Shir Hashirim
Moroccan Nusach
Moroccan Nusach, sung on Friday night as opening for Kabbalat Shabbat
Sung by Laura Elkeslassy
Text of Shir Hashirim (Song of Songs)
Recording Credits
Vocals: Laura Elkeslassy
Recording & Mixing: Chris Gilory, Douglass Recordings
Special Thanks to Batya Levine, Margot Seigle, Emmanuelle Berdugo, Natalie Haziza and Osnat Bensoussan
A project of Let my People Sing, the Egal Sefardi/Mizrahi Kehilla, with the support of Rise Up!
Lekhu Neranena (Psalm 95)
Moroccan Nusach
Moroccan Nusach for Kabbalat Shabbat, Psalm 95
Sung by Laura Elkeslassy
לְכוּ, נְרַנְּנָה לַה’; נָרִיעָה, לְצוּר יִשְׁעֵנוּ. נְקַדְּמָה פָנָיו בְּתוֹדָה; בִּזְמִרוֹת, נָרִיעַ לוֹ. כִּי אֵל גָּדוֹל ה'; וּמֶלֶךְ גָּדוֹל, עַל כָּל אֱלֹהִים. אֲשֶׁר בְּיָדוֹ, מֶחְקְרֵי-אָרֶץ; וְתוֹעֲפֹת הָרִים לוֹ. אֲשֶׁר-לוֹ הַיָּם, וְהוּא עָשָׂהוּ; וְיַבֶּשֶׁת, יָדָיו יָצָרוּ. בֹּאוּ, נִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה וְנִכְרָעָה; נִבְרְכָה, לִפְנֵי ה' עֹשֵׂנוּ. כִּי הוּא אֱלֹהֵינוּ וַאֲנַחְנוּ עַם מַרְעִיתוֹ, וְצֹאן יָדוֹ: הַיּוֹם ,אִם בְּקֹלוֹ תִשְׁמָעוּ. אַל תַּקְשׁוּ לְבַבְכֶם, כִּמְרִיבָה; כְּיוֹם מַסָּה, בַּמִּדְבָּר. אֲשֶׁר נִסּוּנִי, אֲבוֹתֵיכֶם: בְּחָנוּנִי, גַּםרָאוּ פָעֳלִי. אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה, אָקוּט בְּדוֹר וָאֹמַר, עַם תֹּעֵי לֵבָב הֵם; וְהֵם,לֹא-יָדְעוּ דְרָכָי. אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי בְאַפִּי; אִם יְבֹאוּן, אֶל מְנוּחָתִי
Lekhu nerannenah lAdonai; nari‘ah, letsur yish‘énu. Neḳaddemah fanav betodah; bizmirot, naria’ lo. Ki él gadol Adonai; umelekh gadol, ‘al–kol–elohim. Asher beyado meḥḳeré-aretz; veto‘afot harim lo. Asher–lo hayam vehu ‘asahu; veyabeshet, yadav yatsaru. Bo-u nishtaḥaveh venikhra‘ah, nivrekhah, lifné–Adonai ‘osénu. Ki hu Elohénu, va-anaḥnu ‘am mar‘ito vetson yado; hayom im–beḳolo tishma‘u. Al–taḳshu levavkhem kimrivah; keyom massah, bamidbar. Asher nissuni avotékhem; beḥanuni, gam–ra-u fa‘oli. Arba‘im shanah(!) aḳut bedor, va-omar ‘am to‘é lévav hém; vehém, lo–yade‘u derakhai. Asher–nishba’ti ve-appi; im–yevo-un el–menuḥati.
Come, let us sing to YHVH: Let our song ring out to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before God’s presence with thanksgiving; Let us shout for joy to God; YHVH is a great El, a great ruler above all gods; In whose hand are the depths of the earth and the heights of mountains; The sea is God’s, God made it; And God formed the land. Come, let us bow down and bend the knee; Let us kneel before YHVH our Maker; For God is our elo’ah, and we are God’s people, God’s flock. Today, if you would hearken to God’s voice! Harden not your hearts as at Meribah, as in the day of Massah in the wilderness; Your fathers tried Me, provoked Me, even though they saw My work. Forty years I struggled with that generation. I said: This people err in its heart, and they have not known My ways; I swore in My wrath, that they should not enter into My resting place.
