Hodu: Jewish Rhythms from Baghdad to India

Named one of the top ten CDs of 2004 by The New York Jewish Week
Hodu,” in Hebrew, means both “India” and “Praise God!”—an appropriate double entendre for a community that thrived in the most benevolent of diasporas. This compilation of songs for Shabbat and holidays features a blend of ancient texts, authentic melodies and contemporary rhythms. Hebrew texts and English translations included.

Featuring: Rahel Musleah and Alan Iny, vocals; Maurice Chedid, oud; Amir Chehade, percussion; Michael Hess, violin and kanoun. Arrangements by Marsha Bryan Edelman.
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Click the play arrow below to listen to samples from Hodu:
Tzur Mishelo
Tzur Mishelo
Yigdal
Yigdal
Eshet Hayyil
Eshet Hayyil
L'khah Dodi
L'khah Dodi
D'ror Yikra
D'ror Yikra
Havdalah Medley
Havdalah Medley
Hon Tahon (Rosh Hashanah)
Hon Tahon (Rosh Hashanah)
Yisrael Am El (Sukkot)
Yisrael Am El (Sukkot)
Yah Shema/Mi Va-mi (Simhat Torah)
Yah Shema/Mi Va-mi (Simhat Torah)
Halleluyah (Simhat Torah)
Halleluyah (Simhat Torah)
Pesah Medley, featuring family members
Pesah Medley, featuring family members
El Eliyahu (Havdalah)
El Eliyahu (Havdalah)

Reviews of "Hodu"

"A lovely collection of piquant recordings that will be a revelation to those who have not been exposed to this vibrant musical tradition."

Rating:
George Robinson, The New York Jewish Week

"There is nothing more honorable than saving a precious Jewish legacy that is fast disappearing....You bring intelligence and love to your sweet singing...Kol hakavod!"

Laura Wetzler
Singer, composer, folklorist and recording artist


"...Musleah's clear, piercing vocals with violin, oud and percussion accompaniment, their sinuous line and hypnotic grooves, will wend their way into your hearts and souls and perhaps into your daily worship."
Seth Rogovoy, Hadassah magazine

"...The treatments have an honest, authentic feel...The thorough approach in putting together the CD booklet–which features line-by-line annotated and translated lyrics for each track–brings the listener full circle in the feeling of experiencing a multimedia archive."
Ben Jacobson, The Jerusalem Post

"I was inspired by your rare, clear and delightful rendition."
Carol Rabin

"I listened to the free sample of your CD and decided that we had to have it."
Yoram Bernet

"You have an exquisite voice: One can hear you talking to God..."
Andrena Bonte

"Rahel Musleah's voice–beautiful, sweet, and clear–touched my soul. I closed my eyes and felt transported back in time to Baghdad."
Michael Gabai

"I am utterly entranced by this CD. The music is so sacred, so exquisitely done..."
Marcia Gaynor

"Your melodies, transmitted through your voice of exceptional clarity and purity, speak across the centuries."
Judith Frisch

Send your own review

Transliterations

1. Tzur Mishelo

Tzur mi-shelo akhalnu bar’khu emunai
sava’nu v’hotarnu ki-d’var Adonai

Hazan et olamo, ro’enu avinu
Akhalnu mi-lakhmo u-mi-yeno shatinu
al ken nodeh li-sh’mo u-n’hallelo b’finu
Amarnu v’aninu ein kadosh k’Adonai

B’shir v’kol todah nevarekh l’Eloheinu
Al eretz hemdah tovah she-hinhil l’avoteinu
U-mazon v’tzedah his’biah l’nafsheinu
Hasdo gavar aleinu v’emet Adonai

Rahem b’hasdekha al am’kha Tzureinu
Al Tziyon mishkan k’vodekha z’vul beit tifarteinu
U-ven David avdekha yavo v’yig’aleinu
Ruah apeinu m’shiah Adonai

Yibaneh ha-mikdash ir Tziyon t’maleh
V’sham nashir shir hadash u-vir’nanah sham na’aleh
Ha-rahaman ha-nik’dash yit’barakh v’yit’aleh
Al kos yayin maleh k’virkat Adonai

