okay, let's try and dissect this beautiful song through its jewish sources.
"You quench my thirsting soul" - the first line is a direct reference to the second track in the album - Tz'ama lecha nafshi - a psalm text which is translated as.. "my soul is thirsty to you". so, he startes by concluding that. BTW, the way Matisyahu is chanting is an old Chabbadic Niggun (melody). Very beloved by the famous Rebbe.
"Hashem's rays fire blaze light my way light of my life" - Matisyahu uses that verse (kinda) also in "King without a crown". I.. Can't seem to find any source indicating it. There are several psalms regarding Hashem's usage of fire but... I dont know. Doesnt seem to fit the scriptures but I simply LOVE that verse.
Maybe this psalm - Psalm 18:8, NASB: "Smoke went up out of His nostrils, And fire from His mouth was devouring; Coals burned from it."
"Soaring to shamayim (heaven) where the angels call in love"
Reminds me of the "sanctus" version in the prayer-of-18, but not quite
"Hashem rules the world and Israel is his wife" - That's a very chassidic-kabbalistic way of expression. According to most branches of Kabbalah, the spirit of the people of Israel is embodied as the feminine version of G-d, named "Sechina" (perhaps might be translated as - place of being, place of belonging).
"Love you yes my G-d with all my heart my soul and my might"
The first verse of the first Parsha of the complete Shma Israel prayer (which is chanted next, and with proper usage of G-ds name, since Matisyahu isn't using the full name which is done only during pray time, but rather he uses the proper term - Hashem - "The Name". "Veahavtha et hashem elokeicha, bechol levavecha u-vechol nafshecha u-vechol meodecha" -
ואהבת את ה' אלוקיך בכל לבבך ובכל נפשך ובכל מאדך
which is... exactly what's written here.
"When Israel left mitzrayim four fifths got left behind" - famous Rashi on Exodus. Accodring to this important interperter (Rashi, that's a name of wonderus dude from... the tenth century AD? no google!). Apart from Cohen brother's "a Serious Man" that's like the only time I witness someone in media addressing him.
"Pharaoh claimed to be a G-d and claimed to make the Nile"
That's actually probably from of the late Midrash (a fable-legend-commentary piece) from the "Midrash Tanhuma", of Parashat Va'Era (exodus), Siman H'e (5).
"You could see beauty shining externally but that's the story of Greece"
All across the Babylonian Talmud and in various other sources you can find that... animosity of religious scholars and ancient rabbies scolding the greek ideals of beauty as superficial and pagan. I personally am not a fan of xenophobia and belittlement...
"Inside America bleeds, Israel won't you get up from your knees"
Several verses can apply for the knees part... but none too good here.
"Given to the humble one on Mt. Sinai"
Several places indicate that the prophet Moses was a humble one, though I would use my favourite, from the famous hymn/piyuut "Shir HaKavod" or "song of honor/respect/praise" - "The Tefilin knot he had shown to the humble one, the image of good in front of his eyes"
"Shma Y'sroel, Hashem Elokainu, Hashem Echad
(Hear Israel, the lord is our G-d, the lord is one)"
Damn, Matisyahu, singing this song is almost akin to the fast track obligatory prayers - The Shma reading, the first verse and some Torah teaching. Damn.
"Chabad philosophy that's the deepest well-spring"
ach, typical hassid! 70 faces doth the torah has and your'e saying Chabbad's the best? Yalla :)
"Gaining knowledge of G-d while your gaining money"
Okay. I'm quite familiar with the teachings of Chabbad (Tania, etc.). I cannot understand where's the money part is coming, but come to think about it that... almost sounds racist :|
"In a world of separation that's the only way to be"
According to several branches in Kabbalah, our world is one of four different worlds, from the lowest to the highest:
A'asiyah - The world of "doing"
Yetzira - The world of "creation"
Briaah - The world of "creatio ex nihilo" (no proper word in english, but it means - creation out of nothing. When god created the world in genesis, well, that was the verb "Bara" - created out of nothing)
Atziluth - The world of Nobility, the highest form, where god is one and all is one with god... WHERE THERE IS NO SEPERATION. In this world, the world of A'asiyah... we are but seperated.
okay, let's try and dissect this beautiful song through its jewish sources.
