Nefesh: Songs for the Soul

Let’s make room for Shabbat and one another!

Nefesh brings the familiar prayers of Friday night into a different setting. It’s a circle of people in an intimate space, sharing songs, reflections, and the joy of welcoming Shabbat together. Taking a cue from Abraham Joshua Heschel’s vision of Shabbat as “the art of surpassing civilization,” Nefesh invites us not to escape our lives, but to loosen the week’s grip on them.

We’ll gather for a song-centered service rooted in tradition and open to discovery. L’cha Dodi, Oseh Shalom, Shabbat Nachamu, and Aleynu join Rena Branson’s “We Are Liberation,” with new and familiar melodies offering fresh ways into familiar prayers.

Sing, clap, hum, or simply listen. There’s no performance to give and no particular voice or background required. The gathering follows a structure while leaving room for comments, questions, and brief conversations. We’ll conclude with a potluck dinner.

This is your chance to gather with old friends and meet fellow Jews whose experiences may differ from yours, and discover what you share. Through song, conversation, and the simple act of gathering, we’ll welcome Shabbat as a time for joy and connection.