Posts tagged ‘blessings and praises’

Hallel in Peril

On Rosh Chodesh Elul, how can we recite Hallel — joyous psalms of praise — in fear for the State of Israel? The proposed and enacted…

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Hallel in a Minor Key

This Hallel is for singing praises in times of struggle or sorrow. “Hallel in a Minor Key” is the name of both the liturgy and the…

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Before Writing a Prayer

Here’s a prayer to be said before writing a prayer. The intention of the prayer is to achieve the kavanah, the spiritual mindset, necessary to serve…

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Receiving Blessings

This prayer is my blessing for you for 2019. It’s about opening our hearts to receiving blessings. In this New Year, may we bless each other…

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Howling at the Moon

This meditation was inspired by a writing workshop I conducted for teens. One youth asked if howling at the moon could be a prayer. We went outside…

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Falling in Love with Prayer

What is prayer? Perhaps an invitation to holiness and healing, bending the light from heaven toward tikkun olam. Have you ever fallen in love with a…

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In Gratitude for Your Gifts

This prayer of gratitude is one of my few attempts at an English alphabetic acrostic. Here, the acrostic is in second word of the first two…

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Ki Tavo: Be the Blessing

This week’s parasha, Ki Tavo, lists blessings and curses. “All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you, if you harken to the voice of…

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Naso 5775: Place Your Name upon Us

This week’s parasha includes the Priestly Blessing, three lines of remarkable beauty and power. The line immediately after – a line that gets precious little attention…

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Beshalach: Miriam’s Word

Imagine what happens the moment after Miriam and the women finish their dance. Elated and exhausted from celebration, her people having crossed the sea into safety…

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