Every song

[Intro — spoken plainly, no music yet]

פָּרָשַׁת נִצָּבִים־וַיֵּלֶךְ — the whole nation standing together, on the last day of the life of מֹשֶׁה.

[Chorus — sung together, slow and warm]

כִּי־קָרוֹב אֵלֶיךָ הַדָּבָר מְאֹד —

so close to you, so very close,

בְּפִיךָ וּבִלְבָבְךָ לַעֲשֹׂתוֹ —

in your mouth and in your heart, to do.

[Verse 1 — clear and steady]

אַתֶּם נִצָּבִים הַיּוֹם כֻּלְּכֶם —

you are standing here today, all of you,

the leaders and the choppers of the wood,

the children and the drawers of the water,

on one day, in one covenant, we stood.

And Rashi says: on the day that he would leave us,

מֹשֶׁה gathered every soul before הַשֵּׁם,

to stand us in the בְּרִית — all of us as one,

and even those not there stood there with them.

[Chorus — sung together, slow and warm]

כִּי־קָרוֹב אֵלֶיךָ הַדָּבָר מְאֹד —

so close to you, so very close,

בְּפִיךָ וּבִלְבָבְךָ לַעֲשֹׂתוֹ —

in your mouth and in your heart, to do.

[Verse 2 — clear and steady]

וְשָׁב הַשֵּׁם אֱלֹקֶיךָ אֶת־שְׁבוּתְךָ —

הַשֵּׁם returns you, and returns with you,

and Rashi learns the words are saying more:

He does not send us back — He comes back with us,

the שְׁכִינָה dwells in גָּלוּת where we are.

From the far edge of the heavens He will take us,

and circumcise the heart to love His name,

לְאַהֲבָה אֶת־הַשֵּׁם אֱלֹקֶיךָ —

to love Him with your whole heart and soul,

[Chorus — sung together, slow and warm]

כִּי־קָרוֹב אֵלֶיךָ הַדָּבָר מְאֹד —

so close to you, so very close,

בְּפִיךָ וּבִלְבָבְךָ לַעֲשֹׂתוֹ —

in your mouth and in your heart, to do.

[Verse 3 — clear and steady]

לֹא בַשָּׁמַיִם הִוא — it is not in heaven,

and Rashi says: but were it in the sky,

you would still be bound to climb and go and learn it —

so Rashi says — how much more so close by.

It is not across the sea, that you should sail it,

it is closer than the closest thing you know,

בְּפִיךָ וּבִלְבָבְךָ לַעֲשֹׂתוֹ —

in the mouth and in the heart, and then to do.

[Chorus — sung together, slow and warm]

כִּי־קָרוֹב אֵלֶיךָ הַדָּבָר מְאֹד —

so close to you, so very close,

בְּפִיךָ וּבִלְבָבְךָ לַעֲשֹׂתוֹ —

in your mouth and in your heart, to do.

[Verse 4 — clear and steady]

רְאֵה נָתַתִּי לְפָנֶיךָ הַיּוֹם —

see, I have set before you today:

the life and good, the death and bad, are here,

וּבָחַרְתָּ בַּחַיִּים — so choose the living,

the Sforno says: the life beyond the years.

חֲזַק וֶאֱמָץ — he tells it to יְהוֹשֻׁעַ,

a song is written down so we recall,

every seventh year the whole nation gathers —

the men, the women, and the little ones. All.

[Chorus — sung together, slow and warm]

כִּי־קָרוֹב אֵלֶיךָ הַדָּבָר מְאֹד —

so close to you, so very close,

בְּפִיךָ וּבִלְבָבְךָ לַעֲשֹׂתוֹ —

in your mouth and in your heart, to do.

[Intro — spoken plainly, no music yet]

פָּרָשַׁת נִצָּבִים! Everyone standing together — this is that day.

[Chorus — everyone together, fast and joyful]

אַתֶּם נִצָּבִים — we're standing here!

All of us together, standing here today!

From the greatest to the simplest, every single one —

standing before הַשֵּׁם in one place!

