The Y-Studs guide us through the music of Shabbat, exploring the Evolution of Shabbat. Take five minutes and enjoy as we welcome Shabbat.
We are overjoyed the 20 held hostage are finally home. We pray for the return of all, and may peace finally come to all people of the area.
Shabbat Shalom
#BringThemHomeNow
I am overjoyed that the Gaza War may be ending and that the hostages will return home soon. May peace finally come to this region and both peoples find their way to peaceful coexistence.
As we remember the horror of October 7 and the aftermath, the words of Menachem Rosensaft bring us a somber resonance. Let this day of remembrance stir us to mercy for the child, not because we doubt our cause, but because we cherish our conscience.
“the dead child
in gaza city
khan younis
rafah
is cried over
with the same tears
by the same God
the same Allah
the same Adonai
as the dead child
in kfar aza
nahal oz
be’eri
…
and it is
for the not yet dead child
palestinian child
israeli child
muslim child
jewish child
that the killing must end
the war must end
the terror must end
the hatred must end”
—Menachem Rosensaft, from Burning Psalms: Confronting Adonai after Auschwitz (Ben Yehuda Press, 2025)
As we prepare to welcome Shabbat, let the prayer of Joey Weisenberg help lift you up.
Shabbat Shalom
#BringThemHomeNow
Psalm 27 is added to our prayers during Elul and through the chagim.
We prepare ourselves for this special time with the prayer that we might dwell in the house of the Divine. May your experience this season be meaningful, filled with reflection, repentance, and renewal.
Thanks to Chava Mirel for this beautiful rendition of Psalm 27:4.
Shabbat Shalom
#BringThemHomeNow
This Hungarian orchestra shares Tumbalalaika.
It is a love song in which a young man seeks a bride who can answer three riddles as the balalaika plays. As we greet the Shabbat bride during Elul, the question perhaps is flipped: Will we be worthy of the bride?
Shabbat Shalom
#BringThemHomeNow
What does it say about a society that allows, even supports, the murder of its children? That society is headed to Hell, if it isn’t already there.
In biblical times, the Valley of Hinnom was a place where people practiced child sacrifice to the god Molech. The name of that place became Gehenna, which is now synonymous with Hell.
As strange as it may seem, we appear to accept child murder. The ways to prevent it are within our reach. However, we prefer to keep the right for people to wield deadly weapons unfettered rather than to protect the lives of our youth. Once again, a disturbed individual obtained guns, brought them to a church, and slaughtered children while they were praying. Two dead, 17 injured. It is almost incomprehensible, but true. It is another episode of the carnage of our kids by guns.
Furthermore, we are to blame. The blood of those innocent children is on our hands because we refuse to enforce oversight to keep guns out of the hands of people who do such heinous things—shame on us.
There is something profoundly wrong here. A society that accepts child murder as the price of freedom to bear arms has a name. Welcome to Hell.
This song caught my heart today. Thanks to the Maccabeats for Minyan Man.
With so much divisiveness, it’s good to remember Kol Arevim Zeh laZeh, All Israel is responsible for one another. Each of us is important. Each of us can make a difference. Together, let’s welcome Shabbat and welcome God’s peace.
Shabbat Shalom
#BringThemHomeNow
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