Singing Together
Middle East Benefit Concert
Thank you for joining us!
This performance has been a journey, and we are honored and excited to share it with you.
Here you will find lyrics and information about the music, as well as about the artists, organizations, and people who helped to make this possible.
Enjoy the show!
Eli Eli
Words: Hanna Szenes
Melody: Hanna Szenes
ربي ربي
لا تنهي لنا أبدا
الرمل والمياه
صخيب البحار
بريق السماء
صلاة الإنسان
Oh Lord, my God,
I pray that these things never end:
The sand and the sea,
The rush of the waters,
The thunder of heaven,
The prayer of Man.
אֵלִי, אֵלִי
שֶׁלֹּא יִגָּמֵר לְעוֹלָם
הַחוֹל וְהַיָּם,
רִשְׁרוּשׁ שֶׁל הַמַּיִם,
בְּרַק הַשָּׁמַיִם,
תְּפִלַּת הָאָדָם.
Shayef El Bahr
Words and Melody: Rahbani Brothers
Made famous by Fairuz
Do you see how big the sea is?
Such is my love for you.
Do you see how far the sky is?
As much as the sky is far, such is my love for you.
As big as the sea and as far as the sky,
I love you
My love
I love you.
I waited for you, I called upon you,
I trace your steps on our outings.
You are all that I think about;
You are as the crying of the flowers;
You are the season of birds.
How wide the forest is!
My heart is as wide as the forest.
You, whom I always imagine at my door,
And in my heart.
Do you see how big the sea is?
Such is my love for you.
Do you see how far the sky is?
As much as the sky is far, such is my love for you.
As big as the sea and as far as the sky,
I love you
My love
I love you.
I waited a year for you,
And how long the year is!
I call to the almond trees.
I see you when I awake,
Coming from the morning,
And lost between the almonds leaves.
How small the tear is!
I am a tear in your way.
I want to wish upon a candle
That you will give me your love.
Do you see how big the sea is?
Such is my love for you.
Do you see how far the sky is?
As much as the sky is far, such is my love for you.
As big as the sea and as far as the sky,
I love you
My love
I love you.
شايف البحر شو كبير
كبر البحر بحبك
شايف السما شو بعيدي
بعد السما بحبك
كبر البحر و بعد السما
بحبك
يا حبيبي
بحبك
نطرتك أنا ندهتك أنا
رسمتك على المشاوير
يا هم العمر يا دمع الزهر
يا مواسم العصافير
ما أوسع الغابة
وسع الغابة قلبي
يا مصور عبابي
ومصور بقلبي
شايف البحر شو كبير
كبر البحر بحبك
شايف السما شو بعيدي
بعد السما بحبك
كبر البحر وبعد السما
بحبك
يا حبيبي
بحبك
نطرتك سني
و يا طول السني
واسأل شجر الجوز
شوفك بالصحو
جاي من الصحو
وضايع بورق اللوز
ما أصغر الدمعة
أنا دمعة بدربك
بدي أندر شمعة
وتخليني حبك
وشايف البحر شو كبير
كبر البحر بحبك
شايف السما شو بعيدي
بعد السما بحبك
كبر البحر وبعد السما
بحبك
يا حبيبي
بحبك
Longa Shahnaz
Wanis Wartenyan
Erev Shel Shoshanim
Words: Moshe Dor
Melody: Yosef Hadar
An evening of roses
Let's go out to the grove
Myrrh, perfumes, and frankincense
Are a threshold at your feet.
The night falls slowly
A breeze of roses blows
Let me whisper a song to you quietly
A song of love.
At dawn, a dove is cooing
Your hair is filled with dew
Your lips to the morning are like a rose
I'll pick it for myself.
The night falls slowly
A breeze of roses blows
Let me whisper a song to you quietly
A song of love.