[Verse 1 — clear and steady]

The leaders and the elders and the children,

the גֵּר inside the camp, the young, the old,

מֵחֹטֵב עֵצֶיךָ עַד שֹׁאֵב מֵימֶיךָ —

from the woodchopper to the water-drawer —

one בְּרִית for every soul the nation holds!

[Chorus — everyone together, fast and joyful]

אַתֶּם נִצָּבִים — we're standing here!

All of us together, standing here today!

From the greatest to the simplest, every single one —

standing before הַשֵּׁם in one place!

[Verse 2 — clear and steady]

וְשַׁבְתָּ עַד־הַשֵּׁם אֱלֹקֶיךָ —

we will come back to הַשֵּׁם,

and from the edge of heaven He will bring,

וְקִבֶּצְךָ מִכָּל־הָעַמִּים —

He will gather us Himself,

from every nation, home again — so sing!

[Chorus — everyone together, fast and joyful]

אַתֶּם נִצָּבִים — we're standing here!

All of us together, standing here today!

From the greatest to the simplest, every single one —

standing before הַשֵּׁם in one place!

[Verse 3 — clear and steady]

לֹא בַשָּׁמַיִם הִוא — not in the heavens!

וְלֹא־מֵעֵבֶר לַיָּם הִוא — not across the sea!

כִּי־קָרוֹב אֵלֶיךָ הַדָּבָר מְאֹד —

it is close, so close to me!

[Chorus — everyone together, fast and joyful]

אַתֶּם נִצָּבִים — we're standing here!

All of us together, standing here today!

From the greatest to the simplest, every single one —

standing before הַשֵּׁם in one place!

[Verse 4 — clear and steady]

רְאֵה נָתַתִּי לְפָנֶיךָ הַיּוֹם —

the life, the good — וּבָחַרְתָּ בַּחַיִּים!

Choose life!

חֲזַק וֶאֱמָץ — be strong and brave, יְהוֹשֻׁעַ!

And every seventh year — gather everyone!

[Chorus — everyone together, fast and joyful]

אַתֶּם נִצָּבִים — we're standing here!

All of us together, standing here today!

From the greatest to the simplest, every single one —

standing before הַשֵּׁם in one place!

[Spoken Word — warm unhurried storyteller over soft guitar]

This week's parsha — פָּרָשַׁת נִצָּבִים — and פָּרָשַׁת וַיֵּלֶךְ. Two parshiyos, one last day. Listen.

[Chorus — sung, warm and heartfelt]

הַנִּסְתָּרֹת לַהַשֵּׁם אֱלֹקֵינוּ —

the hidden things belong to הַשֵּׁם;

וְהַנִּגְלֹת לָנוּ וּלְבָנֵינוּ —

what is revealed is ours, and our children's,

עַד־עוֹלָם לַעֲשׂוֹת אֶת־כָּל־דִּבְרֵי הַתּוֹרָה הַזֹּאת —

forever — to keep this whole תּוֹרָה.

[Spoken Word — warm unhurried storyteller over soft guitar]

It is the last day of the life of מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּינוּ. And what does he do? Rashi says — he gathers them. אַתֶּם נִצָּבִים הַיּוֹם כֻּלְּכֶם — you are all standing here today: the heads of the שְׁבָטִים, the elders, the officers. The children. The wives. The גֵּר in the camp. מֵחֹטֵב עֵצֶיךָ עַד שֹׁאֵב מֵימֶיךָ — from the one who chops your wood to the one who draws your water. Everyone. Standing together, entering the בְּרִית together — and not only them. With the ones standing here today, the pasuk says, and with the ones who are not here — and Rashi says who that is: the generations of the future. Every generation that would ever be born was standing in that covenant.

[Chorus — sung, warm and heartfelt]

הַנִּסְתָּרֹת לַהַשֵּׁם אֱלֹקֵינוּ —

the hidden things belong to הַשֵּׁם;

וְהַנִּגְלֹת לָנוּ וּלְבָנֵינוּ —

what is revealed is ours, and our children's,

עַד־עוֹלָם לַעֲשׂוֹת אֶת־כָּל־דִּבְרֵי הַתּוֹרָה הַזֹּאת —

forever — to keep this whole תּוֹרָה.

