Debbie Friedman died of pneumonia on Sunday morning, the 4th day of the month of Shvat. She had sung her heart (and ultimately, her lungs) out to revivify the Jewish people -- to sing new heart into the highest and most spiritually rich version of being Jewish and being human. This song is not only by her but for her. Not only in her memory, looking toward the past, but going forward, envisioning her future and the future that she helped to call us toward.
L'chi lach to a land that I will show you
Lech l'cha to a place you do not know
L'chi lach; on your journey I will bless you,
And you shall be a blessing,
you shall be a blessing,
You shall be a blessing lechi lach
L'chi lach is the feminine version of the phrase that in the Bible God speaks to send forth Abram and Sarai on their spiritual journey. It means: "Go forth toward your self." Or to pick up the word-play in the sounds of the two words -- "Outward bound, unbind inward." The phrase l'simchat chayim means "for the joy of life."
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