Transliteration from Siddur Or veShalom. Translation from Open Siddur Project, by Efrat Rotem and Levi Weiman-Kelman.
Recording Credits
Vocals: Laura Elkeslassy
Choir: Zev Boukhobza, Niri Halperin, Liana Kallman
Recording & Mixing: Chris Gilory, Douglass Recordings
Special Thanks to Batya Levine, Margot Seigle, Emmanuelle Berdugo, Natalie Haziza and Osnat Bensoussan.
A project of Let my People Sing, the Egal Sefardi/Mizrahi Kehilla, with the support of Rise Up!
Brooklyn 2026
Lecha Dodi
Moroccan Nusach
Moroccan Melodies, Kabbalat Shabbat Liturgy, text by Rabbi Shelomoh Alkabets, 16th c.
Sung by Laura Elkaslassy (lead vocals), and Zev Boukhobza, Niri Halperin, Liana Kallman (choir)
:לְכָה דוֹדִי לִקְרַאת כַּלָּה. פְּנֵי שַׁבָּת נְקַבְּלָה
…שָׁמוֹר וְזָכוֹר בְּדִבּוּר אֶחָד, הִשְמִיעָנוּ אֵל הַמְּיֻחָד. יְיָ אֶחָד וּשְמוֹ אֶחָד. לְשֵׁם וּלְתִפְאֶרֶת וְלִתְהִלָּה: לְכָה
לִקְרַאת שַׁבָּת לְכוּ וְנֵלְכָה. כִּי הִיא מְקוֹר הַבְּרָכָה. מֵרֹאשׁ מִקֶּדֶם נְסוּכָה. סוֹף מַעֲשֶׂה בְּמַחֲשָׁבָה תְּחִלָּה
מִקְדַּשׁ מֶלֶךְ עִיר מְלוּכָה. קוּמִי צְאִי מִתּוֹךְ הַהֲפֵכָה. רַב לָךְ שֶׁבֶת בְּעֵמֶק הַבָּכָא. וְהוּא יַחֲמוֹל עָלַיִךְ חֶמְלָה
הִתְנַעֲרִי מֵעָפָר קוּמִי. לִבְשִׁי בִּגְדֵי תִפְאַרְתֵּךְ עַמִּי: עַל יַד בֶּן יִשַׁי בֵּית הַלַּחְמִי. קָרְבָה אֶל נַפְשִׁי גְאָלָהּ
הִתְעוֹרְרִי הִתְעוֹרְרִי. כִּי בָא אוֹרֵךְ קוּמִי אוֹרִי. עוּרִי עוּרִי שִׁיר דַבֵּרִי. כְּבוֹד יְיָ עָלַיִךְ נִגְלָה
לֹא תֵבוֹשִׁי וְלֹא תִכָּלְמִי. מַה תִּשְתּוֹחֲחִי וּמַה תֶּהֱמִי. בָּךְ יֶחֱסוּ עֲנִיֵּי עַמִּי, וְנִבְנְתָה עִיר עַל תִּלָּהּ
וְהָיוּ לִמְשִׁסָּה שֹׁאסָיִךְ. וְרָחֲקוּ כָּל מְבַלְּעָיִךְ. יָשִׂישׂ עָלַיִךְ אֱלֹהָיִךְ. כִּמְשׂוֹשׂ חָתָן עַל כַּלָּה
יָמִין וּשְׂמֹאל תִּפְרוֹצִי. וְאֶת־יְיָ תַּעֲרִיצִי. עַל יַד אִישׁ בֶּן פַּרְצִי. וְנִשְׂמְחָה וְנָגִילָה
בּוֹאִי בְשָׁלוֹם עֲטֶרֶת בַּעְלָהּ. גַּם בְּשִׂמְחָה וּבְצָהֳלָה. תּוֹךְ אֱמוּנֵי עַם סְגֻּלָּה. בּוֹאִי כַלָּה, בּוֹאִי כַלָּה, שַׁבָּת מַלְכְּתָא
L'cha dodi likrat kala, p'nei Shabbat n'kab'lah
Shamor v’zachor b’dibur echad, Hishmi’anu el ha’meyuchad.
