Year-In-Israel Cantorial Students Share Musical Reflections on a Formative Year

This year's cantorial students in the Year-In-Israel program created final projects in the form of mini podcasts, each featuring three musical selections that reflect their personal and artistic responses to a transformative year of study, growth, and immersion in Israeli life. Through narration and music, they explored identity, tradition, and the current moment with thoughtfulness and creativity, drawing from their studies in Hebrew, Jewish text, liturgy, and cantorial arts.

These projects were made possible with the generous support of the Azrieli Foundation. Anastasia Sobolev served as a collaborative pianist.

Emma Aaronson

• Hayashan Yitchadeish (music: Shani Ben Or and Boaz Dorot, lyrics: Abraham Isaac Kook)
• Mah Shlomeich Achot (music and lyrics: Naomi Shemer)
• Bein Kodesh L'Chol (music: Amir Dadon, lyrics: Shachar Hadar)
• Yah Sh'ma Evyonecha (music: traditional Sefardi Yerushalmi melody, text: Yehuda Halevi), featuring rabbinical student Jacob Friedman on percussion.

Joely Bothast

• Shir Lama'alot (music: Yosef Karduner, text: Psalm 121)
• Tachzor (music and lyrics: Idan Raichel and Avi Ohayon)
• Avinu Malkeinu (music: Ashkenazi folk, text: High Holy Day liturgy)
• Ani V'Atah (music: Miki Gavrielov, lyrics: Arik Einstein), featuring fellow cantorial students Emma Aaronson on vocals and Rachael Geier on flute.

Rachael Geier

• Y'did Nefesh (music: to "Eitz HaRimon" by Yedidya Admon based on a Bucharian folk melody, text: Elazar Azikri in the siddur)
• HaChitah Tsomachat Shuv (music: Chaim Barkani, lyrics: Dorit Tsameret)
• Ein Gedi (music: Rachael Geier and Jacob Harris Wright, text: Song of Songs 1.14), featuring rabbinical student Jacob Harris Wright on guitar and vocals.