"Yihyu L’ratzon" and "Oseh Shalom"

Dennis Arlan, z”l, the composer of this setting of “Yihyu L’ratzon,” was a cantorial student at HUC-JIR when he passed away in 1979 at the age of 33. Arlen was a beautiful singer and pianist whose interpretation of this text is filled with deep expression as well as a sense of personal yearning.

These words (taken from Psalm 19), “May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable to you, God, my rock and my redeemer,” are found at the end of every Amida. Arlen’s soaring melody and evocative piano writing truly brings new meaning to this prayer petitioning God to find the words we utter and songs we sing pleasing and worthy of God’s love.

Following this, we transition to “Oseh Shalom,” the prayer which calls upon God, the Maker of peace, to help us and the entire world experience the radical gift of peace.

“Yihyu L’ratzon”: Dennis Arlan (1945-1979)

“Oseh Shalom”: Debbie Friedman (1951-2011), arr. Joyce Rosenzweig

Voice: CBST Cantorial Intern Sam Rosen

Piano: CBST Music Director Joyce Rosenzweig