Laner Vlivsamim 

Excited to share with you a snippet from our new album, 'Havdalah, live from Jerusalem' which will be released this fall. On this song, I was thrilled to be joined by Galit Giat, a favorite Israeli award-winning singer and actress. Prior to singing this duet, we exchanged memories about the way our grandmothers would conclude the Shabbat, with traditional Havdalah symbols - candle, spices and wine. While Galit's grandmother was born in Yemen and mine in Hungary, we realized that they both prayed for the same; a relief from life’s distress and sadness, and hope for a better week to come. These are exactly the sentiments expressed in this piyutt (liturgical poem) by Rabbi Sa’adia (17th century, Yemen), whose first name is in its acrostics. The song became an Israeli classic with the melody of songwriter Avihu Medina, a Yemenite Jew and one of the forefathers of the new Mediterranean-Israeli style ('Mizrahi music').
Music Director: Colin Fowler
Oud: Elias Haddoub
Video: Tami Shaham
Recording: Avi Elbaz
Producer: Eli Grunfeld
Program notes: Dr. Anat Rubinstein
YMCA, Jerusalem
www.azischwartz.com
Lyrics:
For the candle and the spices my soul yearns,
If you shall give me a cup of wine for Havdalah.
If you shall give me…
Pave the road for the bewildered man,
Heaven angels - open the gates for me.
If you shall give me…
I shall raise my eyes to God with yearning heart,
Who provides all my needs at day and at night.
If you shall give me...
לַנֵּר וְלִבְשָׂמִים נַפְשִׁי מְיַחֵלָה
אִם תִּתְּנוּ לִי כּוֹס יַיִן לְהַבְדָּלָה
אִם תִּתְּנוּ לִי…
סֹלּוּ דְּרָכִים לִי פַּנּוּ לְנָבוֹכָה
פִּתְחוּ שְׁעָרִים לִי כָּל מַלְאֲכֵי מַעְלָה
אִם תִּתְּנוּ לִי…
עֵינַי אֲנִי אֶשָּׂא אֶל אֵל בְּלֵב כּוֹסֵף
מַמְצִיא צְרָכַי לִי בַּיּוֹם וּבַלַּיְלָה
אִם תִּתְּנוּ לִי…
La-ner V’livsamim nafshi m'yahelah,
Im tit'nu li kos ya’yin l'havdalah.
Im tit'nu li kos shel ya’yin...
Solu d'rakhim li panu l'navukhah,
Pithu sh'arim li kol mal’achei malah.
Im tit'nu li kos shel ya’yin...
Einai ani esa el El b'lev kosef,
Mamtzi tzorkhai li ba-yom u-va-laylah.
Im tit'nu li kos shel ya’yin…