skip navigation

Peri Smilow

RADIO

We Were There Too

WE WERE THERE TOO
Music and lyrics by Peri Smilow
Commissioned in 2007 by the Women of Reform Judaism (WRJ) to mark the publication of The Torah: A Women’s Commentary
© 2007 Peri Smilow (BMI)


V’ahavta et Adonai Elohecha
B’chol l’vavcha uv’chol nafsh’cha
Uv’chol m’odecha

When Moses led the people across the sea
When Pharaoh ordered Israel to be set free
We were there too
We were there too

When Abraham took Isaac up to the mount
When Cain slew Abel to steal his lot
We were there too
We were there too

chorus
And now we’re finally at the table
Sitting down to study
Welcoming in our daughters
Reclaiming our stories
We’re counted in the blessings
And we’re sanctifying this moment
This is for our daughters/mothers/people

We inspired the psalms of David’s pen
We’ve been blamed for tempting the hearts of men
Cause I was there too
And you were there too

We begat the children of Yisrael
We are Sarah, Rifka Leah and Rachel
And they are here too
Now they are here too chorus

We’ve been standing in the shadows for a thousand years
Our stories told by others
And now it’s time to hear
Our voices here too
Our voice is here too

So we’ll turn and we’ll turn and we’ll turn it again
And we’ll pass along our stories to the next generation
We’ll be there too
Yeah – we’ll be there too chorus

Baruch atah, Adonai Eloheinu, Melech haolam
Shehecheyanu v’kiy’manu v’higianu laz’man hazeh

You shall love Adonai your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your might.
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the universe, for giving us life, sustaining us and enabling us to reach this season.

updated: 12 years ago