Adonai echad u’shmo echad; L’shem ul’tiferet v’l’tehila.
Likrat Shabbat l’chu v’nelcha, Ki hi m’kor ha’bracha.
Me’rosh mi’kedem n’sucha; Sof ma’aseh b’mach’shava t’chila.
Mikdash melech, ir m’lucha, Kumi, tze’i mi’toch ha’hafecha.
Rav lach shevet b’emek ha’bacha; V’hu yachmol alai’yich chemla.
Hitna’ari me’afar kumi, Livshi bigdei tifartech ami.
Al yad ben Yishai beit haLachmi; Karva el nafshi g’ala.
Hit’oreri, hit’oreri, Ki va orech, kumi ohri.
Uri, uri, shir daberi; K’vod Adonai alai’yich nigla.
Lo tevoshi ve'lo tikal'mi, mah tishtochachi umah tehemi,
Bach yechesu ani'ei ami, venivnetah ir al tilah.
Vehayu lim'shisah shos'ayich, verachaku kol miv'alayich,
Yasis alaich Elohaich, kimesos chatan al kalah.
Yamin usmol tif'rotzi, ve'et Adonai ta'aritzi,
Al yad ish bein partzi, venis'mechah venagilah.
Bo’ee v’shalom, ateret ba’ala, Gam b'simcha uv’ tzhala.
Toch emunei am segula; Bo’ee chala, Shabbat Malketa.
Translation:
Come, my love – to meet the Bride! Let’s receive Shabbat!
Protect and remember in a single word – that the deity of singularity made us hear! YHVH is One, and Their name is One, for the name, for Tiferet and for Tehillah.
To meet Shabbat – come on, let’s go! For She is the root of the blessing, From the ancient beginning she was established– But the end of the action is considered in the mind, first.
The King’s temple is the city of monarchy. Get up! Get away from this upset! You’ve spent too long in the valley of tears, But He will pity you and make arrears.
Shake off the dust and get up! Dress yourself in your beautiful clothes, the ones of our people – Thereby the son of Yishai, from Bét Leḥem, Will approach my soul to redeem it!
Arise! Awaken! For Your light is coming – rise and shine! Wake up! Wake up! Speak a song of The glory of YHVH, revealed upon You.
You shall not be ashamed! You shall not be abashed! How could you be depressed? How could you sink into the abyss? In You the downtrodden of our people will take shelter and refuge. We will build a city upon Her burial mound!
They will set upon Your plunderers, They will shun all Your destroyers! Your Elohim will rejoice over You, just as groom rejoices over a bride! Y
ou will burst out – right and left! And You will venerate YHVH, Through the hand of a man, a descendant of Perez – So let’s be happy and shout for joy!
Come in peace – You who is the crown to Her Husband, Join us in happiness, joy, and success, Here among us, the faithful of the treasured nation. Come Bride, Shabbat the Queen!
Transliteration from Zemirot Database & Siddur Or veShalom. Translation from Siddur Or veShalom.
Recording Credits
Vocals: Laura Elkeslassy
Choir: Zev Boukhobza, Niri Halperin, Liana Kallman
Recording & Mixing: Chris Gilory, Douglass Recordings
Special Thanks to Batya Levine, Margot Seigle, Emmanuelle Berdugo, Natalie Haziza and Osnat Bensoussan
A project of Let my People Sing, the Egal Sefardi/Mizrahi Kehilla, with the support of Rise Up!
