I’m leaving Israel for the URJ Biennial 2017. Here at Ben Gurion Airport, I finished this prayer for all of us throughout the world converging on Boston to celebrate our amazing liberal Jewish lives, the wisdom that comes from this Movement and the people who are dedicated to a vibrant, responsive, inclusive Judaism for all.

For the URJ Biennial 2017
May the One who blessed our mothers and our fathers,
Our parents and our ancestors,
Bless the organizers and participants
In the URJ Biennial 2017
To come together
In holy convocation,
As a joyous congregation,
In rockin’ jubilation,
And holy celebration,
To strengthen our foundation,
And renew our dedication,
To God, to Torah and to liberal Jewish life,
So that the roots of Reform remain strong and vital,
Creating wisdom that echoes throughout world.

Source of understanding,
Rock of our lives,
Let the love of our people and our heritage
Flow from Boston
Throughout the United States
And into the four corners of the earth,
Wherever Jews seek insight and understanding,
Wherever acts of charity and deeds of tikun olam
Are performed in Your name,
Wherever justice is pursued.
For ourselves,
For our families,
For our congregations,
For our children,
And for the future of the Jewish people.

© 2017 Alden Solovy and tobendlight.com. All rights reserved.

Please check out my ELItalk video, “Falling in Love with Prayer,” and This Grateful Heart: Psalms and Prayers for a New Day. For reprint permissions and usage guidelines and reprint permissions, see “Share the Prayer!” To receive my latest prayers via email, please subscribe (on the home page). You can also connect on Facebook and Twitter.

Photo Source: URJ