Two Prayers for Matot-Masei 5777
Here are two prayers for this week’s double Torah reading: Matot-Masei. Matot stresses the sacredness of vows to God. They’re serious, solemn and binding. “Vows” portrays…
For Israel’s Druze Soldiers and Police
Today, on a beautiful Jerusalem morning — two Druze policemen, Haiel Sitawe, 30, and Kamil Shnaan, 22 — were slain during a terrorist attack near the…
The Temple
Today is the 17th of Tammuz, a minor fast day commemorating the breach in the outer walls of Jerusalem prior to the destruction of the Second Temple on Tisha…
Travel after an Unexpected Death
This is a prayer to be said upon traveling to attend a funeral after an unexpected death. The blank line is for inserting the name of the…
Sacred Silly
This playful and unexpected prayer/poem makes fun of my own seriousness about writing prayers and liturgy. And I need a break from the intensity of affairs…
Before Moving
This simple prayer is for a common milestone: moving. Whether it’s across town or across continents – and I’ve done both, several times in the past…
For the Christians of Egypt
Today we grieve with the Coptic Christians of Egypt after gunmen attacked a bus of pilgrims headed to St. Samuel the Confessor monastery. The New York Times called the…
For Manchester and England
This is prayer of hope and courage for the victims of the terrorist attack in Manchester. It’s based on a memorial prayer that I wrote for…
Hiding My Face
This meditation is inspired by the hope and joy found in the Ashrei. It’s a beloved prayer based on Psalm 145, other verses of Psalms added at its…
Remember My Heart
This new contribution for Yom HaZikaron, imagines a prayer that might be said by the soldiers and terror victims who’ve lost their lives for the State…