Reminder of the Hostages in Israel with Psalm 121 Sung in Hebrew by Hadar Ozeri

Footage of an exhibit to remind the world about the 240+ Jewish hostages taken by Hamas from Israel on October 7, 2023. Hamas also killed over 1,200 Jews in Israel that day. This demonstrative exhibit shows the faces of many of the kidnapping victims and is intended to foster solidarity with Israel in its time of distress.

The exhibit can be found in the main hallway of Congregation Beth Yeshurun, a Conservative Jewish Synagogue in Houston, Texas: https://www.bethyeshurun.org/

Moved by what I saw of the exhibit, I shot this footage on my mobile phone and I edited it together with a beautiful performance by Israeli singer Hadar Ozeri of Chapter 121 of Psalms from the Bible, which is also known as Chapter 121 of Tehillim (Songs of Praise) from the Hebrew scriptures called the Tanakh.

Many Rabbis and other concerned believers in God have read Psalm 121 as a prayer for the safety, release, and rescue of all the Jewish hostages, over 240 men, women, and children (including babies). It seemed fitting to combine this exhibit with this song to help remind the world that the attack from October 7, 2023 has not truly ended until the Jewish hostages return home to Israel.

I am Michael Adam Warren, an American filmmaker. This video presentation is also a message to Israel that they do not stand alone. Israel is loved and supported by many people across the world, particularly in the United States of America.

To help as many people understand Psalm 121 as possible, I provided my own translation in English as the song is sung in its original Hebrew and I embedded my English translation into the subtitles / captions for the video. But there is nothing to stop you from following along by reading Psalm 121 in any language and with any translation you prefer.

For your convenience, here is a copy of the full text of my English translation:

PSALM 121

A Song for Ascents

I will lift up my eyes to the everlasting mountains
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD
The maker of all things spiritual and temporal.

He will not let your foot slip
Your Guardian will not fall asleep on watch
Behold, the Guardian of Israel
Neither sleeps nor slumbers!

The LORD is your Guardian!
On your right hand, the LORD is your shade
So the sun shall not burn you by day
Nor the moon scorch you by night.

The LORD shall stand between you and all evil, between you and harm
He shall preserve your soul and guard your life.
The LORD shall keep you safe in all your comings and goings
For time and for all eternity.

ORIGINAL HEBREW VERSION from Chabad.org

TEHILLIM (PSALMS 121)
שִׁ֗יר לַֽמַּֽ֫עֲל֥וֹת (A SONG FOR ASCENTS)

אֶשָּׂ֣א עֵ֖ינַי אֶל־הֶֽהָרִ֑ים מֵ֜אַ֗יִן יָבֹ֥א עֶזְרִֽי:

עֶזְרִי מֵעִ֣ם יְהֹוָ֑ה עֹ֜שֵׂ֗ה שָׁמַ֥יִם וָאָֽרֶץ:

אַל־יִתֵּ֣ן לַמּ֣וֹט רַגְלֶ֑ךָ אַל־יָ֜נ֗וּם שֹֽׁמְרֶֽךָ:

הִנֵּ֚ה לֹ֣א יָ֖נוּם וְלֹ֣א יִישָׁ֑ן שׁ֜וֹמֵ֗ר יִשְׂרָאֵֽל:

יְהֹוָ֥ה שֹֽׁמְרֶ֑ךָ יְהֹוָ֥ה צִ֜לְּךָ֗ עַל־יַ֥ד יְמִינֶֽךָ:

יוֹמָ֗ם הַשֶּׁ֥מֶשׁ לֹֽא־יַ֜כֶּ֗כָּה וְיָרֵ֥חַ בַּלָּֽיְלָה:

יְֽהֹוָ֗ה יִשְׁמָרְךָ֥ מִכָּל־רָ֑ע יִ֜שְׁמֹ֗ר אֶת־נַפְשֶֽׁךָ:

יְֽהֹוָ֗ה יִשְׁמָר־צֵֽאתְךָ֥ וּבוֹאֶ֑ךָ מֵֽ֜עַתָּ֗ה וְעַד־עוֹלָֽם: