Midnight in the Vineyard: Selichot Under Jerusalem's Stars

The Slichot prayers rise like mist from the terrace of Beit Yisrael Synagogue in Yemin Moshe, carried skyward by the Solomon Brothers Band as Jerusalem's ancient walls stand witness. This rare recording captures repentance transformed into celebration—a spiritual vintage worth savoring.

Rabbi Yeres offers profound wisdom about tears and prayer. From the Talmud, he shares that when the Temple was destroyed, the gates of prayer were locked—but the gates of tears remained forever open. In a year marked by tremendous suffering for Israel, this teaching carries special weight. Through Maimonides' concept of complete repentance, we learn that true transformation happens when we choose righteousness at the height of temptation, not merely when it's convenient.

The musical experience elevates everything. Harmonized voices intertwine like grape clusters on the vine, reminding us that spiritual transformation rarely happens in isolation—we need community to support our growth. As the melodies echo against Jerusalem's stones, we taste something unfinished, like wine still mid-ferment, alive with possibilities. Rosh Hashanah approaches with the promise of renewal, a chance to pour a new glass and begin again with clarity and courage. Join us as we trace how wine and spirit intertwine, and discover what vintage this new year will bring.

The Solomon Brothers Band

For Bookings Contact: Worldwide Bookings 

​Nachman Solomon  054 553 5191  nachmant@gmail.com

USA:  +1 718 487-9054

Rabbi Chanoch Yeres  +972 52 566 6230

Beit Yisrael Synagogue
2 Pele Yoetz St.   Yemin Moshe   Jerusalem  

Chapters

• 0:00 Vineyard at Midnight: Slichot Introduction
• 3:21 Rabbi Yeris on Shofar and Tears
• 9:16 Maimonides on Complete Repentance
• 11:36 Solomon Brothers Band Begins Slichot
• 30:28 Musical Prayer: "Who Will Be Saved"
• 44:10 Final Prayers and Reflections
• 1:15:00 Closing Thoughts on Renewal

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:09

Welcome to the Kosher Terwa. I'm Simon Jacob, your host for this episode from Jerusalem. Welcome to this week's episode of the Kosher Terwa. Tonight we're stepping into something ancient and alive. The Slichot prayers sung looking out towards the stone walls of the old city of Jerusalem from the terrace of the Beit Yisrael synagogue in Yim and Moshe, with the Solomon Brothers band carrying the sound skyward.

Speaker 1: 0:42

You might not know this, but, depending on your custom, slichot always falls out either during or at the very end of harvest. Slichot is not just a prelude to Rosh Hashanah, it's the vineyard at midnight Think of the soul like a cluster of grapes, sometimes bruised, sometimes sweet, sometimes hidden under leaves. The prayers we recite are the pressing, the gentle but insistent squeeze that draws out what's inside, drop by drop. Just as grapes must be crushed to yield their wine, we too are pressed by the words of Slichot, spilling out our hidden faults and hopes until they ferment into something stronger, something worth pouring before God. Slichot, like wine, requires time. Grapes don't become merlot in a day and the heart doesn't turn contrition into joy overnight. The midnight service is that first stirring in the vat, the beginning of transformation. Grapes also don't grow in isolation, they cling in clusters. In Slichot, our voices rise together, harmonized and entangled, each prayer lending weight to the next, like a vineyard where no grapes ripen alone.

Speaker 1: 2:17

Wine is both joy and solemnity. It can sanctify a wedding canopy or it can accompany Havdalah at the sad close of Shabbat. Slichot is the same duality Serious repentance set to the music of yearning Grief of our past sins braided with the hope of future forgiveness. If you're driving in your car, please pay attention to the road ahead. If you're home relaxing, please open a bottle of remarkable kosher wine. Sit back, relax and enjoy as Rabbi Yeris, the rabbi of the Beit Yisrael synagogue, inyman Moshe, introduces the Slichot service, after which you'll hear something rare Repentance sung as celebration, contrition lifted into harmony. Sit back or stand with the congregation as the Solomon Brothers Band turns Slichot into a vintage worth remembering.

Speaker 2: 3:31

Shavua Tov, shavua Tov. It's good to see everyone here. We should all be blessed with a good year, a safe year, a healthy year. It's an opportunity to thank HaKadosh Baruch Hu for the year passing. There's a very interesting discussion that the Talmud discusses about the shofar blowing. We blow shofar during the month of Elul.

