This week I had the delightful joy of hanging out with Nefesh Mountain. If you haven’t heard of, or better yet, heard, Nefesh Mountain– it’s time to love up your ears. Once you’ve done that, this love letter will make more sense. After all, aren’t love letters all about making sense?
Over the summer, in a moment of inspiration, I invited Nefesh Mountain to be the featured musical act at The Davis Academy’s 25th celebration. From the moment I first spoke to Doni, the matriarch of the band, I knew I’d made a wise choice.
Fast forward (because time does fly) to the present, and our entire Davis Academy community is basking in the glow of their uplifting and down home visit.
The center piece of Nefesh Mountain’s visit was this morning’s 25th anniversary celebration at The Davis Academy. But this was truly just the icing on the cake. From the moment they arrived at Davis, all of us at Davis experienced what Judaism calls, the uplifted soul.
Uplifted soul? In the V’shamru prayer which we sing in honor of Shabbat there’s one word that really stands out. That word is “Vayinafash.” Look closely, and you’ll see that it’s the same word as “Nefesh” but in a slightly different form. Typically folks translate “Vayinafash” as “refresh.” After all, if Shabbat isn’t refreshing then we’re not doing it right. But Vayinafash also has a more spiritual meaning– it means something along the lines of uplifting the soul. The tradition that we acquire a second soul on Shabbat which departs when the Sabbath ends– that tradition comes from this word.
Words I’d use to describe Nefesh Mountain– authentic, talented, gracious, thoughtful, fun, jamming, hopeful, generous. And I’m sure there are many more, but I don’t want to get carried away.
From their interactions with our kids to their time in our recording studio to the unbelievably awesome home concert they gave for faculty and staff at my home last night (expertly catered by Waffle House!), I feel truly blessed to call Eric and Doni, Tim and Alan– new friends and deeply admired pioneers of Jewish and Bluegrass music.
