https://youtu.be/hdfR28ZnlFMBemakhelot is the concluding segment of the piyyut Nishmat Kol Chai. The melody is of considerable antiquity and is known across much of the western Sephardi diaspora. The Spanish and Portuguese communities of London and New York include it in their repertoires, albeit with different rhythmic treatments. And in the latter, variations of the chant are used responsively in many of the recitative portions throughout Nishmat.Amsterdam, alas, seems to have lost the tradition of singing this selection, and all that remains are occasional shards of what must have been the original melody. On a technical note, the beracha at the end of this piece (which in actuality is the completion of the beracha which began with Baruch She’amar) marks the end of the reading of the zemirot. The ensuing kaddish le’ela signals the transition to shachrit which formally begins with barechu.Some amongst you may have noticed that there is a divergence among various traditions regarding vocalisation at the end of the beracha. The question is: should it be ‘melekh CHEI ha’olamim’ (with a tserei) or ‘melekh CHAI ha’olamim’ (with a patach)? The geonim were split on what the correct pronunciation is, and differing opinions have been offered by Maimonides and Abudarham - among others - as to what the import and significance of each of the vocalisations might be. What is intriguing, from the Spanish & Portuguese point of view, is that New York and London go with the tserei while Amsterdam sides with the patach.Hodesh TobPlease share.