[Intro — spoken plainly, no music yet] פָּרָשַׁת כִּי־תָבוֹא — the parsha that keeps saying one word: הַיּוֹם. Today. [Chorus — sung together, slow and warm] הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה — this very day, נִהְיֵיתָ לְעָם — you became His nation today. And Rashi says: every single day, let the בְּרִית be new as though it started today. [Verse 1 — clear and steady] וְלָקַחְתָּ מֵרֵאשִׁית כָּל־פְּרִי הָאֲדָמָה — the first fruit of the land goes in the basket, up to the place הַשֵּׁם will choose to rest His name, וְעָנִיתָ וְאָמַרְתָּ — and he says it out loud. And Rashi brings from Sotah: what is וְעָנִיתָ? A voice that is not shy and does not hide — he tells it loud: אֲרַמִּי אֹבֵד אָבִי — and הַשֵּׁם brought us out with a strong hand. [Chorus — sung together, slow and warm] הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה — this very day, נִהְיֵיתָ לְעָם — you became His nation today. And Rashi says: every single day, let the בְּרִית be new as though it started today. [Verse 2 — clear and steady] And when the basket stands before the מִזְבֵּחַ, a בַּת קוֹל answers, so the Midrash says — you brought your בִּכּוּרִים today — you brought them, and you will merit to bring them next year again. בִּעַרְתִּי הַקֹּדֶשׁ מִן־הַבַּיִת — I cleared the holy portions from my home, and gave them to the לֵוִי and the orphan, then הַשְׁקִיפָה מִמְּעוֹן קָדְשְׁךָ — look down from Your holy place, and bless. [Chorus — sung together, slow and warm] הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה — this very day, נִהְיֵיתָ לְעָם — you became His nation today. And Rashi says: every single day, let the בְּרִית be new as though it started today. [Verse 3 — clear and steady] On great stones coated white the תּוֹרָה is written, on הַר גְּרִזִים and עֵיבָל we stand, six שְׁבָטִים here, six שְׁבָטִים facing, and every answer — אָמֵן — across the land. The בְּרָכוֹת and the warning both were spoken, תַּחַת אֲשֶׁר לֹא־עָבַדְתָּ אֶת־הַשֵּׁם אֱלֹקֶיךָ בְּשִׂמְחָה — it all comes down to serving Him with gladness, when everything was good and in your hand. [Chorus — sung together, slow and warm] הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה — this very day, נִהְיֵיתָ לְעָם — you became His nation today. And Rashi says: every single day, let the בְּרִית be new as though it started today. [Verse 4 — clear and steady] וָאוֹלֵךְ אֶתְכֶם אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה — I led you forty years, and your cloak never wore thin upon your frame, וְלֹא־נָתַן הַשֵּׁם לָכֶם לֵב לָדַעַת — and Rashi says: a heart to know His name, to recognize the חֶסֶד of the מָקוֹם, and to hold Him fast. עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה — until this very day, He says it, and every day the בְּרִית is new as the last. [Chorus — sung together, slow and warm] הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה — this very day, נִהְיֵיתָ לְעָם — you became His nation today. And Rashi says: every single day, let the בְּרִית be new as though it started today.
