Posts Tagged ‘creativity’

 

For the Gift of Torah Scholarship

Posted on: May 5th, 2010 by tobendlight

backlittorahLoving Torah is a way of life. This prayer is part of a series of prayers thanking G-d for various forms of artistry: song, dance, art. Why? Study of sacred text is an artistic endeavor, combining skill and knowledge with interpretation and insight. Here are more prayers and stories for use on Shavuot. This piece appears in This Grateful Heart: Psalms and Prayers for a New Day from CCAR Press.

For the Gift of Torah Scholarship
G-d, we give thanks for the gift of scholarship,
For wisdom, insight and understanding,
For the gift that unlocks treasures hidden in Your Holy Word.
You gave us Torah at Sinai
And righteous men and women to be Your messengers,
Revealing divine secrets stage-by-stage.
Hear this prayer for those who study Talmud and Torah,
Mishna and Gemara,
Zohar, Musar and Tanya,
The words of G-d to Israel,
The lessons of scholars of every generation.
Make their thoughts Your vessel.
Let heaven pour Your voice into them
So that they overflow with sacred fire
Drawing others to Your word.
So that when we hear Your mysteries,
Our souls turn back to You in joyous reunion.
Together, we offer the light back to heaven,
And rejoice.

© 2017 CCAR Press from This Grateful Heart: Psalms and Prayers for a New Day

Postscript: Be sure to check out the other prayers in this series: “For the Gift of Song,” “For the Gift of Words,” “For the Gift of Dance,” “For the Gift of Art,” “For the Gift of Music,” “For the Gift of Laughter” and “For the Joy of Learning.”

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: Judea Reform Congregation

For the Gift of Dance

Posted on: April 28th, 2010 by tobendlight

This is another in a series of prayers celebrating the gifts of creativity and honoring artistic expression, this one focused on dance. The introduction to “For the Gift of Song”describes the common framework that I’ve used in this series. To listen as you read, click on the triangle in the bar below. The text follows.

 

For the Gift of Dance
G-d, we give thanks for the gift of dance,
For the gift of rhythm and movement,
For the gift of power, awe, wonder and thanksgiving
Expressed through our bodies
In celebration of Your Divine creation.
Hear this prayer for those who dance for love and healing,
For prayer and repentance,
Seeking wholeness and light.
Make their bodies your vessel.
Let heaven pour grace and beauty through them
So that they overflow with Your spirit,
Drawing others to Your mysteries.
So that when we see this dance
Our souls turn back to You in celebration.
Together, we offer our spirits back to heaven,
And rejoice.

© 2010 Alden Solovy and tobendlight.com. All rights reserved.

Postscript: Be sure to check out the other prayers in this series: “For the Gift of Song,” “For the Gift of Words,” “For the Gift of Art,” “For the Gift of Music,” “For the Gift of Laughter,” “For the Gift of Torah Scholarship” and “For the Joy of Learning.”

For usage guidelines and reprint permissions, see “Share the Prayer!” For notices of new prayers, please subscribe. You can also connect on Facebook and Twitter. If you use or like this prayer, please post a link to Facebook, your blog or mention it in a tweet.

For the Gift of Song

Posted on: April 11th, 2010 by tobendlight

Creativity. What an amazing set of gifts! Song, dance, music, art. Writing. Humor. This is part of a series of prayers celebrating creativity, including dance, music and art. Each of these prayers has a common framework:

  • Thanks to G-d for the beauty of that gift: “G-d, we give thanks for the gift of… ”
  • Recognition of those who’ve been given that particular gift: “Hear this prayer for those who…”
  • A petition that the gift be used to bring holiness into the world: “Make their [_____] Your vessel…”
  • A petition that, in receiving this gift from G-d through the artist, we’ll be reminded to use our own lives to bring beauty and holiness into the world: “So that when we…”

To listen while you read, click on the triangle in the bar below. The text follows.

 

For the Gift of Song
G-d, we give thanks for the gift of song,
For the gift of melody and harmony,
For the gift of voices quilted together in chorus,
Lifting praises toward the holy realms.
Hear this prayer for those who chant in Your Name,
Who chant for healing,
Who chant to witness Your love,
Your power,
Your grace.
Make their voices Your vessel.
Let heaven pour joy through them
So that they overflow with Your light,
Drawing others to Your glory.
So that when we hear their song
Our hearts turn back to You in peace.
Together, we offer our prayer back to heaven
And rejoice.

© 2010 Alden Solovy and tobendlight.com. All rights reserved.

Postscript: Be sure to check out the other prayers in this series: “For the Gift of Words,” “For the Gift of Dance,” “For the Gift of Art,” “For the Gift of Music,” “For the Gift of Laughter,” “For the Gift of Torah Scholarship” and “For the Joy of Learning.”

Please consider making a contribution to support this site and my writing. For usage guidelines and reprint permissions, see “Share the Prayer!” For notices of new prayers, please subscribe. Connect with To Bend Light on Facebook and on Twitter.

“Alden has become one of Reform Judaism’s master poet-liturgists…" - Religion News Service, Dec. 23, 2020

“Mesmerizing, spiritual, provocative, and thoughtful, Alden was everything you would want in a guest scholar and teacher.” – Rabbi Denise L. Eger, Congregation Kol Ami, Los Angeles, and Past President, CCAR

"Alden Solovy has become one of the most revered liturgists of the last decade…" - Jewish Post & Opinion, March 29, 2023

“Alden left everyone feeling inspired.” – Cantor Jeri Robins, Shabbat Chair, NewCAJE6