[Spoken Word — warm unhurried storyteller over soft guitar]

And then מֹשֶׁה looks far into the future and tells them what will happen — the blessing, the curse, the scattering. And then: וְשַׁבְתָּ עַד־הַשֵּׁם אֱלֹקֶיךָ. You will return, all the way back to הַשֵּׁם. And listen to what Rashi says on וְשָׁב הַשֵּׁם אֱלֹקֶיךָ אֶת־שְׁבוּתְךָ — it does not say He will BRING BACK your captivity. It says וְשָׁב — He Himself will return. The שְׁכִינָה is in גָּלוּת with us, and when we come home, כִּבְיָכוֹל, הַשֵּׁם comes home with us. From the edge of the heavens He gathers us. And He circumcises the heart — וּמָל הַשֵּׁם אֱלֹקֶיךָ אֶת־לְבָבְךָ — so that we love Him with everything we have.

[Chorus — sung, warm and heartfelt]

הַנִּסְתָּרֹת לַהַשֵּׁם אֱלֹקֵינוּ —

the hidden things belong to הַשֵּׁם;

וְהַנִּגְלֹת לָנוּ וּלְבָנֵינוּ —

what is revealed is ours, and our children's,

עַד־עוֹלָם לַעֲשׂוֹת אֶת־כָּל־דִּבְרֵי הַתּוֹרָה הַזֹּאת —

forever — to keep this whole תּוֹרָה.

[Spoken Word — warm unhurried storyteller over soft guitar]

And if a person says — it is too far, it is too high, I cannot reach it — the parsha answers him directly. לֹא בַשָּׁמַיִם הִוא. It is not in heaven. And Rashi says: if it were in heaven, you would have to climb up after it and learn it. וְלֹא־מֵעֵבֶר לַיָּם הִוא — it is not across the sea. כִּי־קָרוֹב אֵלֶיךָ הַדָּבָר מְאֹד — it is close to you, so close. בְּפִיךָ וּבִלְבָבְךָ לַעֲשֹׂתוֹ. In your mouth. In your heart. To do. And then מֹשֶׁה puts the whole thing on the table: רְאֵה נָתַתִּי לְפָנֶיךָ הַיּוֹם — see, I have set before you today life and good, death and bad. Heaven and earth are witnesses. וּבָחַרְתָּ בַּחַיִּים — choose life. And the Sforno says: choosing life means choosing the life that lasts forever.

[Chorus — sung, warm and heartfelt]

הַנִּסְתָּרֹת לַהַשֵּׁם אֱלֹקֵינוּ —

the hidden things belong to הַשֵּׁם;

וְהַנִּגְלֹת לָנוּ וּלְבָנֵינוּ —

what is revealed is ours, and our children's,

עַד־עוֹלָם לַעֲשׂוֹת אֶת־כָּל־דִּבְרֵי הַתּוֹרָה הַזֹּאת —

forever — to keep this whole תּוֹרָה.

[Spoken Word — warm unhurried storyteller over soft guitar]

A hundred and twenty years old, הַיּוֹם. מֹשֶׁה calls יְהוֹשֻׁעַ in front of everyone: חֲזַק וֶאֱמָץ — be strong and courageous, הַשֵּׁם walks before you, He will not let go of your hand. The תּוֹרָה is written and given to the כֹּהֲנִים. And a מִצְוָה for the generations: הַקְהֵל אֶת־הָעָם — every seventh year, gather everyone. הָאֲנָשִׁים וְהַנָּשִׁים וְהַטַּף — the men, the women, the little ones who cannot even understand yet — so they hear, and they learn. And then הַשֵּׁם gives מֹשֶׁה one last thing to write: a שִׁירָה. Write this song and teach it to בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, put it in their mouths — כִּי לֹא תִשָּׁכַח מִפִּי זַרְעוֹ — because a song is never forgotten from the mouths of the children. מֹשֶׁה wrote it that very day. And that is why we sing.

