What is the Yedid Nefesh Project? 

A collective of musicians who are singer/songwriters/composers who will study together and create new music that is inspired by the 15th century mystical poem known as Yedid Nefesh – “Beloved of My Soul”

Who came up with this idea? 

This project was born from a conversation between two rabbis (Daniel Brenner and Elliot Tepperman) that happened in a Thai restaurant.  The conversation was inspired, in part, by the work of Hazmana L’piyut (www.piyut.org.il) an effort by Israeli musicians to revive ancient poetry and liturgy.

What does a piyut sound like? 

What is the plan? 

Musicians will meet and immerse ourselves in the poem Yedid Nefesh. Then we will have a few months to work on original compositions based on the poem – these compositions could be wordless, could use the original Hebrew or elements of the original, or could be new songs related to the themes in the poem. Then we will present a Kabbalat Shabbat concert sponsored by B’nai Keshet at the Old Canal Inn in Nutley, New Jersey on May 8, 2020.

UPDATE: COVID-19 happened so we had to do it at home!

Transliteration	English translation	Original Hebrew
	Verse 1
Yedid Nefesh av harachaman,	Beloved of the soul, the Father of Compassion,	יְדִיד נֶפֶשׁ אַב הָרַחְמָן
meshoch avdechah el retzonechah,	draw Your servant to Your Will;	מְשׁוֹךְ עַבְדְּךָ אֶל רְצוֹנֶךָ
ya’arutz avdechah kmo ayal,	Your servant will hurry like a hart	יָרוּץ עַבְדְּךָ כְּמוֹ אַיָּל
yishtachave mul hadarecha,	to bow before Your majesty;	יִשְׁתַּחֲוֶה מוּל הֲדָרֶךָ
ki ye’erav lo yedidotecha,	to him Your friendship will be sweeter	כִּי יֶעֱרַב לוֹ יְדִידוֹתֶךָ
minofet tzuf v’chol ta-am.	than the dripping of the honeycomb and any taste.	מִנוֹפֶת צוּף וְכָל טָעַם
	Verse 2
Hadur nae ziv ha-ōlom,	Majestic, Beautiful, Radiance of the universe,	הָדוּר נָאֶה זִיו הָעוֹלָם
nafshi cholat ahavatecha,	my soul pines [lit: is sick for] for your love.	נַפְשִׁי חוֹלַת אַהֲבָתֶךָ
ana el na refa na lah,	Please, O God, heal her now	אָנָּא אֵל נָא רְפָא נָא לָהּ
beharot lah noam zivach,	by showing her the pleasantness of Your radiance;	בְּהַרְאוֹת לָהּ נֹעַם זִיוֶךָ
az teetchazeik v’titrapei,	then she will be strengthened and healed,	אָז תִּתְחַזֵּק וְתִתְרַפֵּא
v’hayta lah simchat olam	and eternal gladness will be hers.	וְהָיְתָה לָהּ שִׂמְחַת עוֹלָם
	Verse 3
Vatik yehemu na rachamecha,	Enduring One, may Your mercy be aroused	וָתִיק יֶהֱמוּ נָא רַחֲמֶיךָ
v’chusah na al bein ahuvecha,	and please take pity on the son of Your beloved,	וְחוּסָה נָּא עַל בֵּן אֲהוּבֶךָ
ki ze kama nichsof nichsafti,	because it is so very long that I have yearned intensely	כִּי זֶה כַּמֶּה נִכְסוֹף נִכְסַפְתִּי
lir’ot b’tiferet uzecha,	to see speedily the splendour of Your strength;	לִרְאוֹת בְּתִפְאֶרֶת עֻזֶּךָ
ana eile chamdah libi,	only these my heart desired,	אָנָּא אֵלֶּה חָמְדָה לִבִּי
v’chuso na v’al titalom.	so please take pity and do not conceal Yourself	חוּסָה נָּא וְאַל תִּתְעַלָּם
	Verse 4
Higalei na ufros chavivi alai,	Please, my Beloved, reveal Yourself and spread upon me	הִגָּלֶה נָא וּפְרוֹשׂ חֲבִיבִי עָלַי
et sukat shlomecha,	the shelter of Your peace;	אֶת סֻכַּת שְׁלוֹמֶךָ
ta’ir eretz mich’vodecha,	illuminate the Earth with Your glory,	תָּאִיר אֶרֶץ מִכְּבוֹדֶךָ
nagila v’nism’cha bach.	that we may rejoice and be glad with You;	נָגִילָה וְנִשְׂמְחָה בָךְ
Maheir ahuv ki va moed,	hasten, show love, for the time has come,	מַהֵר אֱהוֹב כִּי בָא מוֹעֵד
v’choneinu kimei olam.	and show us grace as in days of old.	וְחָנֵּנוּ כִּימֵי עוֹלָם