If I had to pick the top three songs that best represent the repertoire of the Mekor Haim Choir, I would choose Chiski Chizki, Avram Avinu, and Rozhinkes Mit Mandlen.

Chiski Chizki is a poem written in Hebrew by Isaac Aboab de Fonseca for the opening of the Spanish and Portuguese synagogue in Amsterdam in 1675. It was set to music for three voices, in the Baroque style, by Abraham Casseres. The lyrics speak of the passage from darkness to light, referring to the transition of Portuguese Jews from the darkness of the Inquisition to the light of religious freedom in the Netherlands. The beautiful, dancing melody is a pleasure to sing and a favourite of our audiences. It is a privilege to sing this song for the Jewish Community of Porto 350 years after it was written.

Avram Avinu, also known as Cuando el Rey Nimrod, tells the story in Ladino of the birth of Abraham, the father of the Jewish People. It mixes ancient legends from various sources including the Midrash and the Zohar. The text and melody are probably from the Ottoman empire in the 18th Century with the more modern version, that we sing, probably comes from Morocco in the 19th Century. Part of the mission of the Choir is to revive and promote Ladino culture in the Community, so we enjoy singing this lively song too.

Rozhnikes Mit Mandlen is a popular Yiddish lullaby written in 1880 by Abraham Goldfaden for the opera Shulamis. The lyrics tell of a mother singing to her son about his future profession selling raisins and almonds. This symbolises the bitter and the sweet, like our lives. Since we perform regularly in the Holocaust Museum of Porto, it is important for us to present songs that preserve the memory of Jewish culture in Eastern Europe.

The Mekor Haim Choir

The Choir performs Jewish music. Co-founded by community members Yonah Yaphe and Luciano Moura, and directed by award-winning conductor and composer Leonardo Mendonça, the choir has a repertoire that includes songs in Ladino, Yiddish, German, songs related to the Holocaust, and especially songs from the Jewish liturgy in Hebrew. This includes works by Salomone Rossi, who composed in the Baroque period, nineteenth-century melodies from the Spanish and Portuguese synagogue in London, compositions by Ernest Bloch from the twentieth century, and others by modern Israeli fcimposers.

The repertoire is composed of three dozen songs:

- Fifteen Jewish Baroque Songs

1. Barechu – Lyrics: Psalm 134, Music: Salomone Rossi XVII C

Blessed be the Lord, the Blessed for ever and ever.

2. Kaddish Shalem – Lyrics: Prayer century. I, Music: Salomone Rossi XVII C

Make peace above, He in His mercy will make peace upon us and upon all Israel Amen.

3. Hallelujah Halleli Nafshi – Lyrics: Psalm 146, S. Rossi XVII C

The Lord protects the stranger and sustains the fatherless and the widow but frustrates the purpose of the wicked.

4. Shir Hama'alot – Lyrics: Psalm 128, S. Rossi XVII C

Your wife shall be as a fruitful vine in your house; Your children will be like olive shoots around your table.

5. Mizmor LeAssaf – Lyrics: Psalm 82. S. Rossi 17th C

God is in the congregation of the mighty, judge in the midst of the gods. How long will you judge unjustly, and accept the people of the wicked? (Selah.) Do justice to the poor and the orphan; justify the afflicted and the needy. Deliver the poor and the needy; take them out of the hands of the wicked.

6. Al Naharot Bavel – Lyrics: Psalm 137 S. Rossi XVII C

By the rivers of Babylon, we sat there and wept when we remembered Zion

7. Adon Olam - Shabbat Hymn, XIV century S. Rossi XVII C

The Lord of the Universe who reigned before anything was created. /When everything was done by his will, He was recognized as King.

8. Hishki Hizki - Lyrics: Isaac Aboab de Fonseca, Music: Abraham Casseres, XVII C

My Beloved, strengthen me every day, quickly illuminate my darkness, my King. O night, my sun will not yet be extinguished. Enlighten me with the light of your sun, my King.

Shabbat Songs

9. Lecha Dodi, Letra XVI C, Music: M. Zeira XX C

Come, my friend, to meet the bride, Peace of the Sabbath I bless.

10. Shalom Aleichem - Lyrics: XVI C, Music: I. Goldfarb, Arr. G. Aldema XX C

Peace be with you, Angels of heaven, Angels of the Most High, Of the King, of the King of kings, The Holy One, blessed be He.

