Kosi R’vayah: My Cup Runneth Over

This chant is intended to focus our attention on each of the four cups of wine during the PassoverPassover is a major Jewish holiday that commemorates the Jewish people's liberation from slavery and Exodus from Egypt. Its Hebrew name is Pesakh. Its name derives from the tenth plague, in which God "passed over" the homes of the Jewish firstborn, slaying only the Egyptian firstborn. Passover is celebrated for a week, and many diaspora Jews celebrate for eight days. The holiday begins at home at a seder meal and ritual the first (and sometimes second) night. Jews tell the story of the Exodus using a text called the haggadah, and eat specific food (matzah, maror, haroset, etc). sederLit. Order. The festive meal conducted on Passover night, in a specific order with specific rituals to symbolize aspects of the Exodus from Egypt. It is conducted following the haggadah, a book for this purpose. Additionally, there an ancient tradition to have a seder on Rosh Hashanah, which has been practiced in particular by Sephardi communities. This seder involves the blessing and eating of simanim, or symbolic foods. The mystics of Sefat also created a seder for Tu B'shvat, the new year of the trees.. As you pour each cup, chant the following words from Psalm 23 – “Kosi R’vayah,” translated as “my cup runneth over” or “my cup is overflowing.”

You can learn the three parts of this chant by listening to them separately and together.

Kosi R’vayah is available on the Chanscendence CD by Rabbi Shefa Gold. http://www.rabbishefagold.com/.