Ki Eshmera Shabbat (from "Sephardic Journey") – Jeffrey Strauss/Apollo's Fire

Ki Eshmera Shabbat (If I Guard the Sabbath)
from "Sephardic Journey"

Jeffrey Strauss, baritone
APOLLO'S FIRE | on period instruments
Jeannette Sorrell, Artistic Director & Conductor

Performed February 2016
Maltz Performing Arts Center, Cleveland

Karina Schmitz, viola
Tina Bergmann, hammered dulcimer
Brian Kay, oud
William Simms, theorbo
Rex Benincasa, percussion

LYRICS:

Ki ‘eshmerà Shabbàt,
‘El yishmerèini.
‘Ot hi l’olmèi ad
Beinò uveinì.
[Repeat as Refrain.]

If I guard the Sabbath,
God will watch over me.
The Sabbath is a seal
Between God and me forever.
[Repeat as Refrain.]

Bò emtze‘àh tamìd
Nòaḥ l’nafshì,
Hinèi l’dor rishòn
Natàn kedoshì,
Mofèt b’tèt lèchem mishnèh vashishì,
Kàkha b’khòl shishì
Yakhpìl mizonì.
[Refrain.]

On the Sabbath I find rest for my soul.
From the beginning,
God gave a sign:
Double-bread on the sixth day.
So may my food be doubled
On every sixth day.
Refrain.

Hu yom m’chubàd
Hu yom ta‘anugìm,
Lèḥem v’yàyin tov
Basàr v’dagìm,
Has’meḥìm bo,
Hem simḥà masigìm,
Ki yom s’maḥòt hu.
[Refrain.]

It is a day we honor,
A day of pleasures:
Bread and good wine,
Meat and fish.
Those who rejoice on the Sabbath
Attain happiness,
For it is a day of joy.
Refrain.

Hebrew transliteration & English translation by Jeffrey Strauss

Tour booking inquiries for Apollo's Fire:
Opus 3 Artists

https://apollosfire.org/
Passion.Period.

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Video production by Erica Brenner