VEHASI'ENU | Historic Jewish Festival Prayer Melody (1916)

VEHASI'ENU is a historic musical setting of the Hebrew festival prayer “Vehasi'enu Adonai Eloheinu et birkat mo'adecha”, meaning, “Bestow upon us, Lord our God, the blessing of Your festivals.” The words form part of the Amidah, the central standing prayer recited on Jewish festivals. The melody was composed by Rabbi Ben Zion Halberstam (1874–1941), the second leader of the Hasidic Jewish community in the town of Bobowa in southern Poland. Halberstam was also a prolific composer of Jewish religious melodies. He was murdered in Lwów in 1941 during the Holocaust. Halberstam composed this tune during Sukkot 5677, in October 1916, and it was subsequently sung during the Jewish festivals. Recording credits Traditional prayer text: Jewish festival liturgy Melody: Rabbi Ben Zion Halberstam Vocals: Rabbi Mordechai Volvie Landau Piano: Rabbi Chaim Yitzchok Goldman Recorded: Eve of Shavuot 5784 / 2024 Presented by: Yitzchak Blum, great-grandson of the composer The prayer text Vehasi'enu is part of the festival Amidah and asks for the blessing, life, peace, gladness, and joy of the sacred festivals.