Hinei Ma Tov | הנה מה טוב

© JP Asher 2026 Lyrics in Hebrew. Adapted from traditional Jewish song "Hinei Ma Tov", itself based on Psalm 133:1 Scroll down for English translation _____________ This song is my contribution to the Midnight Mass event at the Soundry, for which the assignment was to create "sacred music dragged somewhere strange" - taking "a recognisable element drawn from sacred, devotional, spiritual, ceremonial or ritual music" and then "smashing it into another genre or musical world". You can join the Soundry at https://discord.gg/XvsFR9syzF Years ago I inherited some ancient photographs of long-gone relatives from the 19th century. I only have names for some of the people, but even with the people whose names I don't know, I can't help but look into their eyes and feel the connection. Sometimes I try to imagine what we might say to each other if we could speak, and what we might have in common. This version of "Hinei Ma Tov" - traditionally sung on the Jewish Sabbath, and here given a lyrical twist - is my attempt to bridge that gap ... to blend heritage and tradition with my personality and style. The line "what makes this night different from all other nights" is of course taken from the Passover Seder and given a new meaning here. _____________ הנה מה טוב, כולן בנות, שבת אחיות גם יחד הנה מה טוב, כולן בנות, שבת אחיות גם יחד !הנה מה טוב, הנה מה טוב !הנה מה טוב, הנה מה טוב !?...מה משתנה הלילה הזה מכל הלילות הנה מה טוב, כולן בנות, שבת אחיות גם יחד הנה מה טוב, כולן בנות, שבת אחיות גם יחד !הנה מה טוב, הנה מה טוב !הנה מה טוב, הנה מה טוב הנה מה טוב, כולן בנות, שבת אחיות גם יחד הנה מה טוב, כולן בנות, שבת אחיות גם יחד !הנה מה טוב, הנה מה טוב !הנה מה טוב, הנה מה טוב ...הנה מה טוב, כולן בנות, שבת אחיות גם יחד !...הנה מה טוב, כולן בנות, שבת אחיות גם יחד ...מה משתנה הלילה הזה מכל הלילות _____________ Transliteration Hinei ma tov, kulan banot, shevet akhyot gam yachad Hinei ma tov, kulan banot, shevet akhyot gam yachad Hinei ma tov, hinei ma tov! Hinei ma tov, hinei ma tov! Ma mishtena halayla hazeh mi kol halaylot...?! Hinei ma tov, kulan banot, shevet akhyot gam yachad Hinei ma tov, kulan banot, shevet akhyot gam yachad Hinei ma tov, hinei ma tov! Hinei ma tov, hinei ma tov! Hinei ma tov, kulan banot, shevet akhyot gam yachad Hinei ma tov, kulan banot, shevet akhyot gam yachad Hinei ma tov, hinei ma tov! Hinei ma tov, hinei ma tov! Hinei ma tov, kulan banot, shevet akhyot gam yachad... Hinei ma tov, kulan banot, shevet akhyot gam yachad...! Ma mishtena halayla hazeh mi kol halaylot... _____________ English translation See how good it is, all us girls living as sisters in unity See how good it is, all us girls living as sisters in unity See how good, see how good! See how good, see how good! What makes this night different from all other nights...?! See how good it is, all us girls living as sisters in unity See how good it is, all us girls living as sisters in unity See how good, see how good! See how good, see how good! See how good it is, all us girls living as sisters in unity See how good it is, all us girls living as sisters in unity See how good, see how good! See how good, see how good! See how good it is, all us girls living as sisters in unity... See how good it is, all us girls living as sisters in unity...! What makes this night different from all other nights...