Madonna sports a t-shirt at her concerts these days that reads "Kabbalists Do It Better." But what do they do better? I don’t understand.
I’m so out of it.
But I do know a little Hebrew, so I thought I might provide and introduce the Hebrew in one of her songs. It’s from a great poem, really. I applaud Madonna’s taste in Hebrew poetry.
As Christopher Howse explained, on Madonna's album, Confessions on a Dance Floor, the track called Isaac includes the first lines of a poem by Rabbi Shalem Shabazi (c1619-89), a Yemenite poet versed in the Kabbalah. The poem is referred to as Im Nin'Alu, its first words. Here is a video version of Isaac, complete with a long blast on a shofar at the start.
The translation Howse reproduces of the Hebrew that is sung is very free, and drains the poem of its original color. Below I provide the original Hebrew, and a fresh translation that hews to Shabazi’s wording.
On Madonna’s album, it is Yitzhak Sinwani of the London Kabbalah Centre who sings the Hebrew, not Madonna. He sings in Hebrew very well. I wouldn’t mind hearing more of his singing.
A version of אם ננעלו was recorded in 1985 by Ofra Haza (1957-2000), the ninth child of Yemenite immigrants in Tel Aviv. She became quite the star, and her אם ננעלו was a megahit. She sang at the memorial concert following Yitzhak Rabin's assassination. She died after contracting HIV.
On the website dedicated to her, a splendid recording of אם ננעלו by male voices is offered. Ofra’s own version is available here. If you’re like me, and you like horses and barren landscapes, try the video version.
Ofra Haza was a stunner. My own guess is that Madonna put אם ננעלו into one of her hits as a tribute to Ofra Haza. She may have gotten the idea of singing it from her, or Yitzhak Sinwani may have led her in that direction. The song, in any case, resonated with Madonna. Madonna builds on the words of אם ננעלו. She knows, as she says in the song, that you must
Wrestle with your darkness
Angels call your name
Can you hear what they are saying?
Will you ever be the same?
Madonna’s prayer to God is a beautiful one. Did you notice that she prays in her song?
Open up my heart
And cause my lips to speak
Bring the heaven and the stars
Down to earth for me
I’ll be watching to see how things turn out for Madonna. Life is full of surprises.
Here is the Hebrew of the poem she worked from. Yitzhak, after whom her song is named, sings the first lines only:
אם ננעלו
דלתי נדיבים
דלתי
מרום לא ננעלו
אל חי
מרומם על כרובים
כולם
ברוחו יעלו
אם ננעלו
דלתי נדיבים
דלתי
מרום לא ננעלו
אל חי
מרומם על כרובים
כולם
ברוחו יעלו
אל חי
כי הם
אלי כיסאו קרובים
יודו שמו
ויהללו
חיות שהם
רצוא ושבים
מיום
בריאה נכללו
אל חי
אל חי
ובשש
כנפיים סביבים
עפים בעת
יתגלגלו
אם
ננעלו, אם ננעלו
אם ננעלו
דלתי נדיבים
דלתי
מרום לא ננעלו
אל חי
מרום, אל חי מרומם
אל חי
מרומם על כרובים
כולם
ברוחם יעלו
גלגל
ואופן רועשים
מודים
שמו ומקדשים
מזיז
כבודו לובשים
ובשש
כנפיים סביבים
עפים בעת
יתגלגלו
יענו
בקול שירים ערבים
יחד
באותות נדגלו
גלגל
ואופן רועשים
מודים
שמו ומקדשים
מזיו
כבודו לובשים
אל חי
אם ננעלו
דלתי נדיבים
דלתי מרום
לא ננעלו
אל חי
מרומם על כרובים
כולם
ברוחו יעלו
כי הם
אלי כיסאו קרובים
יודו שמו
ויהללו
חיות שהם
רצוא ושבים
מיום
בריאה נכללו
ובשש
כנפיים סביבים
עפים בעת
יתגלגלו
If the doors of the princely are locked,
the doors of heaven are not locked.
The living God, exalted upon the Keruvim,
They all by his Spirit will arise.
If the doors of the princely are locked,
the doors of heaven are not locked.
The living God, exalted upon the Keruvim,
they all by his Spirit will arise.
The living God.
For they to his throne draw near,
praise his name, sing hallelujah
Living creatures dashing to and fro
from the day of creation they were perfect.
The living God.
The living God.
And with six wings they surround,
Flying as they whirl.
Wheel and wheelwork thundering,
they praise his name, sanctify,
With the brilliance of his glory they are dressed.
The living God.
If the doors are locked,
if the doors are locked,
If the doors of the princely are locked,
the doors of heaven are not locked.
The living God on high,
the living God exalted,
The living God, exalted upon the Keruvim,
they all by his Spirit will arise.
Wheel and wheelwork thundering,
they praise his name, sanctify,
With the brilliance of his glory they are dressed.
The living God.
And with six wings they surround,
Flying as they whirl.
They respond with the sound of sweet songs
they are all decked out with signs.
Wheel and wheelwork thundering,
they praise his name, sanctify,
With the brilliance of his glory they are dressed.
The living God.
If the doors of the princely are locked,
the doors of heaven are not locked.
The living God, exalted upon the Keruvim,
they all by his Spirit will arise.
For they to his throne draw near,
praise his name, sing hallelujah
Living creatures dashing to and fro
from the day of creation they were perfect.
The living God.
The living God.
And with six wings they surround,
Flying as they whirl.
If you are interested in learning Hebrew, you might consider the advice I offer here.
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