“AMEN SONGS”: Hashkivenu (Mad World)

Hashkivenu has long been one of the most meaningful moments for me during Kabbalat Shabbat—a prayer for peace, protection, and renewal as we enter the sacred stillness of Shabbat. Years ago, I created a new musical setting for this prayer using the haunting melody of “Mad World” by Tears for Fears. I’ve been delighted to see that this version has struck a chord with many at Congregation Neveh Shalom. It became a spiritual touchstone—something our community looked forward to and connected with on a deeply emotional level.

I’m thrilled to share that as of April 4, Hashkivenu is now available as a studio recording and music video. You can listen to it on Spotify and Apple Music, or watch the video on YouTube. It’s my hope that this new release allows others beyond our congregation to experience the same sense of stillness, reflection, and hope that our community has embraced.

The words of Hashkivenu—“Spread over us the shelter of Your peace… Shield us, and remove from us enemies, pestilence, sword, famine, and sorrow”—resonate with me every time I sing them. There is something timeless and painfully relevant in this prayer. When set to a melody already associated with introspection and longing, the prayer becomes, for me, a cry from the heart—ancient, raw, and deeply human. This week’s Torah portion, Vayikra, introduces the system of korbanot, or offerings. These were ancient ways for the Israelites to draw near to God in moments of thanksgiving, atonement, and need. To me, Hashkivenu serves that same purpose: a spiritual offering, a moment of honesty and vulnerability, a plea for closeness with God and for the world to be made whole.

This rendition of Hashkivenu is my personal contribution to our year’s theme, “Amen – Be a Blessing.” Through this recording, I hope to offer a blessing to others—a moment of peace, of uplift, of sacred connection. I believe that when we open our hearts in prayer and music, we not only draw near to God, we also bless one another. Just as the offerings in Vayikra created a space for the Divine to dwell among us, I hope this music opens a space for reflection, healing, and hope. May it serve as a reminder that even in a “mad world,” we can find peace under God’s sheltering wings.