Victoria Hanna- Aleph-bet (Hosha'ana)

Wow. This stunning performance by vocal artist Victoria Hanna is like a splash of ice cold water in your face. Victoria Hanna grew up in a religious environment (her father was a Sephardi Rabbi) and uses her unique voice to create modern art out of sacred texts. Thanks to Tamir Muskat's golden touch and Asaf Korman's artistic vision the result is simply breathtaking.

Aleph Bet Gimel Dalet Hey Vav Zayin Het Tet Yud Caf Lamed Mem Nun Samech Ayin Peh Tzadik Kuf Reysh Shin Taf

Man and beast
Flesh and spirit and soul
Sinew and bone and skin
Likeness and image and embroidery
Greatness resembling futility
And compared to images of beasts
Splendor and figure and stature
Renewing the face of the earth
Planting trees of soul
Wineries and standing grain
Vineyards and sycamores
For the completed land
Powerful rains for healing
Oblivion for giving life
Shrubbery for growth
Sweet fruits for strength
Flowers for empowerment
Plants for fulfillment
Cool waters for flow
Droplets for completeness
Drink for elevation
Hanging by a thread

Save us now: Hanging by a thread. Save us now.

Lord who saves
Other than you there is no Savior
You are powerful and abundantly able to save
I am impoverished and need to be saved
God is the Savior
And delivers and saves
Those who cry to You-save
Those who yearn for You-save
Satisfy Your lambs
Cause an abundance of crops-save
Let the wind bring the soaring clouds
Let the stormy rains roll in
Let the clouds not be withheld
God who opens a hand and satisfies
Your thirsty ones-satisfy
Your callers-save
Your beloved-save
Your seekers-save
Your wholesome ones-save

Save us now: Hanging by a thread. Save us now.

*Please take the translation lightly, the rich Hebrew here is very much out of my league. I loosely translated the first part of the Hossana, a prayer for the rain sung on Sukkot, and used a translation found on the song's YouTube page for the second part. In both parts the sentences in Hebrew begin with each letter of the aleph-bet, in consecutive order. Be sure to check out a "rough draft" of this song in a vocal duet with the very charming Bobby McFerrin,