Episode 28: Excavating the Secrets (with Rabbi Deborah Sacks Mintz)
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Excavating the Secrets
We are thrilled to be joined this week by Rabbi Deborah Sacks Mintz, Director of Music and T’fillah at the Hadar Institute. Deborah is an acclaimed teacher, leader, and composer of prayer, and has collaborated on over two dozen albums of original Jewish music. Her beautiful debut album “The Narrow and the Expanse” was released in 2020. In our interview, Deborah reflects on her t’fillah journey (including her years studying ethnomusicology), the prayer leader's toolbox, and her work guiding communities. There are so many gems to excavate!
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(0:59) Our guest today is Rabbi Deborah Sacks Mintz
You can find Deborah’s music on bandcamp, spotify, and YouTube
(1:05) The Hadar Institute empowers Jews to create and sustain vibrant, practicing, egalitarian communities of Torah, Avodah (service), and Hesed (loving kindness).
(1:44) Deborah is part of Joey Weisenberg Hadar Ensemble
(1:52) You can spot and hear Deborah as part of Josh Warshawsky’s Chaverai Nevarech ensemble
(1:53) Listen to New Moon Rising’s new live album
(2:00) The Jewish Theological Seminary is the Conservative Movement’s institution of higher learning in New York City. They have rabbinical, cantorial, educational, and master’s degree programs.
(3:22) T’fillah as empowerment
(4:56) Nusach- the musical modes used in prayer services that change depending on the time of day, week, and year
(3:22) Shul is the yiddish word for synagogue
(6:43) Deep dive into ethnomusicology
(7:43) Dr. Paul Rardin, currently Elaine Brown Chair of Choral Music and Chair of the Vocal Arts Department at Temple University
(8:27) Kevah- fixed prayer, the “form”. Kavannah- Fluid prayer, the “fire”
(12:46) Carnatic or Karnatak music is the classical music of South India
(13:20) Oseh Shalom– The Jewish liturgical prayer for peace found at the end of the Amidah, Full Kaddish, and grace after meals
(15:19) L’hitpallel is the verb form in Hebrew meaning “to pray” or “to t’fillah.” You can learn more about the etymology of this word in our very first episode!
(18:40) Minyan- singular. Minyanim- plural. The group of ten people needed for traditional prayer. Also used to mean a prayer community.
(18:36) Smicha- Rabbinic ordination
(21:38) This midrash (commentary/story) about King David is from Pesachim 117:a verse 12
(26:08) Anim Zemirot, also called “Shir HaKavod,” the hymn of glory, is a prayer-poem attributed to Rabbi Yehudah HeChassid, 12th century Germany. It is traditionally said in the musaf (additional) service on Shabbat and holiday mornings.
(27:03) What are the tools in your prayer-leading toolbox?
(30:00) Shaliach Tzibur- Hebrew term for prayer leader, literally translated as “emissary of the community.”
(30:16) Hilchot T’fillah- The ways/laws of prayer.
Rambam’s Mishneh Torah- Code of Jewish law compiled by the great scholar Maimonides between 1170-1180 CE
(31:11) Chutzpah- Yiddish word meaning nerve/audacity
(33:57) Chazzan- Hebrew word for Cantor
(34:10) MiSinai- Literally “from Sinai.” A term used to describe a melody that has been used in a community for so long and is so loved, that the origin is usually lost and it feels like it was given on Mount Sinai with the ten commandments.
(36:36) Simcha- Literally “celebration,” used here to mean a Jewish lifecycle celebration, like a B Mitzvah.
(37:11) Kahal- Community/Congregation
(39:27) Chatzi Kaddish- Literally “half kaddish.” The half, full, and mourner’s Kaddish prayers act like punctuation in a service. The Chatzi Kaddish Deborah is referring to, where the “correct” melody is almost never sung, comes after the Torah service and before Musaf on Shabbat and holidays.
(41:09) Min Hameitzar- “From the Narrow Place.” Deborah’s melody uses the text of Psalm 118 verses 5 and 6.
(42:25) Davka- Hebrew word meaning definitely or specifically