Speaker 2: 4:01

The Sfardim blow shofar during their Slichot and the Gemara, describing what blowing of shofar that we have on Rosh Hashanah, uses an Aramaic description that is coined by the Targum Unkelos Yevava crying. And there's a whole question what the crying is when we blow the shofar. Some say it's like a tkiya, some say it's like a shvarim. Three short sounds, some say it's like a trua, the nine short short sounds. And why is the shofar blowing compared to dafka crying? Why do we have to think about the shofar blowing as a sadness idea of tears? Why not think of it as just turning ourselves to do tshuva repentance? Very interesting gemara in Baba Mitzia and I think it's very relevant to recite this gemara as we dive into slichot, opposite Chomot, yerushalayim. The Gemara says Amar Rabi, lazar, miyom, shekhnar Beit HaMikdash, from the day that the Temple was destroyed, nin'alu, sha'arei, tefillah, the gates of prayers was locked and sealed. Prayers could not enter heaven, sh'ne'amar, because it says in the book of Eicha Gam Ki'ezak Va'Shavea even if I cry out Sh'atam Tefillati, my prayers are cut off. And it seems, of course, very, very despairing to be told that we're living in a period of time in which the gates of tefillah are closed, they're sealed before us and cannot be opened. But then the gemara goes on, sealed before us and cannot be opened, but then the Gemara goes on, and even though, even though the gates of receiving our prayers was locked, the gate of tears was never, ever closed. It says Hashem listened to our prayers and listen now to our tears. Don't let them be silent. There is a concept of tears, a concept of crying that Kodesh Baruch Hu never closes his ears to us, whether we have the Beit Hamibash before us or not, blowing the Shofar we describe at the end of each of the parts of the Musaf, after the first part of Malchiyot, after the second part of Malchiyot, after the second part of Zichronot and after the third part of Shofrot, all during the period of time during the Tefillah. When it comes to the issue of Hodah, of thanking Kodesh Baruch Hu, of requesting before him, and we come before him asking him, perhaps we don't have the prayers as strong as they used to be, but our tears from our heart, our tears from our soul are able to break through and come and reach HaKadosh Baruch Hu. When we say Slichot, there's a very important aspect of preparing us before the day of Rosh Hashanah. So many difficulties have come upon us this past year, so many tragedies, so many challenges that have beset the Jewish people here in Eretz, yisrael and abroad, and we talk about the idea of preparing ourselves, doing tshuva.

Speaker 2: 8:03

Maimonides in the second book, the second chapter of his book of tshuva. Maimonides in the second book, the second chapter of his book of tshuva, describes what is tshuva gemura. Complete tshuva is when I have a chance, as one knows, to redo my actions and not follow through and commit the sin. Yet at the same ending of that halacha, he says if one does not do that and one does not deal with the perception of sin and the motivation of committing sin and the Yitzhar Haraf doing sin at that time, but he waits until an older age, and so forth, maimonides ends up saying that it is not a tshuva me'ula and they ask the question why?

Speaker 2: 8:44

On the one hand, the Maimani starts off saying what is a tshuva gemura, a complete tshuva. And then he ends off saying what is a tshuva, or it's not a tshuva, me'ula? You would think it would end off saying if it was not the same level, it would be a tshuva lo gemura, not a complete tshuva. Why use different phraseology? And those who say to teach us what tshuva is all about?

Speaker 2: 9:08

Tshuva, one would think, the highest level, gemurah, 20 points. I've done all the challenges, I've met the moment and I've decided to change my ways, not to commit the sin. And if I don't reach gemurah, I only get 10 points, not 20 points. But by the wording of Maimonides we realize something more. When I'm not reaching the issue of gemurah, the complete type of tshuva, it's not that I'm reaching less points, I'm not reaching anything.

Speaker 2: 9:39

Tshuva is when I have the motivation, so to speak, to change my ways, when I'm at my prime and I have the decision to make in my life whether to do the right thing or the wrong thing, whether to change my ways to be good to my neighbor, to be good in my relationship with HaKadosh Baruch Hu, to learn Torah, to keep the mitzvot, to do charity, and when I have the choice to do it.

Speaker 2: 10:02

That is what is called Shuvah Gemurah. If it's not, it's not even beginning to reach the stage of what repentance is all about and I believe, with the words of my manris, how it's supposed to sink into us. Davka, to help us, to enable us to see the walls of Yerushalayim behind us, in front of us, as we do in Slichot, to enable us to see the walls of Yerushalayim behind us, in front of us, as we've done in Slichot, and to reach out, to have an impact not only on our atfilot but how we feel the crying that comes from so many the orphans, the widows this year, those who are hurt and wounded, our chayalim and chayalot. And when we turn to our Kodesh Baruch Hu, we ask Kodesh Baruch Hu with all our heart that this year he grant us a good year, a year of kindness, a year of compassion, a year of helping. Am Yisrael, wherever we are, that no longer will we live in any type of threat or any type of challenges, but rather we remain together, unified, as one nation, shalom.

Speaker 4: 11:09

Yeah, of course, and his hand, and his hand to him. Hallelujah, he will rise. And he will rise the name of the Lord. Amen, shabbat Shalom. Yisbarach v'yishtabach v'yispar v'yisoyma v'yisnaseh v'yis'hado v'yisaleh v'yis'halol, shmei dekut, jo b'richu Shalom. And they will say Amen, shema Tefillah, thank you, shalom, and to our night. Let our prayer be and let our prayers be, and let our prayers be and let our prayers be and let our prayers be, and let our prayers be Shalom oh yeah, oh, yeah, oh yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah yeah yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah yeah

Speaker 3: 16:42

yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, chag HaOlech Ha'olam Chosah, chosah, oh Yah.

