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The beauty of music has always enriched Jewish holidays and simcha's. Each event has its own melody or "nusach", from the mournful cries of Yom Kippur, which move us to atone for our sins, to the joyful melodies of L'Cha Dodi and the Kabbalos Shabbos service, which prepare us for the weekly day of rest.

A bris is a great simcha (happy occasion). We welcome a new Jewish life, and we are happy to see him fulfill his first mitzvah (commandment).

We traditionally sing "Simen Tov u Mazel Tov" at the bris to express our joy. Cantor Martin Goldstein has graciously provided his musical expertise in performing "Simen Tov u Mazel Tov", and "Y'did Nefesh". While "Simen Tov" expresses our joy and good wishes to the baby and his family, "Y'did Nefesh", written by the sixteenth century Kabbalist, Rabbi Eliezer Azikri, is about our love and appreciation of G-d and everything He provides us.

Simen Tov u Mazel Tov

Y'did Nefesh

click on the song title to listen to it play!

These songs are in an MP3 format.  Windows Media Player, RealAudio, QuickTime and other popular music players should play these songs when you click on them.  You may download one of these free players by clicking on their names above.

These are the words to "Simen Tov u Mazel Tov". If you are not familiar with the melody, please practice it before the bris, so you'll be able to sing along!

Verse One

Simen Tov u Mazel Tov u Mazel Tov u Simen Tov

Simen Tov u Mazel Tov u Mazel Tov u Simen Tov

Simen Tov u Mazel Tov u Mazel Tov u Simen Tov

Ye-eh La-anu

Verse Two

Ye-eh Lanu Ye-he Lanu u L'chol Yisrael

Ye-eh Lanu Ye-he Lanu u L'chol Yisrael

The meaning of this traditional tune is that we hope this simcha will bring joy and good luck, not only to the people celebrating this festive occasion, but to all Jewish people in all of our endeavors.

Mazel Tov!

 

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