Lamdeini Elohai
Poem by Leah Goldberg, 1954
Helene Reps, soloist
The origin of this piece has a great story. My friend and colleague, Cantor Yvon Shore, was celebrating a “special” birthday and one of her students at the Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, Carmit Harari, contacted me, knowing I was a good friend of Yvon’s.
Carmit asked me if I could surprise Yvon by flying out to Cincinnati for a special Shabbat service in Yvon’s honor. I told her I couldn’t get away from work for the occasion, but I did want to do something special. I offered to write a piece of music in lieu of coming out and Carmit thought it was a great idea. I needed to know what would be a good text to set and we agreed on the Leah Goldberg poem, Lamdeini Elohai, as it was a poem that spoke both to Carmit and Yvon.
I then got the idea that we get Yvon to sing it, but not realize it was written especially for her. When I completed the piece, I wrote on the music that it was written by Reuven Kosakoff (which could have been plausible since the timeline of Kosakoff’s career and the appearance of the poem works out). I made up a publishing house and copyright date and sent the piece to Carmit. Carmit then in turn gave the piece to Cantor Shore, telling her that a friend of hers suggested that she use the work. Yvon practiced and presented it on the weekend of this surprise Shabbat.
Cantor Shore introduced the work from the pulpit as a piece by Kosakoff as chosen by rabbinic student, Carmit Harari, and then sang it with great aplomb. After it was sung, Carmit stood up and said, “Actually, this piece was not written by Kosakoff.” At which time, Yvon was a bit shocked to learn that this piece she had just learned was actually brand new and that she had just performed the world premiere! The look on her face in the video is priceless, and it was one of the few times she has been at a loss for words!
Teach me my God, a blessing and a prayer
of the mystery of a withered leaf
of ripened fruit, so fair
of this freedom: To see, to sense,
to breathe, to know, to hope,
to despair.
Teach my lips a blessing and a song of praise
as each morning and night You renew Your days,
lest my days be as the one before
lest routine sets my ways
Teach My Lips a Blessing
the music of Erik Contzius
