Explore one of the most beloved piyyutim in Sephardic and Mizrahi traditions, "Et Sha'arei Ratzon Lehipateach," which offers a profound and unique retelling of the Akedah through Isaac’s eyes. Sung at the climax of Rosh Hashanah prayers before the blowing of the shofar, this 12th-Century poem surprises by placing Isaac, not Abraham, at its center—challenging traditional views of sacrifice, faith, and family. We will uncover Et Sha'arei Ratzon’s literary and spiritual layers, exploring its emotional depth and subtle subversions, and we will learn to sing it together, creating a deeper connection to the Akedah and the living tradition of piyyut.

Rabbi Yosef Goldman is a leading facilitator, educator, and practitioner of Jewish communal music. He partners with congregations and clergy to cultivate vibrant prayer experiences and foster musical-spiritual creativity. His work is deeply informed by his extensive rabbinic background in senior congregational leadership, spiritual counseling, education, and chaplaincy. As a composer, performer, and ritual artist, Yosef blends the ancient devotional music of his Mizrahi and Ashkenazi heritage with contemporary American and Israeli Jewish traditions, inspiring healing, connection, and social change. His music has been described as “a hidden doorway with the power to open the heart with its elevated spirit, touching the very root of the soul. He has released two acclaimed albums—Open My Heart (2019) and Abitah (2023)—on Rising Song Records, with his music sung in communities and camps across the U.S. and Israel. A sought-after vocalist and collaborator, Yosef has contributed to dozens of albums across the Jewish music landscape, including as a longtime member of Joey Weisenberg’s Hadar Ensemble. In 2018-19, he was selected for the Kimmel Center’s Jazz Residency alongside klezmer trombonist Dan Blacksberg, and in 2024, he was featured in the sold-out Jewish Heritage Month concert at the Kennedy Center, co-presented by the Weitzman Museum of American Jewish History and The Recording Academy, of which he is a voting member. Since its inception, Yosef has served as senior advisor to Hadar’s Rising Song Institute, which nurtures Jewish spiritual life through song. His latest project, Kedmah, explores Mizrahi piyyut and sacred music, using ancient poetry and song to highlight the spiritual and artistic expression of Jews from Arab lands. Yosef lives in Brooklyn, NY, with his wife, Rabbi Annie Lewis, and their two children.