Tag Archive for "renewal" | To Bend Light

Posts Tagged ‘renewal’

How to Find G-d

Posted on: January 6th, 2023 by Alden

A simple meditation on seeking–and finding–G-d. Perhaps it is not as difficult as we might think. Perhaps it is only a matter of our willingness to see. Or perhaps I need to look a bit more closely at myself, others and the world.

How to Find G-d

Look for the image of G-d
In all that is,
In all that was,
In all that will be.
For the image of G-d radiates
From your life
And from your face,
The holiness that infuses us all.
This is the legacy,
The gift forever given,
Passed from mother to child,
From father to babe,
Visible in your countenance
And in your way of being.
Look for the image of G-d
Inside yourself,
And you will see it
In everyone and everything.

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Please check out These Words: Poetic Midrash on the Language of Torah and my other CCAR Press volumes: This Grateful Heart, This Joyous Soul, and This Precious Life, which can also be purchased as the Grateful/Joyous/Precious trilogy. For reprint permissions and usage guidelines, 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. For a taste of my teaching, see my ELItalk video, “Falling in Love with Prayer.”

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Photo: Taken in Ya’ar Kedoshim by Alden Solovy

Inside the (Hanukkah) Light

Posted on: December 18th, 2022 by Alden

This meditation on light pluses with hope, carrying echoes of Hanukkah. It’s about seeing, feeling, and loving the light shining around us, and our yearning to be a source of light and hope for the world. I wrote it in 2012 on my Aliyah flight. My friend Cantor Brad Hyman set as a song in 2017. In 2021, CCAR Press published it my third solo volume with them, This Precious Life: Encountering the Divine with Poetry and Prayer. Here’s an article by Cantor Hyman on his inspiration for the music on Reform Judaism.org. I’m reposting this for Hanukkah 2022/5783.

Inside the Light
A rainbow shines
Inside the light.
If you could be the dew drop
You would always see it.

Stillness waits
Inside the light.
If you could be the sky
You would always feel it.

The sunrise dawns
Inside the light.
If you could be the horizon
You would always find it.

Freedom flows
Inside the light.
If you could be the wind
You would always ride it.

Beauty rises
Inside the light.
If you could be the sparrow
You would always reach it.

Mystery pulses
Inside the light.
If you could be the wonder
You would always know it.

Majesty reigns
Inside the light.
If you could be the wisdom
You would always hear it.

Faith rests
Inside the light.
If you could be the eagle
You would always hold it.

Your soul glows
Inside the light.
If you could be yourself
You would never leave it.

Postscript: Here’s another link to Cantor Hyman’s musical setting. My other Hanukkah prayers include: “Lamps Within” and “The Season of Dedication.”

Please check out my CCAR Press Grateful/Joyous/Precious trilogy. The individual books are: This Grateful Heart, This Joyous Soul, and This Precious Life. For reprint permissions and usage guidelines, 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. For a taste of my teaching, see my ELItalk video, “Falling in Love with Prayer.”

Photo Source: Ron Almog

For Three Leaders, For the World

Posted on: March 15th, 2022 by Alden

A new prayer for Ukraine and the world. The intention of this prayer is flexibility in use. The three middle stanzas can be removed from the prayer as the situation changes, or if a particular individual or congregation does not want to specifically name world leaders in prayer. It seems to me, however, that in this precarious moment prayers for key leaders are critical. They’re offered here as important, but optional as we all yearn for peace. Along with my “Hero of Ukraine,” this could be part of a multi-prayer liturgy for peace in the region and the world.

For Three Leaders, For the World
G-d of compassion,
Put an end to the war in Ukraine
And all wars throughout the world.
Look with favor on the refugees,
The homeless, the wounded,
The suffering, the starving,
And the newly bereaved.
Grant a perfect rest
Under Your canopy of peace
To those who have perished
At the ugly hand of war.
Extend Your canopy of peace
From the highest heavens
To this earth.

Bless Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky
With continued strength and resolve
To defend his people against the onslaught,
Inspiring world sympathy and support.

Bless U.S. President Joe Biden
With wisdom and skill to face the challenge of history
As Europe prepares for a broader conflict
And fears world war.

Bless Russian President Vladimir Putin
With a change of mind,
A change of heart and soul,
To release the tools of war,
To pick up the tools of peace.