[Chorus — sung, warm and heartfelt]

הַנִּסְתָּרֹת לַהַשֵּׁם אֱלֹקֵינוּ —

the hidden things belong to הַשֵּׁם;

וְהַנִּגְלֹת לָנוּ וּלְבָנֵינוּ —

what is revealed is ours, and our children's,

עַד־עוֹלָם לַעֲשׂוֹת אֶת־כָּל־דִּבְרֵי הַתּוֹרָה הַזֹּאת —

forever — to keep this whole תּוֹרָה.

[Intro — spoken plainly, no music yet]

פָּרָשַׁת נִצָּבִים־וַיֵּלֶךְ. The last day of the life of מֹשֶׁה — and the words are for us.

[Verse 1 — quiet]

אַתֶּם נִצָּבִים — we were standing there together,

the leaders and the children, side by side,

the stranger and the woodchopper and the water-carrier —

and every soul not yet alive.

He said these words are not for you alone —

they’re for everyone who’s ever going to come.

[Pre-Chorus — building]

You don’t have to climb the heavens.

You don’t have to cross the sea.

[Chorus — massive]

לֹא בַשָּׁמַיִם הִוא — it is not in heaven!

וְלֹא־מֵעֵבֶר לַיָּם הִוא — it’s not across the sea!

כִּי־קָרוֹב אֵלֶיךָ הַדָּבָר מְאֹד —

it’s close, it’s close, it’s close to me!

וּבָחַרְתָּ בַּחַיִּים — choose life! Choose life!

So you and your children live!

[Verse 2 — building]

Even scattered to the edges of the heavens,

You said You’d come and bring us home.

And Rashi says You don’t just send for us —

You’re in it with us, and You come back too.

[Chorus — massive]

לֹא בַשָּׁמַיִם הִוא — it is not in heaven!

וְלֹא־מֵעֵבֶר לַיָּם הִוא — it’s not across the sea!

כִּי־קָרוֹב אֵלֶיךָ הַדָּבָר מְאֹד —

it’s close, it’s close, it’s close to me!

וּבָחַרְתָּ בַּחַיִּים — choose life! Choose life!

So you and your children live!

[Bridge — near silence]

בְּפִיךָ וּבִלְבָבְךָ לַעֲשֹׂתוֹ —

in my mouth. In my heart.

To do.

[Final Chorus — huge]

לֹא בַשָּׁמַיִם הִוא — it is not in heaven!

וְלֹא־מֵעֵבֶר לַיָּם הִוא — it’s not across the sea!

כִּי־קָרוֹב אֵלֶיךָ הַדָּבָר מְאֹד —

it’s close, it’s close, it’s close to me!

וּבָחַרְתָּ בַּחַיִּים — choose life! Choose life!

So you and your children live!

[Outro — huge, then held]

חֲזַק וֶאֱמָץ — be strong and courageous!

He will not let go of your hand.

[Intro — spoken plainly, no music yet]

פָּרָשַׁת כִּי־תָבוֹא — the parsha that keeps saying one word: הַיּוֹם. Today.

[Chorus — sung together, slow and warm]

הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה — this very day,

נִהְיֵיתָ לְעָם — you became His nation today.

And Rashi says: every single day,

let the בְּרִית be new as though it started today.

[Verse 1 — clear and steady]

וְלָקַחְתָּ מֵרֵאשִׁית כָּל־פְּרִי הָאֲדָמָה —

the first fruit of the land goes in the basket,

up to the place הַשֵּׁם will choose to rest His name,

וְעָנִיתָ וְאָמַרְתָּ — and he says it out loud.

And Rashi brings from Sotah: what is וְעָנִיתָ?

A voice that is not shy and does not hide —

he tells it loud: אֲרַמִּי אֹבֵד אָבִי —

and הַשֵּׁם brought us out with a strong hand.

[Chorus — sung together, slow and warm]

הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה — this very day,

נִהְיֵיתָ לְעָם — you became His nation today.

