(1994, arr. 2025)
Place These Words (v’Samtem) is the third and final movement of the choral symphony Ahavah (Love). The choral chant on the Hebrew word for love, ahavah, was inspired by an encounter with a tree. See a video about that encounter here. The text from Deuteronomy 11:18:12 promises blessing and sustenance if we live in harmony with Divine purpose and all of Creation:
Place these words upon your heart, and teach them diligently unto your children. Bind them on your hand, place them between your eyes, speak of them at home or on the way. Ahavah…
Write them on your doorposts and upon your gates. So that you may live, you and your children on the land which God gave to your ancestors. Ahavah…
For as long as the heavens are over the earth. Ahavah…
This music expresses my prayer that we remember our inherent unity and heal our precious home planet with love. May the blessing “that you may live, you and your children, on the land which G-d gave to your ancestors, for as long as the heavens are over the earth,” be fulfilled. Ahavah…
I drew on teachings from Rabbis Arthur Waskow and Zalman Schachter-Shalomi in creating Ahavah (Love). Learn about the full choral symphony here.