ليلنا ليل ورود
نمرح في البستان
رحيق الزهر وعطره
لقدك فتان
עֶרֶב שֶׁל שׁוֹשַׁנִים
נֵצֵא נָא אֶל הַבֻּסְתָּן
מוֹר, בְּשָׂמִים, וּלְבוֹנָה
לְרַגְלֵךְ מִפְתָּן
לַיְלָה יוֹרֵד לְאַט
,וְרוּחַ שׁוֹשָׁן נוֹשְׁבָה
הָבָה אֶלְחַשׁ לָךְ שִׁיר בַּלָאט
זֶמֶר שֶׁל אַהֲבָה
שַׁחַר הוֹמָה יוֹנָה
,רֹאשֵׁךְ מָלֵא טְלָלִים
פִּיךְ אֶל הַבֹּקֶר שׁוֹשַׁנָה
אֶקְטְפֶנוּ לִי
לַיְלָה יוֹרֵד לְאַט
,וְרוּחַ שׁוֹשָׁן נוֹשְׁבָה
הָבָה אֶלְחַשׁ לָךְ שִׁיר בַּלָאט
זֶמֶר שֶׁל אַהֲבָה
Nassam Alayna El Hawa
Words and Melody: Rahbani Brothers
Made famous by Fairuz
In Arabic, the term ‘hawa’ can mean both breezing air and/or love.This song sometimes plays on the duality of this term)
The air breezed upon us, from the road of the valley;
Oh breeze, for love’s sake, Take me home
Oh love, oh love, that is flying in the breeze.
There’s a flower, a small window and a picture;
Take me to them, oh breeze,
I’m scared, oh my heart,
To grow up in this estrangement,
And my home wouldn’t recognize me.
Take me, take me, Take me home!
What has happened to us, my love?
We used to stay together, but we have separated.
What has happened?
And the sun is still crying, by the door, speechless,
Only the love of my home speaks now:
Take me, take me,
Take me to my homeland!
نسم علينا الهوا من مفرق الوادي
يا هوا دخل الهوا خدني على بلادي
يا هوا يا هوا يللي طاير بالهوا
في منتورة طاقة و صورة خدني لعندن يا هوا
فزعانة يا قلبي أكبر بهالغربة ما تعرفني بلادي
خدني خدني خدني على بلادي
شو بنا شو بنا يا حبيبي شو بنا؟
كنت و كنا تضلو عنا و افترقنا شو بنا
و بعدا الشمس بتبكي عالباب و ما تحكي يحكي هوا بلاديخدني
خدني خدني على بلادي
Firn Di Mekhutonim Aheym
Der Heyser Bulgar
Folk Medley
Dodi Li
Words: Song of Songs
My beloved is for me, and I am for them
A shepherd among the roses.
Who is this, rising out of the desert,
Perfumed with myrrh and frankincense?
You have captured my heart, my sister, my bride.
Awaken, north wind, and come, south wind.
Melody: Nira Chen
דּוֹדִי לִי וַאֲנִי לוֹ, הָרֹעֶה בַּשּׁוֹשַׁנִּים
מִי זֹאת עֹלָה מִן-הַמִּדְבָּר
מְקֻטֶּרֶת מֹר וּלְבוֹנָה
לִבַּבְתִּנִי אֲחֹתִי כַלָּה
עוּרִי צָפוֹן וּבוֹאִי תֵימָן
Dashti Suite
Folk Medley
Arranged by Sirvan Manhoobi
Insan
Words: Catrene Malshey
Melody: Lisa Rooney
What does it matter to me that you are an Arab
What does it matter that you are a Jew
What does it matter that you are a Muslim What does it matter that you are a Christian
Aren't we all Human and walking in this time And until time is aware of this,
Compose melodies for me
לֹא מְשַׁנֶּה שֶׁאַתָּה יְהוּדִי
לֹא מְשַׁנֶּה שֶׁאַתָּה עֲרָבִי
לֹא מְשַׁנֶּה שֶׁאַתָּה מֻסְלְמִי
לֹא מְשַׁנֶּה שֶׁאַתָּה נוֹצְרִי
כֻּלָּנוּ אָדָם
וְחַיִּים בָּעוֹלָם
עַד שֶׁיִּתְעוֹרֵר הַזְּמַן
תְּנַגֵּן לִי שִׁירִים
شو همي إنك عربي
شو همي إنك يهودي
شو همي إنك مسلم
شو همي إنك مسيحي
مش كلنا إنسان ومشيين بها الزمان
وتيوعى الزمان الفلي الحان
Artists:
Catrene Malshey is a passionate vocalist. Born and raised in Haifa - Palestine / Israel, Catrene saw the importance of diversity and the value in sharing her childhood music to remind the world that there are so many people like her, and so many children who want to see the Middle East full of successful stories. Growing up with people from all over the world and learning how to live together and accept differences, she believes that melodies and music are the best magic that can bring people together.