And Rashi says: every single day,

let the בְּרִית be new as though it started today.

[Verse 2 — clear and steady]

And when the basket stands before the מִזְבֵּחַ,

a בַּת קוֹל answers, so the Midrash says —

you brought your בִּכּוּרִים today — you brought them,

and you will merit to bring them next year again.

בִּעַרְתִּי הַקֹּדֶשׁ מִן־הַבַּיִת —

I cleared the holy portions from my home,

and gave them to the לֵוִי and the orphan,

then הַשְׁקִיפָה מִמְּעוֹן קָדְשְׁךָ —

look down from Your holy place, and bless.

[Chorus — sung together, slow and warm]

הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה — this very day,

נִהְיֵיתָ לְעָם — you became His nation today.

And Rashi says: every single day,

let the בְּרִית be new as though it started today.

[Verse 3 — clear and steady]

On great stones coated white the תּוֹרָה is written,

on הַר גְּרִזִים and עֵיבָל we stand,

six שְׁבָטִים here, six שְׁבָטִים facing,

and every answer — אָמֵן — across the land.

The בְּרָכוֹת and the warning both were spoken,

תַּחַת אֲשֶׁר לֹא־עָבַדְתָּ אֶת־הַשֵּׁם אֱלֹקֶיךָ בְּשִׂמְחָה —

it all comes down to serving Him with gladness,

when everything was good and in your hand.

[Chorus — sung together, slow and warm]

הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה — this very day,

נִהְיֵיתָ לְעָם — you became His nation today.

And Rashi says: every single day,

let the בְּרִית be new as though it started today.

[Verse 4 — clear and steady]

וָאוֹלֵךְ אֶתְכֶם אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה — I led you forty years,

and your cloak never wore thin upon your frame,

וְלֹא־נָתַן הַשֵּׁם לָכֶם לֵב לָדַעַת —

and Rashi says: a heart to know His name,

to recognize the חֶסֶד of the מָקוֹם,

and to hold Him fast.

עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה — until this very day, He says it,

and every day the בְּרִית is new as the last.

[Chorus — sung together, slow and warm]

הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה — this very day,

נִהְיֵיתָ לְעָם — you became His nation today.

And Rashi says: every single day,

let the בְּרִית be new as though it started today.

[Intro — spoken plainly, no music yet]

פָּרָשַׁת כִּי־תָבוֹא! When you come into the land — and the first fruits ripen.

[Chorus — everyone together, fast and joyful]

וְשָׂמַחְתָּ בְכָל־הַטּוֹב —

rejoice in all the good!

אֲשֶׁר נָתַן־לְךָ —

all the good He gave to you!

[Verse 1 — clear and steady]

The first fig ripens on the tree — into the basket!

Up to the place הַשֵּׁם will choose — carry the basket!

וְלָקַחְתָּ מֵרֵאשִׁית כָּל־פְּרִי הָאֲדָמָה —

the first of all the fruit of the ground,

the כֹּהֵן takes it from your hand — set down the basket!

[Chorus — everyone together, fast and joyful]

וְשָׂמַחְתָּ בְכָל־הַטּוֹב —

rejoice in all the good!

אֲשֶׁר נָתַן־לְךָ —

all the good He gave to you!

[Verse 2 — clear and steady]

Say it out loud: אֲרַמִּי אֹבֵד אָבִי —

my father was nearly lost, we were slaves in מִצְרַיִם,

but הַשֵּׁם took us out — בְּיָד חֲזָקָה וּבִזְרֹעַ נְטוּיָה —

with a strong and mighty hand,

to a land of milk and honey — so set the basket down!

[Chorus — everyone together, fast and joyful]

וְשָׂמַחְתָּ בְכָל־הַטּוֹב —

rejoice in all the good!

אֲשֶׁר נָתַן־לְךָ —

all the good He gave to you!

