Our Task
Text: Pirkei Avot 1:14; 2:16; Micah 6:8
Michael Steinberger, soloist
This work was written in tribute to the installation of Rabbi Evan Goodman at Temple Israel of New Rochelle. His choice of texts from the Mishnah reflects his rabbinic vision, calling for individual responsibility.
At the beginning of the piece, I evoked the melody used for chanting the Mishnah. It is also the same melody used for the traditional chanting of the Four Questions, which also comes from the Mishnah.
He used to say: If I am not for myself, who will be for me?
And if I am for myself only, what am I? And if not now, when?
He would say, "It is not up to you to finish the work,
yet you are not free to avoid it.
It has been told to you, O mortal, what is good, And what God requires of you:
Only to do justice, to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God.
Teach My Lips a Blessing
the music of Erik Contzius
