Welcoming Shabbat in Los Angeles with Lechu Neranena by the Nashuva Band

The interfaith Nashuva Band was formed in Los Angeles 14 years ago by Rabbi Naomi Levy as part of a spiritual community with a goal of "infusing joy and meaning into Jewish prayer and practice," and, according to Levy, "to reach out to Jews who have walked away from Judaism or who have never had a meaningful or spiritual Jewish experience." 

The band’s music is full of big, catchy melodies, which Levy said is part of the congregation’s larger goal of attracting unaffiliated Jews who don’t realize they are yearning for spiritual fulfillment. When Levy worked previously as a rabbi at a Conservative synagogue in Venice Beach, she’d see many stragglers poke their heads in to Saturday morning services but leave after a few minutes.

The band's latest album, Heaven on Earth: Songs of the Soul puts 13 Jewish prayers to a mix of African-inspired world music beats and calming folk melodies. It includes Lechu Neranena, the Kabbalat Shabbat melody that we're sharing today.

We're still trying to figure out why they use the Shabbat-ending Havdalah candle to start Shabbat, but hey, it's California! Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

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