[Verse 3 — clear and steady]

הַיּוֹם! הַיּוֹם! This very day —

אֶת־הַשֵּׁם הֶאֱמַרְתָּ הַיּוֹם —

you declared הַשֵּׁם your God today!

And He declared you His treasure —

לְעַם סְגֻלָּה — His treasured nation, today!

[Chorus — everyone together, fast and joyful]

וְשָׂמַחְתָּ בְכָל־הַטּוֹב —

rejoice in all the good!

אֲשֶׁר נָתַן־לְךָ —

all the good He gave to you!

[Verse 4 — clear and steady]

On great white stones the תּוֹרָה stands,

גְּרִזִים and עֵיבָל across the land,

six and six and the answer — אָמֵן! —

וְשָׂמַחְתָּ — rejoice with all you have in hand!

[Chorus — everyone together, fast and joyful]

וְשָׂמַחְתָּ בְכָל־הַטּוֹב —

rejoice in all the good!

אֲשֶׁר נָתַן־לְךָ —

all the good He gave to you!

[Spoken Word — warm unhurried storyteller over soft guitar]

This week's parsha — פָּרָשַׁת כִּי־תָבוֹא. When you come into the land. Listen to what happens.

[Chorus — sung, warm and heartfelt]

כִּי־תָבוֹא אֶל־הָאָרֶץ —

when you come into the land,

אֲשֶׁר הַשֵּׁם אֱלֹקֶיךָ נֹתֵן לְךָ —

that הַשֵּׁם places in your hand.

[Spoken Word — warm unhurried storyteller over soft guitar]

Picture a farmer, early in the morning, walking the rows of his orchard. And there it is — the first fig of the season. The Mishnah in Bikkurim describes it: he ties a reed-rope around it and says — הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ בִּכּוּרִים. — let these be בִּכּוּרִים. When it ripens he lays it in a basket and goes up — up to the place הַשֵּׁם has chosen. The כֹּהֵן takes the basket, sets it before the מִזְבֵּחַ, and now the farmer must speak. Out loud — וְעָנִיתָ וְאָמַרְתָּ — and Rashi brings from Sotah that it means a raised voice. And what does he say? A whole history in five פְּסוּקִים: אֲרַמִּי אֹבֵד אָבִי. My father was almost destroyed. We went down to מִצְרַיִם few in number. They worked us, they broke us, we cried out — and הַשֵּׁם heard, and took us out — בְּיָד חֲזָקָה וּבִזְרֹעַ נְטוּיָה — with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, and brought us here, to a land flowing with milk and honey. And now — הִנֵּה הֵבֵאתִי — see, I have brought the first of the fruit of the land that You gave me.

[Chorus — sung, warm and heartfelt]

כִּי־תָבוֹא אֶל־הָאָרֶץ —

when you come into the land,

אֲשֶׁר הַשֵּׁם אֱלֹקֶיךָ נֹתֵן לְךָ —

that הַשֵּׁם places in your hand.

[Spoken Word — warm unhurried storyteller over soft guitar]

In the third year, the house gets cleared. Every tithe goes where it belongs — the לֵוִי, the גֵּר, the orphan, the widow — and then a man stands and makes an accounting out loud: בִּעַרְתִּי הַקֹּדֶשׁ מִן־הַבַּיִת — I have cleared the holy portions out of my house, it all went where it belongs. I did not eat it in mourning, I did not forget. And then he turns the accounting into a תְּפִלָּה: הַשְׁקִיפָה מִמְּעוֹן קָדְשְׁךָ — look down from Your holy dwelling, and bless Your people. And then the parsha says a word it will not stop saying: הַיּוֹם. Today. This very day הַשֵּׁם commands you. Today — you declared Him your God. Today — He declared you His treasure, לְעַם סְגֻלָּה. And Rashi says: every single day it should be in your eyes like the day you entered the בְּרִית.

[Chorus — sung, warm and heartfelt]

כִּי־תָבוֹא אֶל־הָאָרֶץ —

when you come into the land,

אֲשֶׁר הַשֵּׁם אֱלֹקֶיךָ נֹתֵן לְךָ —

that הַשֵּׁם places in your hand.