2. Yigdal

Yigdal Elohim hai v’yishtabah
Nimtza v’ein et el m’tzi’uto

Ehad v’ein yahid k’yihudo
Ne’elam v’gam ein sof l’ahduto

Ein lo d’mut ha-guf v’einu guf
Lo na’arokh elav k’dushato

Kadmon l’khol davar asher nivra
Rishon v’ein reshit l’reshito

Hino adon olam l’khol notzar
Yoreh g’dulato u-mal’khuto

Shefa n’vu’ato n’tano el
Anshei s’gulato v’tif’arto...

Lo yahalif ha-el v’lo yamir
dato l’olamim l’zulato

Tzofeh v’yodeah s’tareinu
Mabit l’sof davar b’kadmuto...

Eleh sh’losh esreh l’ikkarim
Hen hem y’sod dat El v’torato

Torat Moshe emet u-n’vu’ato
Barukh adei ad shem t’hilato

3. Eshet Hayyil

Eshet hayyil mi yimtza, v’rahok mi-p’ninim mikhrah
Batah bah lev ba’alah, v’shalal lo yehsar
Gemalat’hu tov v’lo ra, kol y’mei hayehah....
Oz v’hadar l’vushah, vatis’hak l’yom aharon
pihah pat’hah b’hokhmah, v’torat hesed al l’shonah
Tzofiyah halikhot beitah, v’lehem atzlut lo tokhel
Kamu vanehah va-y’ash’ruhah, ba’alah va-y’halelah
Rabot banot asu hayyil, v’at alit al kulanah
sheker ha-hen v’hevel ha-yofi, ishah yir’at Adonai hi tit’halal
T’nu la mi-pri yadehah, viy’haleluhah ba-she’arim ma’asehah


4. L’khah Dodi

L’khah dodi likrat kallah p’nei Shabbat n’kab’lah

Shamor v’zakhor b’dibbur ehad, hishmi’anu El ha-meyuhad
Adonai ehad u-sh’mo ehad, l’shem u-l’tiferet v’lit’hilah

Mikdash melekh ir m’lukhah, kumi tze’i mi-tokh ha-hafekhah
Rav lakh shevet b’emek ha-bakha, v’hu yah’mol alayikh hemlah

Hitna’ari me-afar kumi, liv’shi bigdei tifartekh ami
Al yad ben yishai beit ha-lahmi korvah el nafshi g’alah

Hit’or’ri, hit’or’ri, ki va orekh kumi ori
Uri, uri, shir daberi, k’vod Adonai alayikh niglah

Bo’i v’shalom ateret ba’alah, gam b’simhah b’rinah u-v’tzaholah
Tokh emunei am s’gulah, bo’i khallah, bo’i khallah
Tokh emunei am s’gulah, Bo’i khallah
Shabbat m’nuhah, Shabbat malketa

5. D’ror Yikra
Pronunciation reflects the Arabic-influenced “waw” and “bet” instead of “vav” and vet,
guttural gimel, ‘ayin and kof, and softer tzadi and het.

D’ror yikra l’ben ‘im bat
w’yintzorkhem k’mo babat
ne’im shimkhem w’lo yushbat
sh’bu nuhu b’yom Shabbat

D’rosh nawi w’ulami, w’ot yesha’ ‘aseh ‘imi
neta’ soreq b’tokh karmi
she’eh shaw’at benei ‘ami

Elohim ten ba-midbar har
hadas shitah b’rosh tidhar
we-lamaz’hir we-lanizhar
Sh’lomim ten k’mei nahar

6. Havdalah Medley

Ha-mavdil ben kodesh l’hol, hatoteinu yim’hol
zar’einu v’khaspeinu yarbeh ka-hol, ka-kokhavim ba-lailah

B’motza’ei yom m’nuhah, hamtzi l’amkha r’vahah
Sh’lah Tishbi l’ne’enahah, v’nasu yagon va’anahah

K’ra yesha l’am n’davah, el dagul me-r’vavah
Yehi ha-shavua ha-ba lishu’a v’lir’vahah

