[Choir] Fwd: Translation and more details about "When you Believe"

[Richard Riley]

Here's the info from Beth Damon about what you were singing this morning.
Thanks Beth!

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Beth Damon <nomadtheb at msn.com>
Date: Sun, Feb 17, 2019 at 1:52 PM
Subject: Translation and more details about "When you Believe"
To: Richard Riley <rcrileymusic at gmail.com>


Hi Dick,

(Can you forward to the choir as a whole?) Thanks!

Hi Everyone -

I have done some research on When you Believe
<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/When_You_Believe> and feel embarrassed I
didn't share this before now, but hopefully the song is still in your head!
What an honor to sing it...

*Here is the Hebrew in a short YouTube. *
They pronounced "ga-ah" and not the "gu(y)-ah" and sorry for this mistake.
(But still not sure it's correct and I will check with the Hebrew teacher
at Temple Sinai later today.)

https://youtu.be/ocOs1zes4IA
<https://youtu.be/ocOs1zes4IA>
Ashira from Prince of Egypt with Translation <https://youtu.be/ocOs1zes4IA>
"Ashira" from "The Prince of Egypt" Copyright 1998 by Dreamworks. I do not
own the rights to this music or imagery, but I added the lyrics and
translation to...
youtu.be
*The **Song of the Sea** was reputedly sung by the Israelites after
crossing the Rea Sea. *

The song lyrics of "When you Believe" are derived from from the *Book of
Exodus* joined with several verses from the *Book of Miriam*.

There was a bit of mixed review when the song came out about the
juxtaposition of its religious content. It appears that when Mariah Carey
and Whitney Houston sang it, they felt deeply its meaning due to their
religious upbringing (tho not from growing up as Jews).

The way it has been covered by a number of choral groups is to have the
Hebrew verses sung by Children, therefore helping what might have seemed to
be a bit irreverent to Jews to feel more appreciative of this huge
milestone in Jewish history, escaping across the Red Sea to freedom from
slavery.

The Mi Chamocha
<https://nfty.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2016/05/morning-service.pdf>
is sung as part of every Shabbat service in remembrance of this day.

