Every year for the past five years, in the spirit of reaching out across different faiths, 92Y’s Bronfman Center for Jewish Life has commissioned a new song for the new year.
Launched in 2016, the initiative was the brainchild of Rabbi Peter J. Rubinstein. “My idea was to get Jews to sing together, embodying the precept that we’re one people. As always, we also want to reach beyond our walls and ourselves,” he said at that time.
Each year since then, the Bronfman Center commissioned a new song and released it online for the High Holidays. The New Year Song initiative has reached more than 10 million people around the world, crossing boundaries of faith and nation.
This year, Elana Arian — our High Holiday services music director — was commissioned to write the song, entitled “Begin Again.” Joining Elana are Rebecca Schoffer and 92Y’s Shababa community; Rodeph Sholom’s ASL choir; and the choir of the Middle Collegiate Church, who are in the process of rebuilding their church after a fire earlier this year.
Download the sheet music to sing along or to create your own version of “Begin Again”