“El Na” by “Miss” Emily Aronoff Teck
Track # 11 from Good Choices, Volume 1
Inspiration Text:
“El na refa na la” (Numbers 12:13), which means “G-d heal her, please,” was Moses’s brief, yet powerful, spontaneous prayer for his sister, Miriam, after she was stricken with disease. “Na” in Hebrew means “please,” so the repetition in the song is a polite appeal.
“El Na” Activity:
The chorus of this song can be written into a get-well card that students send to a classmate who is home sick. Alternatively, let students record themselves using audio or video, personalizing it with a greeting, and email the “v-card” (voice / video card) to the person in the community who is ailing. Upon healing, invite the person who was sick to visit your classroom and share how the v-card made him or her feel. (Be sure to get proper school and home permission.)
Lyrics:
Part A:
El na, na na na na na na na na r’fa na la.
El na, na na na na na na na na r’fa na la.
Part B:
I hope that you feel better
And you get well quick.
I pray that G-d will heal you
So you won’t be sick!