Speaker 4: 17:33

Ha'olam Ha'olam, ha'olam, ha'olam, ha'olam, ha'olam Shalom, and she will be our voice. Shalom Dar metuchim Ve'yelu fanim Nishpo etzichim Goal nun esiv eis Echoy eshorim ve'yanechoychim Dovaknu besoy avoy Suve matzim znuchim Halachnu achrey matzoy Tshavu maduchim Shalom Chorei bufas reyach Ni chorei chim. Teiradu ve'etul talu Kayani. Meshufim Shalom, we will be burned, we will be cut and we will be cooked, so we will be saved from the hands of the wicked no-transcript. Erech Ha'paim V'rav Chesed V'emes. Noi Tzev. Chesed. Noi Lovim Noi Tzeyobim V'fofim Noi tse' yabe'im V'fesha' V'chata'or V'nakeh. Av'inay'nul Chata'osay'nul Chaltanu.

Speaker 4: 24:54

Slach'lanu Av'inu k'iratanu V'chal'anu K'inu k'ifashanu. No-transcript. And I will say who will be saved. We will be saved and we will have a new life. No-transcript. Shalom, shalom, shabbat Shalom. And there he was buried. Shalom, have a nice day. Shema Adonai Tzedek Chag Shivari Yinut Sharmay Shorim Umarim El Yinut Ayy Roy Shle Yorim Lichlamnu V'Rashnu Shalom Pana le yamin vayikzom atzad Pachad mismol v'ta yad atzad Einei chora. Yais diyenar pekuchais Oyni ve'inuy mitzora. Yais hamesuchais Shalom Asgir be'yamid chomar loy sakhonah hey kolinu ki yisdoim Bishval koel ha'tachanah Kimat regal uleiteh hiyinah ¶¶, ¶¶ ¶¶. Choir SINGS Shabbat Shalom. D minor. D minor, z minor.

Speaker 3: 40:26

D D minor.

Speaker 4: 40:27

When I'm reading nothing, I need you to help me. No-transcript, because there is no one like you. For the Lord is the Lord and the Son of man, and the Lord is the Lord and the Son of man, and the Lord is the Lord and the Son of man. For the Lord is the Lord and the Son of man. Shalom ¶¶, shalom, shalom. Noi tseh chesed lo alofim. Noi tseh yobayim b'fesho V'chatoo v'nakeh.

Speaker 4: 46:29

V'salach tolo, v'inim V'chatos, v'inim V'chatos, v'inim V'chatos, v'inim V'chatos, v'inim V'chatos, v'inim V'chatos, v'inim V'chatos, v'inim V'chatos. Choir SINGS Yisrael HaKadosh, baruch Hu. Shalom, shalom, shabbat Shalom. I'm going to sing a song. Oh, my God, shabbat Shalom, and receive our prayers with mercy and desire.

Speaker 5: 51:06

Hashem come to us. Come to us, come to us and bless us with your mercy and your mercy and our prayers with your mercy and your mercy.

Speaker 4: 51:18

Our Lord, our Lord, come to us and be pleased with us. No-transcript. Hashtar v'golo Uvizman koriv. I don't know. Amen. Shalom Chachni, yisei rachamim.

Speaker 3: 1:05:29

Chachnisu rachamim.

Speaker 4: 1:05:54

Chachni yisei rachamim Shalom Haimashmiyei tseyaka ashmiyu. Zakasenu Lifnei shaymei tseyaka Haimachnisay dimarachnisu dimarisenu Lifnei melech misrat zebit moich Ha'ishtadlu mehamut Hachinau v'kosho L'fnei melech elram ve'ni yisro Hayayay no-transcript.

Speaker 3: 1:11:46

v'yisobayinu, v'yisobayinu, v'yisobayinu, v'yisobayinu v'yisobayinu, v'yisobayinu, v'yis oh man ¶¶. Choir SINGS E minor CHOIR SINGS oh Be'en o'sha'na'i, Ay'me'o'sha'na'i.

Speaker 1: 1:14:40

And so, as the last echoes of Slichot fade in the stone arches of Ibn Moshe, we're left with the taste of something unfinished, like a barrel, still mid-ferment, alive with possibilities. These prayers are not the end. They're the first press, the first stirring, the first drops of sweetness that promises a vintage worth waiting for. Rosh Hashanah is almost here, and with it comes a chance to pour a new glass, to begin again with clarity and courage. What we've heard tonight is only the opening movement of a much longer symphony of renewal On the kosher terroir. We keep tracing the way wine and spirit intertwine, sometimes through the vineyard, sometimes through the synagogue, always through the heart. So stay with us, come back for the next pour and let's see together what vintage this new year will bring.

Speaker 1: 1:16:00

This is Simon Jacob, again your host of today's episode of the Kosher Terroir. This is Simon Jacob, again your host of today's episode of the Kosher Terwa. I have a personal request no matter where you are or where you live, please take a moment to pray for our soldiers' safety and the safe and rapid return of our hostages. Please subscribe via your podcast provider to be informed of our new episodes as they are released. If you're new to the Kosher Terwa. Please check out our many past episodes.