"You quench my thirsting soul" - the first line is a direct reference to the second track in the album - Tz'ama lecha nafshi - a psalm text which is translated as.. "my soul is thirsty to you". so, he startes by concluding that. BTW, the way Matisyahu is chanting is an old Chabbadic Niggun (melody). Very beloved by the famous Rebbe.
"Hashem's rays fire blaze light my way light of my life" - Matisyahu uses that verse (kinda) also in "King without a crown". I.. Can't seem to find any source indicating it. There are several psalms regarding Hashem's usage of fire but... I dont know. Doesnt seem to fit the scriptures but I simply LOVE that verse. Maybe this psalm - Psalm 18:8, NASB: "Smoke went up out of His nostrils, And fire from His mouth was devouring; Coals burned from it."
"Soaring to shamayim (heaven) where the angels call in love" Reminds me of the "sanctus" version in the prayer-of-18, but not quite
"Hashem rules the world and Israel is his wife" - That's a very chassidic-kabbalistic way of expression. According to most branches of Kabbalah, the spirit of the people of Israel is embodied as the feminine version of G-d, named "Sechina" (perhaps might be translated as - place of being, place of belonging).
"Love you yes my G-d with all my heart my soul and my might" The first verse of the first Parsha of the complete Shma Israel prayer (which is chanted next, and with proper usage of G-ds name, since Matisyahu isn't using the full name which is done only during pray time, but rather he uses the proper term - Hashem - "The Name". "Veahavtha et hashem elokeicha, bechol levavecha u-vechol nafshecha u-vechol meodecha" - ואהבת את ה' אלוקיך בכל לבבך ובכל נפשך ובכל מאדך which is... exactly what's written here.
"When Israel left mitzrayim four fifths got left behind" - famous Rashi on Exodus. Accodring to this important interperter (Rashi, that's a name of wonderus dude from... the tenth century AD? no google!). Apart from Cohen brother's "a Serious Man" that's like the only time I witness someone in media addressing him.
"Pharaoh claimed to be a G-d and claimed to make the Nile" That's actually probably from of the late Midrash (a fable-legend-commentary piece) from the "Midrash Tanhuma", of Parashat Va'Era (exodus), Siman H'e (5).
"You could see beauty shining externally but that's the story of Greece" All across the Babylonian Talmud and in various other sources you can find that... animosity of religious scholars and ancient rabbies scolding the greek ideals of beauty as superficial and pagan. I personally am not a fan of xenophobia and belittlement...
"Inside America bleeds, Israel won't you get up from your knees" Several verses can apply for the knees part... but none too good here.
"Given to the humble one on Mt. Sinai" Several places indicate that the prophet Moses was a humble one, though I would use my favourite, from the famous hymn/piyuut "Shir HaKavod" or "song of honor/respect/praise" - "The Tefilin knot he had shown to the humble one, the image of good in front of his eyes"
"Shma Y'sroel, Hashem Elokainu, Hashem Echad (Hear Israel, the lord is our G-d, the lord is one)"
Damn, Matisyahu, singing this song is almost akin to the fast track obligatory prayers - The Shma reading, the first verse and some Torah teaching. Damn.
"Chabad philosophy that's the deepest well-spring" ach, typical hassid! 70 faces doth the torah has and your'e saying Chabbad's the best? Yalla :)
"Gaining knowledge of G-d while your gaining money" Okay. I'm quite familiar with the teachings of Chabbad (Tania, etc.). I cannot understand where's the money part is coming, but come to think about it that... almost sounds racist :|
"In a world of separation that's the only way to be" According to several branches in Kabbalah, our world is one of four different worlds, from the lowest to the highest: A'asiyah - The world of "doing" Yetzira - The world of "creation" Briaah - The world of "creatio ex nihilo" (no proper word in english, but it means - creation out of nothing. When god created the world in genesis, well, that was the verb "Bara" - created out of nothing) Atziluth - The world of Nobility, the highest form, where god is one and all is one with god... WHERE THERE IS NO SEPERATION. In this world, the world of A'asiyah... we are but seperated.
God bless, enjoy :)