Through her voice and energy, she brings beautiful songs to our ears in Arabic (different dialects) and English. Singing songs that promote messages of love, peace and healing is Catrene's dream come true.
She has a Master's degree in Social Work, and published the book "Peace Through Healing: My Vision for a New Middle East" along with Carrie Glenny (available on Amazon).
Catrene also writes and records her own songs (available on YouTube).
Asaf Ophir began his professional career in musical theaters in Israel, while studying at the Rimon School of Jazz and Contemporary Music, and later at the Jerusalem Academy. Arriving in the United States in 2014, he began to perform in musicals around the Bay Area such as the award winning Love Sick in 2017, and The People in the Picture in 2018. Finding a home away from home, Ophir can most often be seen in world music projects on Jewish, Arabic, and Balkan stages.
Throughout his career he has shared the stage with artists such as Miri Mesika, Avi Kushnir, Galit Giat, David De’or, Rana Farhan, Emel, Ustad Mahwash, and Barbara Streisand.
The San Francisco Chronicle writes: "Asaf Ophir gives the clarinet the timbre of a trumpet, then a violin, then a raspy scream… the instrument’s wail almost becomes too plaintive and beautiful to bear.”
Sirvan Manhoobi is a Kurdish Iranian oud and tar player and composer. He has drawn influence from and studied under such artists as Mohamadreza Lotfi, Mehran Rohani, Dariush Talaee, Hamid Motabasem, Hafez Modirzadeh, and Siamak Jahangiri. While living and performing in Iran, he was chosen for the Best Soloist award in three Iranian music festivals in 2006, 2008, and 2009.
After completing his MA in Archaeology from Tehran University, Sirvan moved to the United States and continued his musical journey as a performer, composer, and instructor of Iranian classical and folklore music. He established the Bamdad Ensemble, and collaborated with great artists such as Bijan Kamkar, Aziz Shahrokh, Ardeshir Kamkar, and Ismaeel Sabour, as well as composing and playing the tar for the renowned Iranian director Bahram Bezraei, in his play “Tarabnameh” (2016).
Mohini Vora has studied and performed various percussion styles for decades, most recently in Middle-Eastern and Balkan music. She has performed with many different groups across the Bay Area on tarabuka / Egyptian tabla, davul / tabla beledi, frame drum, and drum set. She met Catrene Malshey while performing with the SF Sahra Band, a project highlighting music of the Arabic diaspora & traditional instruments. Mohini also studies bellydance and Kathak, and lives with her family in San Mateo.
We are raising money for the following organizations:
Food distribution, shelter provision, and emergency aid for families in Gaza and the West Bank. Currently focusing on shelters, especially tents, in preparation for the winter ahead.
As an organization, working to empower women in Palestinian society, and striving toward a peaceful resolution to the conflict along with Women Wage Peace.
Supporting children in Israel who have lost one or both parents in the October 7 attack, including Arabs and Bedouins.
Sister organization to Women of the Sun, women who work to bring about a peaceful resolution to the conflict, based on their shared belief in the Mother's Call: That the majority of the people in our region are united in the human desire for a future of peace, freedom, equality, rights, and security for our children and the next generations.