Openings by Shoshana Jedwab

When I wrote my song, “Openings,” I set out to reimagine the Asher Yatzar, Judaism’s traditional blessing over excretion (the Jewish “bathroom blessing”) in body-positive ways. In “Openings,” I expand the scope of wonder at the human form and allude to female bodies that are excluded from positive witness in the patriarchal liturgy. “Openings” directs praise to the Shechinah- the Immanent Divine Life-Force present in our intricate body functions. “Openings,” a joyous, dance-ready tune, celebrates a Creatrix who heals the human body and sustains its “chambers of wonder” that “open and close” with marvelous rhythmic complexity and coordination.

Beautifully produced by Daniel Ori, “Openings” was recorded in the summer of 2019. I am releasing “Openings” over a year later, in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic in which infected people across the globe are struggling for health and breath. It is a time when authorities decide when to “open up,” or close down, their communities in order to mitigate the virus’ spread. Some are healing from the virus, while others are losing their lives to it.

Our premodern ancestors were painfully aware of the insecurity of life. It is my prayer that people be healed quickly and completely from coronavirus and every plague of body, mind, and spirit, and that our species behave with respect for our planet's real limitations and sacred rhythms.

I dedicate “Openings” to my deceased mother, Ruth Tappis Jedwab, who contracted the poliovirus at age 11 before a vaccine was invented. My mother spent her tender adolescence in a children’s polio hospital, and later gave birth to me, parented me the best way she could, and now loves me in dizzy and divine ways from the Other Side.

“Openings” celebrates the temporary housing that is the human body. I am releasing “Openings” on the Sukkot harvest holiday. During this super earthy week-long festival, celebrants dwell in flimsy shacks that are deliberately open to the elements, and practice plant and dance rituals that signal the need for the skies to open with life-giving rain for the new agricultural year.

I release “Openings” with gratitude to the individuals who serve in the medical community and to all who sustain them and us at this time.

I am grateful to producer Daniel Ori for his exquisite taste, imagination, production skills, and enormous patience with me. I am thankful to Rabbi Shir Yaakov for his cover design and help with this release. I thank artist Rosalia Simunovic for the powerful image of the open pregnant body and exposed fetus that fills the eye before my song fills the ear.

“Openings” would never have been conceived had it not been for those who came to my drum circles over the years. Drumming together, we experienced the natural rhythms of the body and entrained with one another and with the generous and wild cosmos. We played in the miracle of the pulse of life that the Asher Yatzar blessing and “Openings” celebrate.

I am grateful to all who have prayed, sung, and danced to “Openings” before it was recorded, and who included “Openings” in their healing practices.

I praise Spirit for practicing this song through me.

May we all know a refuah shleimah—a complete healing of body, mind, and spirit soon.

-Shoshana Jedwab

Shoshana Jedwab is a concert performer, singer/songwriter, prayer and ritual leader, hand drummer, drum circle facilitator, and sacred text teacher.

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