Hareni (I Hereby…)

A number of years ago, our Chabura in Efrat,  the  Bnei  Machshava  Tova Chabura, spent the summer learning the teachings of Reb Ya’akov Meir Shechter on Ahavat Yisrael. One of the pieces we learned was a whole essay on the custom of the Arizal to not begin davening without saying ‘Hareni Mekabel Alay Mitzvat Asei Shel Ve’ahavta Lere’acha Kamocha.”  

Based on the 34th teaching in Likutei Moharan, Reb Ya’akov Meir was teaching us that each person carries inside a special something that no one else has. The more I love what makes the other person special, the more that this special quality I can see and love in them begins to appear and shine brightly in my own life too. When we begin to pray and actively choose to love all those with whom we are praying, that sense of love and oneness causes the gates of prayer to open wide.  

As a result of being so deeply affected by this teaching, I was davening to compose a melody for these powerful words from the Arizal. A number of weeks after we learned this piece, I was driving home from a performance, and this niggun came down. Since then, we begin every Shabbos morning in our shul with this niggun. In fact, this phrase is the only thing hanging on the walls of our shul.  

A number of months later, we visited  Reb  Ya’akov  Meir  Shcheter, and had the privilege of singing him the niggun he inspired within us. May we all merit to connect to this energy and open the gates of tefillah and of our own hearts.  

This song was sponsored by the Rickman family:  

Meir, our beautiful 15-year-old son, left this world in November 2019. The words of this song so perfectly capture his essence. His care, concern and love for everyone he met has become his legacy.  

Composed and performed by Rav Shlomo Katz  

Vocals: Rav Shlomo Katz  

Guitar: Rav Shlomo Katz