Exodus and the Birth of Song: Rising Song Immersive 2025
Date: May 12, 2025
Author: Julee Ogawa & other Rising Song Attendees
On the Sunday after we welcomed Rabbi Devorah Sacks Mintz to Shir Hadash, a group of eight Shirhadashniks ventured up to Berkeley for the Hadar West Rising Song Immersive. Rabbi Devorah Sacks Mintz, Rabbi David Kasher, and other inspired faculty members led us in a joyful day of communal song. We chose from a variety of learning opportunities to explore how song taps into a richer understanding of our history and reaches a deeper part of our individual and collective souls.
Here’s what a couple of our participants had to say about the experience:
Nigun, a beat, awe
Feel tranquility inspired
Harmonic heart touch
-submitted by David Levy
The day bore out its name.
We were immersed immediately, on entering the sunny courtyard of Chochmat ha Lev, in the milling of smiling people and the aromas of Berkeley-style breakfast.
Before long the voices began to rise and really never stopped.
Singing, singing, from one workshop to another, in circles that seemed to put anyone and everyone in the center.
My voice was lifted out of me with no effort, and my soul rose with it.
-submitted by Rachael Shea