Brooklyn 2026
Mizmor Ledavid (Psalm 29)
Moroccan Nusach
Moroccan Nusach for Kabbalat Shabbat, Psalm 29
Sung by Laura Elkeslassy
מִזְמוֹר, לְדָוִד: הָבוּ לַה', בְּנֵי אֵלִים; הָבוּ לַה', כָּבוֹד וָעֹז. הָבוּ לַה', כְּבוֹד שְׁמוֹ; הִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לַה', בְּהַדְרַת-קֹדֶשׁ. קוֹל ה', עַל-הַמָּיִם: אֵ-ל הַכָּבוֹד הִרְעִים ה', עַל-מַיִם רַבִּים. קוֹל ה' בַּכֹּחַ; קוֹל ה', בֶּהָדָר. קוֹל ה', שֹׁבֵר אֲרָזִים; וַיְשַׁבֵּר ה', אֶת-אַרְזֵי הַלְּבָנוֹן. וַיַּרְקִידֵם כְּמוֹ עֵגֶל; לְבָנוֹן וְשִׂרְיֹן, כְּמוֹ בֶן רְאֵמִים. קוֹל ה' חֹצֵב לַהֲבוֹת אֵשׁ. קוֹל ה', יָחִיל מִדְבָּר; יָחִיל ה', מִדְבַּר קָדֵשׁ. קוֹל ה', יְחוֹלֵל אַיָּלוֹת, וַיֶּחֱשֹׂף יְעָרוֹת: וּבְהֵיכָלוֹ כֻּלּוֹ, אֹמֵר כָּבוֹד. ה', לַמַּבּוּל יָשָׁב; וַיֵּשֶׁב ה', מֶלֶךְ לְעוֹלָם. ה' עֹז, לְעַמּוֹ יִתֵּן; ה', יְבָרֵךְ אֶת-עַמּוֹ בַשָּׁלוֹם
Mizmor l’david: Havu la’adonai, benei elim, havu la’Adonai kavod va’oz. Havu la’Adonai kavod shemo, hishtachavu la’Adonai be’hadrat kodesh. Kol Adonai al hamayim, El ha’kavod hirim, Adonai al mayim rabim. Kol Adonai ba’koach, kol Adonai be’hadar. Kol Adonai shover arazim va’yeshaber Adonai et-arzei ha’levanon. Va’yarkidem k’mo egel, levanon ve’sirion k’mo ven-re-emim. Kol Adonai chotzev la’havot esh. Kol Adonai yachil midbar, yachil adonai midbar kadesh. Kol Adonai yecholel ayalot. Va’yechesof yearot, u’veheikhalo kulo omer kavod. Adonai lamabul yashav, va’yeshev Adonai melekh l’olam. Adonai oz le’amo yiten, Adonai yevarekh et amo va’shalom.
Translation: A song by David: Give to YHVH all the pantheon of gods, Give to YHVH honour and might! Give to YHVH the glory of Their name, bow down to YHVH with sacred beauty! The sound of YHVH is upon the water, the deity of glory thunders; YHVH is upon raging water. The sound of YHVH is in raw power, and the sound of YHVH is in beauty. The sound of YHVH breaks apart cedars, YHVH has shattered the cedars of Lebanon. They make the mountains of Lebanon hop around like calves, like young oxen. The sound of YHVH is an engraver wielding a blade of sharpened fire.The sound of YHVH makes the desert shake. YHVH will shake the sacred desert. The sound of YHVH makes the does dance, and it strips the forest bare – and in Their palace, everyone says ‘Glory!’ YHVH rides upon the Flood, YHVH sits as Sovereign for eternity. YHVH gives strength to Their people. YHVH will bless Their people with peace.
Transliteration from Zemirot Database. Translation from Siddur Or veShalom.
Recording Credits
Vocals: Laura Elkeslassy
Choir: Zev Boukhobza, Niri Halperin, Liana Kallman
Recording & Mixing: Chris Gilory, Douglass Recordings
Special Thanks to Batya Levine, Margot Seigle, Emmanuelle Berdugo, Natalie Haziza and Osnat Bensoussan
A project of Let my People Sing, the Egal Sefardi/Mizrahi Kehilla, with the support of Rise Up!
Brooklyn 2026
Edotekha (Psalm 93)
Moroccan Nusach
Moroccan Nusach for Kabbalat Shabbat, Psalm 93
Sung by Laura Elkeslassy
עֵדֹתֶיךָ נֶאֶמְנוּ מְאֹ֗ד לְבֵיתְךָ נַאֲוָה־קֹדֶשׁ ה’ לְאֹרֶךְ יָמִים׃
Edotekha ne’emnu me’od le’veitkha na’avah kodesh, Adonai le’orekh yamim.
Translation: Your decrees are indeed enduring; holiness befits Your house, O Eternal One, for all times.
