Psalms 118:19, words by King David, music by Reb Yosil Rosenzweig
In 1971 I was part of a growing community of men and women who were “returnees” to a more wholesome and committed Jewish lifestyle. Though raised in an orthodox home and having had an envious Jewish education, I sowed some wild oats in the 60's and reconnected with Torah observance by way of my Israel experience. This growing movement was based in the post six-day war Jerusalem and I was studying for rabbinic ordination and teaching at the Diaspora Yeshiva on Mt. Zion.
We were all in our early and mid-twenties and many of us were meeting women going through the same process and getting married. I had formed a small wedding band to play Jewish music at these weddings and bring joy to the new couple and their guests.
At one particular wedding we were playing a series of very upbeat songs, I wanted to transition into the next song but my mind went blank and I couldn’t think of any song that would fit the spirit. We did not stop playing but did some instrumental material when this song just popped out. It won the second prize in the 1978 Israeli Chassidic Song Festival and has been a Jewish standard ever since.
lyrics
פִּתְחוּ לִי שַֽׁעֲרֵי צֶֽדֶק, אָבֹא בָם אוֹדֶה יָהּ
.............................................
Pitchu Li, Sharei Tzedeck, Avo Vam, Ode kah
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Open up the gates of righteousness, I will enter and thank God.
credits
from Live - Pitchu Li / Open up the Gates,
released December 5, 2010
Lyrics - Kind David / Psalms
Composition - Reb Yosil
Vocals - Reb Yosil
12 String Guitar - Reb Yosil
Electric Guitar - Joe Stanley
Violin - Ruby Harris
Bass - Mark Betz
Percussion - Dan Wolak
Drums - Marcus Roland
Flute/Sax - David Appleman
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