Many and sometimes all of the songs sung at a Jewish Temple are prayers set
to music. Therefore, it is important for them to be sung with the
appropriate reverence, especially when singing about "Adonai
<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWDrIeNxODU>" or God. As you can see there
are several appropriate pronunciations.
The Crossing of the Red Sea
<https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:The_Crossing_fo_The_Red_Sea.jpg#/media/File:The_Crossing_fo_The_Red_Sea.jpg>
*Hebrew
and English: Exodus Chapter 15 שְׁמוֹת*
*א*  אָז יָשִׁיר-מֹשֶׁה וּבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת-הַשִּׁירָה הַזֹּאת, לַיהוָה,
וַיֹּאמְרוּ,  {ר}  לֵאמֹר:  {ס}  אָשִׁירָה לַיהוָה כִּי-גָאֹה גָּאָה,  {ס}
סוּס  {ר}  וְרֹכְבוֹ רָמָה בַיָּם.  {ס} *1* Then sang Moses and the
children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spoke, saying: I will sing
unto the LORD, for He is highly exalted; the horse and his rider hath He
thrown into the sea.
*ב*  עָזִּי וְזִמְרָת יָהּ, וַיְהִי-לִי  {ר}  לִישׁוּעָה;  {ס}  זֶה אֵלִי
וְאַנְוֵהוּ,  {ס}  אֱלֹהֵי  {ר}  אָבִי וַאֲרֹמְמֶנְהוּ.  {ס} *2* The LORD
is my strength and song, and He is become my salvation; this is my God, and
I will glorify Him; my father's God, and I will exalt Him.
*ג*  יְהוָה, אִישׁ מִלְחָמָה; יְהוָה,  {ר}  שְׁמוֹ.  {ס} *3* The LORD is a
man of war, The LORD is His name.
*ד*  מַרְכְּבֹת פַּרְעֹה וְחֵילוֹ, יָרָה בַיָּם;  {ס}  וּמִבְחַר  {ר}
שָׁלִשָׁיו, טֻבְּעוּ בְיַם-סוּף.  {ס} *4* Pharaoh's chariots and his host
hath He cast into the sea, and his chosen captains are sunk in the Red Sea.
*ה*  תְּהֹמֹת, יְכַסְיֻמוּ; יָרְדוּ בִמְצוֹלֹת, כְּמוֹ-  {ר}  אָבֶן.  {ס}
*5* The deeps cover them--they went down into the depths like a stone.
*ו*  יְמִינְךָ יְהוָה, נֶאְדָּרִי בַּכֹּחַ;  {ס}  יְמִינְךָ  {ר}  יְהוָה,
תִּרְעַץ אוֹיֵב.  {ס} *6* Thy right hand, O LORD, glorious in power, Thy
right hand, O LORD, dasheth in pieces the enemy.
*ז*  וּבְרֹב גְּאוֹנְךָ, תַּהֲרֹס  {ר}  קָמֶיךָ;  {ס}  תְּשַׁלַּח,
חֲרֹנְךָ--יֹאכְלֵמוֹ, כַּקַּשׁ.  {ס} *7* And in the greatness of Thine
excellency Thou overthrowest them that rise up against Thee; Thou sendest
forth Thy wrath, it consumeth them as stubble.
*ח*  וּבְרוּחַ  {ר}  אַפֶּיךָ נֶעֶרְמוּ מַיִם,  {ס}  נִצְּבוּ כְמוֹ-נֵד
{ר}  נֹזְלִים;  {ס}  קָפְאוּ תְהֹמֹת, בְּלֶב-יָם.  {ס} *8* And with the
blast of Thy nostrils the waters were piled up--the floods stood upright as
a heap; the deeps were congealed in the heart of the sea.
*ט*  אָמַר  {ר}  אוֹיֵב אֶרְדֹּף אַשִּׂיג,  {ס}  אֲחַלֵּק שָׁלָל;
תִּמְלָאֵמוֹ  {ר}  נַפְשִׁי--  {ס}  אָרִיק חַרְבִּי, תּוֹרִישֵׁמוֹ יָדִי.
{ס} *9* The enemy said: 'I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the
spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand
shall destroy them.'
*י*  נָשַׁפְתָּ  {ר}  בְרוּחֲךָ, כִּסָּמוֹ יָם;  {ס}  צָלְלוּ, כַּעוֹפֶרֶת,
בְּמַיִם,  {ר}  אַדִּירִים.  {ס} *10* Thou didst blow with Thy wind, the
sea covered them; they sank as lead in the mighty waters.
*יא*  מִי-כָמֹכָה בָּאֵלִם יְהוָה,  {ס}  מִי  {ר}  כָּמֹכָה נֶאְדָּר
בַּקֹּדֶשׁ;  {ס}  נוֹרָא תְהִלֹּת, עֹשֵׂה  {ר}  פֶלֶא.  {ס} *11* Who is
like unto Thee, O LORD, among the mighty? who is like unto Thee, glorious
in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?
*יב*  נָטִיתָ, יְמִינְךָ--תִּבְלָעֵמוֹ, אָרֶץ.  {ס} *12* Thou stretchedst
out Thy right hand--the earth swallowed them.
*יג*  נָחִיתָ  {ר}  בְחַסְדְּךָ, עַם-זוּ גָּאָלְתָּ;  {ס}  נֵהַלְתָּ
בְעָזְּךָ, אֶל-נְוֵה  {ר}  קָדְשֶׁךָ.  {ס} *13* Thou in Thy love hast led
the people that Thou hast redeemed; Thou hast guided them in Thy strength
to Thy holy habitation.
*יד*  שָׁמְעוּ עַמִּים, יִרְגָּזוּן;  {ס}  חִיל  {ר}  אָחַז, יֹשְׁבֵי
פְּלָשֶׁת.  {ס} *14* The peoples have heard, they tremble; pangs have taken
hold on the inhabitants of Philistia.
*טו*  אָז נִבְהֲלוּ, אַלּוּפֵי  {ר}  אֱדוֹם--  {ס}  אֵילֵי מוֹאָב,
יֹאחֲזֵמוֹ רָעַד;  {ס}  נָמֹגוּ,  {ר}  כֹּל יֹשְׁבֵי כְנָעַן.  {ס} *15* Then
were the chiefs of Edom affrighted; the mighty men of Moab, trembling
taketh hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan are melted away.
*טז*  תִּפֹּל עֲלֵיהֶם אֵימָתָה  {ר}  וָפַחַד,  {ס}  בִּגְדֹל זְרוֹעֲךָ
יִדְּמוּ כָּאָבֶן:  {ס}  עַד-  {ר}  יַעֲבֹר עַמְּךָ יְהוָה,  {ס}
עַד-יַעֲבֹר עַם-זוּ  {ר}  קָנִיתָ.  {ס} *16* Terror and dread falleth upon
them; by the greatness of Thine arm they are as still as a stone; till Thy