Hadesh s’soni El na v’havi, et Eliyahu ha-navi
Ametz v’hazek rif’yon yadi, barekh m’lakhti v’khol ma’avadi
Go’ali z’khor onyi u-m’rudi, d’varkha ha-tov hakem l’od’di
Haretz u’shlakh v’samah l’vavi, et Eliahu ha-navi

Agil v’esmah bil’vavi, biroti ki kh’lavi
tariv rivi, u’l’Tziyon go’el tavi, ish tzemah tatz’miah
Eliahu, Eliahu, Eliahu ha-navi, u-melekh ha-mashiah

Lakhen b’li pahad, tipol eimah va-fahad
levav yif’had, kol lev yif’had, b’et ya’aleh goy ehad
v’orhotav yatzliah

Ronu kol ov’rei orah, ki hinei ra’anan ezrah
oro zarah, oro zarah, kaneh kaftor va-ferah,
al har Tziyon yafri’ah

7. Hon Tahon

Hon tahon al vanekha l’kha shavim
u-v’fahad l’fanekha nitzavim
y’re’im et yikar’u la-din ki al ken ba’u nikhavim

Zakhor tizkor rahamim, yom ha-din
Hafer ka’as u-z’amim et tadin
li-re’ekha u-l’hoshvei sh’mekha hemah yoshvei al midin

Karev li sh’nat go’el u-f’deini
al mei m’nuhot ha-El tan’heini
U-z’khor li z’khut ish tam al libekha ka-hotam simeini

8. Yisrael Am El / Yotzer Or Bahir

Yisrael am El
Ashreikhem Yisrael am El
Ashreikhem ki bakhem sam El mishkano

Shov yashiv ke’az
Shevut’khem shov yashiv ke’az
Shevut’khem v’yita aholei apad’no

Rohim v’nohim, mah lakhem
B’galut arakh z’mano

Yotzer or bahir
lo ne’etam yotzer or bahir
lo ne’etam s’fatai hod’kha yin’amu

9. Yah Shema / Mi Va-mi

Yah Shema hakem degel, merkabi merkabi
Kuma Adonai yadekha, El n’sa, El n’sa, El n’sa

Tzuri shuv ami k’kedem, li-m’sibi, li-m’sibi
U-mi-bor galut et nafshi haletza, haletza, haletza

Mi va’mi bilt’kha yotzer, rahum hanun galuteinu katzer

Ata hu avinu malkeinu, bakh batahnu va-toshi’einu
Adonai honeinu l’kha kivinu, ben David ba kal ka-nesher

Yishama’ b’arei Yehudah, kol sasson, v’kol te’udah
Vi-lirushalayim y’kara hamudah, yishama bah kol m’vasser

10. Halleluyah

Halleluyah, halleluyah, hallelu et shem Adonai

Hallelu adir adirim barukh u-m’hullal Adonai
Hallelu gadol g’dolim dagul u-m’hullal Adonai
Hallelu hadur hadurim vatik u-m’hullal Adonai
Hallelu zakai zaka’im hanun u-m’hullal Adonai
Hallelu tahor t’horim yashar u-m’hullal Adonai
Hallelu kabir kabirim la’ad u-m’hullal Adonai
Hallelu melekh m’lakhim nora u-m’hullal Adonai
Hallelu somekh som’khim ‘ozer u-m’hullal Adonai
Hallelu podeh p’duyim tzadik u-m’hullal Adonai
Hallelu kadosh k’doshim rahum u-m’hullal Adonai
Hallelu shomer shom’rim takif u-m’hullal Adonai

11. Passover Medley
(Texts from the Haggadah)

Kadesh Ur’hatz
Kadesh, u’rhatz,
karpas, yahatz,
maggid, rohtzah
motzi matzah,
maror, korekh
shulhan orekh,
tzafun, barekh
hallel, nirtzah

Mah Nishtanah

Mah nishtanah ha-laylah ha-zeh mi-kol ha-leilot,
she-b’khol ha-leilot ein anahnu m’tab’lin afilu pa’am ahat
v’ha-laylah ha-zeh sh’tei fe’amim