[Spoken Word — warm unhurried storyteller over soft guitar]

Now מֹשֶׁה looks across the יַרְדֵּן. When you cross, he says, raise up great stones and coat them with plaster, and write on them all the words of this תּוֹרָה. Build a מִזְבֵּחַ of whole stones — no iron has touched them — and rejoice. And then, the scene the parsha is famous for: six שְׁבָטִים standing on הַר גְּרִזִים, six on הַר עֵיבָל, the לְוִיִּם in the valley between. A voice calls out across the valley — and the whole nation, every man, answers: אָמֵן. The בְּרָכוֹת are read. And then the תּוֹכָחָה — long, and hard, and honest. And in the middle of it, one pasuk explains everything: תַּחַת אֲשֶׁר לֹא־עָבַדְתָּ אֶת־הַשֵּׁם אֱלֹקֶיךָ בְּשִׂמְחָה — because you did not serve הַשֵּׁם with joy, when you had everything.

[Chorus — sung, warm and heartfelt]

כִּי־תָבוֹא אֶל־הָאָרֶץ —

when you come into the land,

אֲשֶׁר הַשֵּׁם אֱלֹקֶיךָ נֹתֵן לְךָ —

that הַשֵּׁם places in your hand.

[Spoken Word — warm unhurried storyteller over soft guitar]

And at the end, מֹשֶׁה gathers them and points backwards. You saw it yourselves, he says. The wonders in מִצְרַיִם. Forty years in the מִדְבָּר — וָאוֹלֵךְ אֶתְכֶם אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה — and your clothes never wore out, and the shoe never wore off your foot. And Rashi says on וְלֹא־נָתַן הַשֵּׁם לָכֶם לֵב לָדַעַת — a heart to know — that it means to recognize the חֶסֶד of the מָקוֹם, and to hold fast to Him. Keep the words of this בְּרִית, מֹשֶׁה finishes — so that you succeed in everything you do.

[Chorus — sung, warm and heartfelt]

כִּי־תָבוֹא אֶל־הָאָרֶץ —

when you come into the land,

אֲשֶׁר הַשֵּׁם אֱלֹקֶיךָ נֹתֵן לְךָ —

that הַשֵּׁם places in your hand.

[Intro — spoken plainly, no music yet]

פָּרָשַׁת כִּי־תָבוֹא. When you come into the land — this is what you say.

[Verse 1 — quiet]

I walked out to my orchard

and the first fruit caught the sun.

The Mishnah says you tie a reed around it —

this one, הַשֵּׁם, this one is Yours.

I laid it in a basket,

I carried it up the road,

and standing in the place You chose,

I said it loud, the story that we know:

[Chorus — big]

אֲרַמִּי אֹבֵד אָבִי —

they tried to wipe my father out!

But You heard us and You brought us out —

בְּיָד חֲזָקָה וּבִזְרֹעַ נְטוּיָה —

with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm!

הִנֵּה הֵבֵאתִי — here, I have brought

the very first of everything You gave —

it all came from Your hand!

[Verse 2 — building]

הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה — this very day,

You called us Yours and we called You ours.

Not yesterday, not far away —

today, today, today.

[Chorus — big]

אֲרַמִּי אֹבֵד אָבִי —

they tried to wipe my father out!

But You heard us and You brought us out —

בְּיָד חֲזָקָה וּבִזְרֹעַ נְטוּיָה —

with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm!

הִנֵּה הֵבֵאתִי — here, I have brought

the very first of everything You gave —

it all came from Your hand!

[Bridge — near silence, then explodes]

And when the blessings and the warnings both were spoken,

one line held the reason it all stands or it all breaks:

did you serve Him with joy —

בְּשִׂמְחָה וּבְטוּב לֵבָב —

with joy and a good heart, when you had it all?

[Final Chorus — huge]

וְשָׂמַחְתָּ בְכָל־הַטּוֹב —

so rejoice in all the good!

Rejoice in all the good He gave you —

it all came from His hand!

It all came from Your hand!