people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over that Thou hast gotten.
*יז*  תְּבִאֵמוֹ, וְתִטָּעֵמוֹ בְּהַר נַחֲלָתְךָ--  {ס}  מָכוֹן  {ר}
לְשִׁבְתְּךָ פָּעַלְתָּ, יְהוָה;  {ס}  מִקְּדָשׁ, אֲדֹנָי כּוֹנְנוּ  {ר}
יָדֶיךָ.  {ס} *17* Thou bringest them in, and plantest them in the mountain
of Thine inheritance, the place, O LORD, which Thou hast made for Thee to
dwell in, the sanctuary, O Lord, which Thy hands have established.
*יח*  יְהוָה יִמְלֹךְ, לְעֹלָם וָעֶד.  {ס} *18* The LORD shall reign for
ever and ever.
*יט*  כִּי  {ר}  בָא סוּס פַּרְעֹה בְּרִכְבּוֹ וּבְפָרָשָׁיו, בַּיָּם,
{ס}  וַיָּשֶׁב יְהוָה עֲלֵהֶם,  {ר}  אֶת-מֵי הַיָּם;  {ס}  וּבְנֵי
יִשְׂרָאֵל הָלְכוּ בַיַּבָּשָׁה, בְּתוֹךְ הַיָּם.  {ר}  {ש} *19* For the
horses of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the
sea, and the LORD brought back the waters of the sea upon them; but the
children of Israel walked on dry land in the midst of the sea. *{P}*
*כ*  וַתִּקַּח מִרְיָם הַנְּבִיאָה אֲחוֹת אַהֲרֹן, אֶת-הַתֹּף--בְּיָדָהּ;
וַתֵּצֶאןָ כָל-הַנָּשִׁים אַחֲרֶיהָ, בְּתֻפִּים וּבִמְחֹלֹת. *20* And
Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and
all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.
*כא*  וַתַּעַן לָהֶם, מִרְיָם:  שִׁירוּ לַיהוָה כִּי-גָאֹה גָּאָה, סוּס
וְרֹכְבוֹ רָמָה בַיָּם.  {ס} *21* And Miriam sang unto them: Sing ye to the
LORD, for He is highly exalted: the horse and his rider hath He thrown into
the sea. *{S}*
*כב*  וַיַּסַּע מֹשֶׁה אֶת-יִשְׂרָאֵל מִיַּם-סוּף, וַיֵּצְאוּ
אֶל-מִדְבַּר-שׁוּר; וַיֵּלְכוּ שְׁלֹשֶׁת-יָמִים בַּמִּדְבָּר, וְלֹא-מָצְאוּ
מָיִם. *22* And Moses led Israel onward from the Red Sea, and they went out
into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness,
and found no water.
*כג*  וַיָּבֹאוּ מָרָתָה--וְלֹא יָכְלוּ לִשְׁתֹּת מַיִם מִמָּרָה, כִּי
מָרִים הֵם; עַל-כֵּן קָרָא-שְׁמָהּ, מָרָה. *23* And when they came to
Marah, they could not drink of the waters of Marah, for they were bitter.
Therefore the name of it was called Marah.
*כד*  וַיִּלֹּנוּ הָעָם עַל-מֹשֶׁה לֵּאמֹר, מַה-נִּשְׁתֶּה. *24* And the
people murmured against Moses, saying: 'What shall we drink?'
*כה*  וַיִּצְעַק אֶל-יְהוָה, וַיּוֹרֵהוּ יְהוָה עֵץ, וַיַּשְׁלֵךְ
אֶל-הַמַּיִם, וַיִּמְתְּקוּ הַמָּיִם; שָׁם שָׂם לוֹ חֹק וּמִשְׁפָּט, וְשָׁם
נִסָּהוּ. *25* And he cried unto the LORD; and the LORD showed him a tree,
and he cast it into the waters, and the waters were made sweet. There He
made for them a statute and an ordinance, and there He proved them;
*כו*  וַיֹּאמֶר אִם-שָׁמוֹעַ תִּשְׁמַע לְקוֹל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, וְהַיָּשָׁר
בְּעֵינָיו תַּעֲשֶׂה, וְהַאֲזַנְתָּ לְמִצְוֺתָיו, וְשָׁמַרְתָּ
כָּל-חֻקָּיו--כָּל-הַמַּחֲלָה אֲשֶׁר-שַׂמְתִּי בְמִצְרַיִם, לֹא-אָשִׂים
עָלֶיךָ, כִּי אֲנִי יְהוָה, רֹפְאֶךָ.  {ס} *26* and He said: 'If thou wilt
diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which
is right in His eyes, and wilt give ear to His commandments, and keep all
His statutes, I will put none of the diseases upon thee, which I have put
upon the Egyptians; for I am the LORD that healeth thee.' *{S}*
*כז*  וַיָּבֹאוּ אֵילִמָה--וְשָׁם שְׁתֵּים עֶשְׂרֵה עֵינֹת מַיִם,
וְשִׁבְעִים תְּמָרִים; וַיַּחֲנוּ-שָׁם, עַל-הַמָּיִם. *27* And they came to
Elim, where were twelve springs of water, and three score and ten
palm-trees; and they encamped there by the waters.


Here is an actual picture of the Exodus chapter taken from the Torah, which
is read from left to right, and the Hebrew verses in the Torah do not
contain vowels, so it takes a very learned Jew to be able to read directly
from the Torah.

As you can see, there is a very ARTFUL rendition of the verses of the Torah
<http://www.jtsa.edu/meaning-in-the-torahs-layout>, with the spaces
providing demarkation of the passages, the different sizes of which define
their context.

The scholar who does this sacred "calligraphy" are called a Sofer
<https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/torah-scroll/>. It is actually
something I'm interested in being trained to do (but I have to learn the
Hebrew first!!)



An of course, we needed a famous artwork of Moses parting the Red Sea!

Hope this has been a fun exploration for you all!

Beth


Beth Damon


80 College Street

Montpelier, VT 05602


c|802-272-3108

h|802-225-6590
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