11. Veshomeru - Lyrics: Exodus 31:16, Music: L. Lewandoski XIX C

And the children of Israel shall keep the Sabbath, keeping the Sabbath throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant.

12. Magen Avot - Lyrics: Y. Kimhi XII C Arr. Y. Braun XX C

Shield of the fathers, with his word, he raises the dead with his words, the holy God there is none like him.

13. Adon Olam - Lyrics: S. Ibn Gabirol. XI C, Music: David Aaron de Sola XVIII C

The Lord of the Universe who reigned, before anything was created. When everything was done by His will, He was recognized as King.

14. Kol Berue - Letter: S. Ibn Gabirol XI C, Music: E. Aguillar XIX C

All creatures, above and below, testify and proclaim as one; "God is one and His Name is one." From them, they know that everything is yours,You are God, majestic.

15. Ma Tovu - Lyrics: Numbers 24:5, Psalms 5:8 Music: L. Lewandowski XIX C

How beautiful are thy tents, and thy tabernacles Israel.

- Three psalms

16. Yhiyu Leratzon – Lyrics: Psalm 19:14 Music: Ernest Bloch XX C

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to You, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

17. Tzadik K'Tamar Yifrach - Lyrics: Psalm 92:13-16 Music: L. Lewandowski XIX C

The righteous will blossom like a palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon, planted in the house of the Lord,

18. Hallel – Lyrics Psalm 117 Music: E. Aguillar XIX C

Praise all nations, praise all peoples. For his lovingkindness is great toward us, and God's truth endures forever. Hallelujah.

- Three songs in Ladino

19. Avraham Avinu - Lyrics: XVIII century, Music: XIX century

Abraham Avinu, dear father, blessed father, light of Israel.

20. Tzur Mishelo/La Rosa Enflorece (Shabbat Hymn, XIV C, Music: Ladino melody)

We eat until we are satisfied and there is still food left, according to the word of God.

21. Mama yo no tengo visto/Hitrag'ut Hebrew letter: Yehuda Karni, Arr. Paul Ben Haim XX C

Mother, I have never seen a bird with blue eyes, with red hair like cinnamon and white skin like jasmine.

Two songs in Yiddish

22. Rozhinkes mit Mandlen (Raisins and Almonds) – Lyrics and music: Avraham Goldfadden, Arr. Schreibman/Verkaik XIX C

In the Temple, in a corner of a room, the widow Bat-Zion sits alone. She lulls her only son, Yidele, to put him to sleep with a sweet song.

23. Oyfn Pripichok (By the Hearth) – Lyrics and Music M. Warshavsky XIX C Arr A. Levanon

In the fireplace, a fire burns, and in the house it is hot. The rabbi is teaching the little children the alphabet.

Three songs about Jewish celebrations

24. Eliyahu Hanavi – Lyrics: Haggadah of Pesach, Music: Trans. Arr. Y. Braun XX C

The prophet Elijah will come quickly to us with the Messiah, son of David.

25. MaozTzur Hanukkah Hymn, XIII C, Music: Benedetto Marcello XVII C

My Refuge, my Rock of Salvation! It is good to sing Your praises.

26. Avinu Malkenu - Lyrics: Yom Kippur prayers, Music: Trans., Arr.: David Ben Or

May our Father our King have mercy on us and answer us, for we have no meritorious deeds; deal with us in a charitable and kind manner and deliver us.

- Four Songs of Memory

27. Hayedu Hadmaot – Lyrics: Yehuda Halevi XII C, Music: C. Karchevski, XIX C, Arr: Y. Sharett/U. Givon/S. Giverman

Do our tears know who shed them? Do our hearts know who turned them over? They were turned over when their light was buried in the earth.

28. Wiegala - Lyrics and music: Ilse Weber XX C

Wiegala, wiegala, how quiet the world is! No sound disturbs the sweet rest, sleep, my son, sleep you too. Wiegala, wiegala, how quiet the world is!

29. Ani Ma'amin – Lyrics: Maimonides, XII C, Music: Azriel Fastag, Arr. Seth Wohl XX C

I believe with total faith in the coming of the Messiah, I believe. And even though he may tarry, I will wait for him. I believe.

30. Hatikvah - Lyrics: Naftali Imber XIX C, Music: Cenci XVI C

While within the heart, the soul of a Jew still yearns, and onward, towards the ends of the east, an eye still beholds Zion; our hope is not yet lost, the hope of two thousand years, of being a free nation in our land, the land of Zion and Jerusalem.