Recording Credits
Vocals: Laura Elkeslassy
Choir: Zev Boukhobza, Niri Halperin, Liana Kallman
Recording & Mixing: Chris Gilory, Douglass Recordings
Special Thanks to Batya Levine, Margot Seigle, Emmanuelle Berdugo, Natalie Haziza and Osnat Bensoussan
A project of Let my People Sing, the Egal Sefardi/Mizrahi Kehilla, with the support of Rise Up!
Brooklyn 2026
Kaddish
Moroccan Nusach
Moroccan Nusach for Kabbalat Shabbat
Sung by Laura Elkeslassy
יִתְגַּדַּל וְיִתְקַדַּשׁ שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא. [אָמֵן]
בְּעָלְמָא דִּי בְרָא, כִּרְעוּתֵה, וְיַמְלִיךְ מַלְכוּתֵה, וְיַצְמַח פֻּרְקָנֵה, וִיקָרֵב מְשִׁיחֵהּ. [אָמֵן]
בְּחַיֵּיכוֹן וּבְיוֹמֵיכוֹן וּבְחַיֵּי דְכָל־בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, בַּעֲגָלָא וּבִזְמַן קָרִיב, וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן. [אָמֵן]
.יְהֵא שְׁמֵיהּ רַבָּא מְבָרַךְ לְעָלַם וּלְעָלְמֵי עָלְמַיָּא
יִתְבָּרַךְ וְיִשְׁתַּבַּח. וְיִתְפָּאַר. וְיִתְרוֹמַם. וְיִתְנַשֵּׂא. וְיִתְהַדָּר. וְיִתְעַלֶּה. וְיִתְהַלָּל שְׁמֵהּ דְּקֻדְשָׁא, בְּרִיךְ הוּא. [אָמֵן] לְעֵלָּא מִן כָּל בִּרְכָתָא שִׁירָתָא, תֻּשְׁבְּחָתָא וְנֶחֱמָתָא, דַּאֲמִירָן בְּעָלְמָא, וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן. [אָמֵן]
Yiṭgaddal veyiṭkaddash sheméhh rabba. (Amén)
Be‘alma di–ṿera khir‘uṭéhh, veyamlikh malkhuṭéhh, veyatsmaḥ purḳanéhh viḳaréṿ meshiḥéhh. (Amén) Beḥayyékhon uṿyomékhon uṿḥayyé ḍekhol–béṭ Yisraél ba‘agạ la uṿizman ḳariṿ, ve-imru: amén.(Amén)
Yehé sheméhh rabba meṿarakh le‘alam le‘almé ‘almayya.
Yiṭbarakh veyishtabbaḥ, veyiṭpa-ar, veyiṭromam, veyiṭnassé, veyiṭ-haddar, veyiṭ‘alleh, veyiṭ-hallal sheméhh deḲuḍesha Berikh Hu. (Amén)
Le‘élla min kal–birkhaṭa shiraṭa tishbeḥaṭa veneḥemaṭa da-amiran be‘alma, ve-imru: amén. (Amén)
Translation: Exalted and hallowed is Their great name (Amén) in the world which is made according to Their will, and may They establish Their kingdom, and may Their salvation blossom and Their anointed come soon. (Amén) In our lives and our days and the life of all the House of Yisraél, speedily and very soon, and we say: amén. Amén, may Their great name be blessed forever and ever, and to all eternity blessed May Their great name be blessed forever and ever, and to all eternity blessed,
praised, glorified, and exalted; extolled and honoured, adored and lauded be the name of the Blessed Holy One. (Amén) Above and beyond all the blessings, songs, praises and consolations which are uttered in the world, and we say: amén. (Amén)
Transliteration and translation from Siddur Or veShalom
Recording Credits
Vocals: Laura Elkeslassy
Choir: Zev Boukhobza, Niri Halperin, Liana Kallman
Recording & Mixing: Chris Gilory, Douglass Recordings
Special Thanks to Batya Levine, Margot Seigle, Emmanuelle Berdugo, Natalie Haziza and Osnat Bensoussan
A project of Let my People Sing, the Egal Sefardi/Mizrahi Kehilla, with the support of Rise Up!
Brooklyn 2026