[HANASHIR:6670] Re: Barchi Nafshi

[Naomi Hirsch <nhirsch...>]

Dear Rachelle, and anyone else who is interested.

"Barchi Nafshi" can be found in the Reform Gates of Prayer (p. 48), the 
Conservative Siddur Sim Shalom (p. 62 - 1998 edition), or the Orthodox 
Ha-Siddur Ha-Shalem edited by Phillip Birnbaum (p. 3) as part of a meditation 
(or kavannah or intention) to be said before putting on the tallit.  

These verses are in fact the first 2 verses of Psalm 104:  "Bless the Lord, O 
my soul!  Lord my God, you are very great; You are robed in glory and majesty.  
You wrap yourself in light as in a garment; you spread the heavens like a 
curtain."

These 2 verses are sometimes referred to as "Barchi Nafshi" because barchi 
nafshi are the first two words of Psalm 104 in Hebrew.

The song, or chant, that I know as "Return Again" (i.e. Return to what you are, 
return to where you are, return to who you are... Born and reborn again.) was 
composed by Reb Dovid Zeller, not Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach z"l.  As far as I 
know, Return Again and Barchi Nafshi have absolutely nothing to do with one 
another.  

Hope this is helpful,

Cantor Naomi Hirsch
Adath Emanu-El
Mt. Laurel, New Jersey
nhirsch (at) worldnet(dot)att(dot)net

    -----Original Message-----
    From: Rachelle and Howard Shubert <notfranz (at) total(dot)net>
    To: Hanashir <hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org>
    Date: Saturday, August 05, 2000 6:16 PM
    Subject: [HANASHIR:6664] Barchi Nafshi
    
    
    Where does the prayer Barchi Nafshi occur in the Siddur?  I would like to 
teach the Carlebach version (Return Again) but would like to have the reference 
point of the original prayer.
    
    Thanks,
    Rachelle Shubert