I came across this new beautiful rendition of one of the oldest Hebrew songs. It was written in the 16th century by Rabbi Israel Ben Najara, one of the greatest poets in Jewish history. He studied Torah with his father and was influenced by the spirituality of music and poetry.
Rabbi Najara immigrated to Israel and settled in the city of Safad where he continued to compose songs in Eretz Yisrael. Unfortunately due to a deadly plague in Safad, Najara was forced to leave and settled in Gaza and became the Chief Rabbi of Gaza. Najara passed away in 1625 and is buried in the ancient Jewish cemetery in Gaza.
The song is a hymn of praise to God, a major theme of Shabbat liturgy. It is chanted on Friday evenings in all parts of the world. After describing the wonders of God's creation, the poet, Kabbalistically inspired, concludes with a prayer for the redemption of Yisrael and the restoration of Yerushalayim, "the city of beauty."
STEP SHEET:
PART I. A. (OPEN MAYIM STEP TO R, STEP R FORWARD, ROCK FORWARD ON L, RE
COVER BACK ON R, LIFT L)
1-4 Step R to R, Step L across R, Step R to R, Step L behind R
5-8 (Face LOD) Step R forward, Rock forward on L, Recover back on R, Lift L
B. (BACK L YEMENITE STEP MAKING 1/4 TURN L TO FACE CENTER, TOUCH R
TOE BESIDE L, MAKE FULL TURN R IN 3 STEPS, TOUCH L TOE BESIDE R)
1-4 Step L back, Step-close R beside L, Step L forward making 1/4 turn L to face center, touch
R toe beside L.
5-8 Make Full R turn in 3 steps (R,L,R), Touch L toe beside R
C. (WALK 3 STEPS TO L, TOUCH R TOE BESIDE L; MAKE 1/2 TURN R IN 2
STEPS, STEP R BEHIND L, MAKE 1/4 TURN L ON L)
1-4 Step L to L, Step R across L, Step L to L, Touch R toe beside L
5-8 1/4 Turn R on R to face LOD, another 1/4 Turn R on L to face outside, Step R behind L,
Make 1/4 turn L on L to face LOD)
D. (MAKE 1/4 TURN L ON R, STEP L TO L, STEP R ACROSS L, HOLD; STEP L
BACK, STEP R TO R, STEP L ACROSS R, TOUCH R TOE BESIDE L)
1-4 Make 1/4 turn L on R to face center, Step L to L, Step R across L, hold
5-8 Step L back, Step R to R, Step L across R, Touch R toe beside L.
E. (MAKE 1/2 TURN R IN 2 STEPS, STEP R BEHIND L, MAKE 1/4 TURN L ON L,
1/4 TURN L ON R, STEP L TO L, STEP R ACROSS L, RECOVER BACK ON R)
1-4 1/4 Turn R on R to face LOD, another 1/4 Turn R on L to face outside, Step R behind L,
Make 1/4 Turn L on L to face LOD.
5-8 Make 1/4 Turn L on R to face center, Step L to L, Step R across L, Recover back on L
F. (MAKE FULL R TURN IN 3 STEPS, TOUCH L BESIDE R; MAKE FULL TURN L IN
3 STEPS, TOUCH R BESIDE L)
1-4 Make Full Turn R in 3 steps (R,L,R), Touch L beside R
5-8 Make Full Turn L in 3 steps (L,R,L), Touch R beside L
PART II. A. (MAKE 1 1/4 TURN R TO THE CENTER IN 3 STEPS, HOLD; L CHERKESSIYA)
1-4 Make 1 1/4 Turn R to the center in 3 steps (R,L,R), hold (to face center)
5-8 Step L forward, Recover back on R, Step L back, Recover forward on R
B. (STEP L ACROSS R, RECOVER BACK ON R, SWAY L TO L, SWAY R TO R,
MAKE 1/4 TURN L ON L, PIVOT 1/2 TURN L IN 2 STEPS, TOUCH R TOE BESIDE L)
1-4 Step L across R, Recover back on R, Step L to L, Step R to R
5-8 Make 1/4 Turn L on L, Pivot 1/2 Turn L in 2 steps (R,L) to face LOD, Touch R toe beside L
C. (MAKE 1 1/4 TURN R OUT OF CENTER IN 3 STEPS, HOLD; L CHERKESSIYA)
1-4 Make 1 1/4 Turn R out of the center in 3 steps (R,L,R), hold (to face out of center)
5-8 Step L forward, Recover back on R, Step L back, Recover forward on R
D. (STEP L ACROSS R, RECOVER BACK ON R, SWAY L TO L, SWAY R TO R)
MAKE 1/4 TURN L ON L, MAKE 1/4 TURN L ON R, STEP L BEHIND R, TOUCH R
TOE BESIDE L)
1-4 Step L across R, Recover back on R, Sway L to L, Sway R to R (holding arms up in the air)
5-8 1/4 Turn L on L, Make 1/4 Turn L on R (to face center), Step L behind R, Touch R toe beside L.
REPEAT DANCE. *
*NOTE: There is One Restart !! On the 3rd repetition, do Part I. (A-D), then restart the dance and do Part I. (A-F).
SEQUENCE: I, II, I, II, I (A-D), I (A-F).
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