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and
Leah. |
|
im kol ki-hee-lot ha-ka-dosh. |
May he bless this entire
congregation, |
|
Hem-u-vi-nay-hem u-vi-no-tay-hem
|
along with all other congregations; |
|
Hen-u-vi-nay-hen u-vi-no-tay-hen.
|
them, their sons and their
daughters, |
|
Hem-u-vi-nay-hem u-vi-no-tay-hem
|
and all their loved ones. |
|
vi-chol a-sher la-hem. |
and those who dedicate synagogues
for prayer, |
|
U-me shem-ya-cha-dim ba-tay ki-ne-see-ot li-tfi-lah.
|
and those who enter them to
pray; |
|
U-me she-ba-im bi-to-cham li-hit-pa-lel. |
And those who provide lamps
for illumination, |
|
U-me shi-not-nim ner li-ma-or
vi-ya-yin li-ki-dush u-li-hav-da-lah. |
and wine for kiddush, |
|
U-phat li-or-chim u-tszda-ka
li-a-nee-im. |
bread for guests and charity
for the poor, |
|
Vi-chol mi shi-os-kim bi-tsar-chey
tzi-bur |
And those who are faithfully
devote themselves |
|
o-vin-yan e-retz Yis-ra-el
be-e-mu-nah |
to the needs of the community
|
|
Ha-ka-dosh ba-ruch hu. |
and the rebuilding of the |
|
Yi-sha-lem si-cha-ra-am vi-ya-seer
mi-chem kol ma cha-la |
May the Holy One, blessed be
he, |
|
Vi-yir-fa li-chol gu-fam. |
remove from them all sickness,
|
|
Vi-yis-lach li-chol a-vo-nam. |
preserved them in health, forgive
their sins, |
|
Vi-yeesh-lach bi-ra-cha vi-hatz-la-cha
|
send blessing and success to
the work of their hands, |
|
bi-chol ma-a-seh yi-de-hem
im kol Yis-ra-el a-che-hem. |
an upon all |
|
Vi-no-mar A-men. |
and let us say, Amen. |
Prayer
for Peace - SIM SHALOM (liturgy)
mp3 draft
recording EBS singing - 2 part a cappella
played by synthesizer
Sim sha-lom to-dah ov-ra-cha ba-o-lam
Chen va-che-sed ve-ra-cha-mim.
A-le-nu ve-al kol yis-ra-el a-me-cha.
Bar-che-nu a-vee-nu ku-la-nu kee e-chad
bi-or pa-ne-cha.
Kee
bi-or pa-ne-cha na-ta -ta la-nu ha-shem e-lo-hey-nu
To-rat cha-yim ve-a-ha-vat che-sed.
U-tsda-ka u-vra-cha
ve-ra-cha-mim
ve-cha-yim ve-sha-lom.
Ve-tov be-ai-ne -cha le-va-rech et am-cha yis-ra-el be-chol
et
u-bi-chol sha-a be-shlo-me-cha.
Ba-ruch a-ta a-do-shem
ha-me-va-rech et a-mo yis-ra-el ba-sha-lom.
Sim sha-lom ba-o-lam.
Ba -ruch a-ta a-do-shem, o-seh ha-sha-lom,
A-men.
Translation (after Silverman)
Grant peace, well-being and
blessing unto the world,
with grace lovingkindness and
mercy, for us and for all
Bless us all together, with
the light of Thy presence,
for by that light Thou hast
given us, O Lord our G-d, the Torah of life,
lovingkindness and righteousness,
blessing and mercy, life and peace.
O may it be good in thy sight
at all times to bless Thy people
Bless art Thou, O Lord, who
blesses Thy people
A Child of Flemington
/ Halleluya (words by Eric B. Sirota)
mp3 A Child of Flemington - Halleluya: As performed at the dedication by the FJCC
Chorus
(synthesizer accompaniment,
SATB reduced to unison)
|
A child is born in Flemington. |
We build a house Flemington. |
|
A bris today in Flemington.
|
A house of G-D in Flemington; |
|
We celebrate and we hope
that he |
To worship there; |
|
is blessed with joy, health
and love. |
To rejoice there; |
|
|
We build a house of the Lord. |
|
A child is born in Flemington |
|
|
And will be raised in Flemington |
An old man dies in Flemington. |
|
We are there. A simcha is shared. |
Shiva in Flemington. |
|
A new child has a name. |
The kahal is there, friends
are near. |
|
|
The family is not alone. |
|
A child is raised in Flemington. |
He will be remembered in
Flemington; |
|
A Bar Mitzvah in Flemington. |
His works and deeds in Flemington; |
|
Chanting Torah, leading t'filah, |
A name engraved on the synagogue
wall. |
|
Practicing gimelut chasadim. |
His mark remains on those
he loved. |
|
May he bring good name to
Flemington; |
|
|
His family, his community, |
A house is built in Flemington. |
|
His people his country |
A house of G-d in Flemington. |
|
and all of the human race. |
A structure for our future, |
|
His family, his community, |
A testament to our past. |
|
and all of the human race. |
|
|
|
A child is born in Flemington. |
|
An Ufruf here in Flemington. |
A Simchat Bat in Flemington. |
|
A Chuppah here in Flemington.
|
We celebrate and we hope
that she |
|
The community rejoices, |
is blessed with joy, health
and love. |
|
Along with the Chatan and
Kalah. |
|
|
|
We built a house in Flemington; |
|
A family moved to Flemington, |
A house of G-d in Flemington. |
|
To build a life in Flemington. |
A house for the community, |
|
The community welcomes them. |
We build a house of the Lord. |
|
They have found a home. |
A house for all in Flemington, |
|
|
We build a house of the Lord. |
|
We built a house in Flemington; |
|
|
A house for all in Flemington; |
Halleluyah
. . . . . . . |
|
Our place of prayer, our
place to meet, |
|
|
Our congregation has a new
home. |
Amen. |
|
|
|
|
|
©2005 Eric B.
Sirota |