Beshalach 5773: Dance Hallelujah

Miriam Dancing, Tapestry, 32”x38”, Sold“Miriam, the prophetess, Aaron’s sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women came out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam called out to them, ‘Sing to the Lord, for G-d is very exalted; horse and rider G-d cast into the sea.’ ” – Exodus 15:20-21

For Jews, dancing is an expression of our love for G-d, our joy in G-d’s love for us and in gratitude for G-d’s gifts. Dancing is in our DNA. It’s what we do. It’s what we have always done. It’s what we will continue to do. This prayer appears in This Joyous Soul: A New Voice for Ancient Yearnings from CCAR Press.

Dance Hallelujah
Hallelujah
A dance of wonder,
A dance of joy and thanksgiving.
Arms raised, hands to the sky.
Feet solid, connected to earth.
A step, a bend, a twirl, a leap.
A breath of light,
A stream of color,
Spinning toward radiance and splendor.

Let my feet lead me toward Your holy realm.
Let my legs carry me toward Your divine word.
Let my arms lift praises toward Your marvelous works.
Let my body exclaim the power of Your awesome ways.

Hallelujah
A dance of light and love,
A dance of energy and endurance,
A dance of humility and grace.

G-d of Miriam,
Prophet who danced by the sea,
Teach me the dance of awe and mystery,
Of devotion and ecstasy,
Of passion and praise.
Teach me to dance my Hallelujah.
Teach me to live my Hallelujah.
A dance of radiance,
A dance of splendor,
A dance of peace.

© 2019 CCAR Press from This Joyous Soul: A New Voice for Ancient Yearnings

Postscript: Here are links to related prayers: “Sing Hallelujah,” “For the Gift of Song,” “For the Gift of Dance” and “For the Gift of Music.” This prayer first appeared on this site on November 21, 2010.

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Photo Credit: Anna Kocherovsky Tapestry Studio

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