She-b’khol ha-leilot anahnu okhlin hametz u’matzah
v’ha-laylah hazeh kulo matzah

She-b’khol ha-leilot anahnu okhlin sh’ar y’rakot
v’ha-laylah hazeh maror

She-b’khol ha-leilot anahnu okhlin v’shotin, bein yoshvin
u-vein m’subin v’ha-laylah ha-zeh kulanu m’subin

Judeo-Arabic:
B’mah t’ghayirat hadi el lailah min kil’yali
Ad fikil’yali leis nahna ghamsin, la’unu, mara wa-hada wa-hadi el leila marten

Ad fi kil el yali nahna aklin, u-sharbin, bein ka’adin,
u-bein mintiki’in wa-hadi el leila, kilitna mintiki’in

Barukh Ha-makom

Barukh ha-makom, barukh hu. Barukh she-natan Torah l’amo Yisrael, barukh hu.
K’neged arba’ah banim, dibrah Torah,
ehad hakham, v’ehad rasha, v’ehad tam, v’ehad she-eino yode’a li-shal.

Judeo-Arabic:
Tibarik el halik, tibarik hu. Tibarik iladi ata il Torah, likomo Yisrail, tibarik hu.
Kiq’bal arba’ binin tikalmat il Torah
Wah’d ‘alim, wah’d dalim, wah’d kamil, wah’d iladi leiso yi’raf lisal

Dayyenu

Kamah ma’alot tovot la-makom aleinu
Ilu hotzi’anu mi-Mitzrayim, v’lo asah bahem sh’fatim, dayyenu
Ilu asa bahem sh’fatim, v’lo asah b’elohehem, dayyenu.
Ilu natan lanu et ha-Shabbat , v’lo kervanu lifnei har Sinai, dayyenu
Ilu kervanu lifnei har Sinai, v’lo natan lanu et ha-Torah, dayyenu
Ilu natan lanu et ha-Torah, v’lo hikhnisanu l’eretz Yisrael, dayyenu
Ilu hiknisanu l’eretz Yisrael, v’lo natan lanu et beit ha-mikdash, dayyenu

L’fikhakh

L’fikhakh anahnu hayavim, l’hodot
l’hallel, l’shabe’ah,
l’fa’er, l’romem
l’hader, u-l’kales
L’mi she-asah l’avoteinu, v’lanu
Et kol ha-nisim, ha-elu
Hotzi’anu me-avdut, l’herut
U-mi-shi’bud, li-ge’ulah
U-mi-yagon, l’simhah
U-me-evel, l’yom tov
V’nomar l’fanav, halleluyah

B’tzet Yisrael

B’tzet Yisrael mi-Mitzrayim
Bet Ya’akov me-‘am loez
Haytah Yehudah l’kodsho,
Yisrael mamsh’lotav
Ha-yam ra’ah va’yanos
Ha-yarden yisov l’ahor
He-harim rakdu kh’elim
G’va’ot kivnei tzon
Mah lekha ha-yam ki tanus,
Ha-yarden tisov l’ahor
He-harim tirkedu kh’elim
G’va’ot kivnei tzon
Mi-lifnei adon huli aretz,
mi-lifnei elo’ah Ya’akov
Ha-hofkhi ha-tzur agam mayim
Halamish l’mayno mayim

12. El Eliyahu

El Eliyahu, El Eliyahu, bi-z’khut Eliyahu ha-navi haveh na

Bo yirtom rikhbo, na ba-sh’vi bo, lo shakhav libo gam lo ra’ah shenah
Rav mahli bir’ot, kah’shi u-m’san’ot, yafot u-vriyot basar va-tir’enah
Hashkeh tzur mei rosh, tzar einav yiltosh, yom einai likdosh Yisrael tish’ena
Matai tar’eh ot, yesha’ El kor’ot, lakh u-l’kha nos’ot, kolan va-taronah
Ha-mal’akh ha-go’el, lifnei dal sho’el, ana ha-El,
El Avraham hakreh na