G-d of peace,
Release the citizens of Ukraine
From occupation and war.
Grant them resilience and vitality.
Give them comfort and hope.
End this violence and suffering.
For life renewed.
For healing and building.
For a better world.
“Let justice come in waves like water
And righteousness flow like a river” (Amos 5:24),
So that “nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
Neither shall they learn war anymore” (Isaiah 2:4).

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Postscript: See also: “Hero of Ukraine.”

Please check out my CCAR Press Grateful/Joyous/Precious trilogy. The individual books are: This Joyous Soul , This Grateful Heart, and This Precious Life. Here’s a link to my ELItalk, “Falling in Love with Prayer..” 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.

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Photo Source: News Sites

Guest Writer: Hannah Greenberg

Posted on: January 24th, 2022 by Alden

My friend Hannah Greenberg is in her second year of studies at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies. Earlier this academic year, a group of students wrote their own prayers and meditations based on my prayer “In Praise,” which was handed out to the class to use as a kavannah for t’fillah. This is her stunning prayer, riffing off of Isaiah 6:3, which we recite in the Kedusah, “Holy, holy, holy, Adonai of Hosts, whose presence fills the earth!” “In Praise” appears in This Joyous Soul: A New Voice for Ancient Yearnings, from CCAR Press.

Music of the Infinite
Music of the infinite
קָדוֹשׁ קָדוֹשׁ קָדוֹשׁ
יְ-הֹ-וָ-ה צְבָאוֹת
Our voices join an angelic choir
To praise
To call out
To yearn
For the Divine

Music of the infinite
For the Conductor of the world
Virtuosic voices
Harmonies combine
To create
To join
To revere
The Divine

Music of the infinite
To sanctify
To recognize
To laud
The Oneness

Music of the infinite
We join
To seek compassion
To find greatness
To renew faith
In the Absolute

Music of the infinite
We are finite
We are infinitesimal
We are human

Music of the infinite
On this new year
We sing
We bless
We rejoice

Music of the infinite
All we can give to You
is our voice
Our soul

Music of the infinite
We join in
קָדוֹשׁ קָדוֹשׁ קָדוֹשׁ
יְ-הֹ-וָ-ה צְבָאוֹת
מְלֹא כָל הָאָֽרֶץ כְּבוֹדוֹ

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Postscript: Hannah’s prayer, which has timeless resonance, was originally written for Rosh Hashanah. Because of issues with my website, and being on deadline for a new book, this took me much longer to post than I’d anticipated. For us, I believe it is worth the wait. To Hannah, my applogies for the delay. Check out other guest writers here.

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Photo by Alden Solovy

Teach Me

Posted on: October 17th, 2021 by Alden

A short meditation on learning Torah from everyone.

Teach Me
Teach me
The Torah
That G-d taught
Only to you,
And I will
Teach you
The Torah
That G-d taught
Only to me.
For, certainly,
G-d taught you secrets
In order for you
To teach me,
And G-d taught me secrets
In order for me
To teach you,
So that our hearts
Would cleave to each other’s
Through G-d’s holy word.

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Photo Source: My Jewish Learning

Authentic Confession: Meditation on the Vidui

Posted on: July 19th, 2020 by Alden

In preparation for the Yamim Noraim, I’ll lead a free workshop called “Authentic Confessions: Selichot that Matter,” presented by the soon to be launched ‘High Holidays at Home’ from Haggadot.com. Register here for the August 26 webinar. We’ll look at traditional and new texts of the Vidui, the confessional, and we’ll ask: What is an authentic confession? And what are the confessions that matter? Here’s one answer:

Meditation on the Vidui
For the sins I’ve committed against myself,
And for the sins I’ve committed against others,
I offer a new heart.

For the sins I’ve committed against my family,
And for the sins I’ve committed against my friends,
I offer new understanding.

For the sins I’ve committed against children,
And for the sins I’ve committed against adults,
I offer new restraint.

For the sins I’ve committed against neighbors,
And for the sins I’ve committed against strangers,
I offer new insight.

For the sins I’ve committed against the powerful,
And for the sins I’ve committed against the weak,
I offer new wisdom.

For the sins I’ve committed against nations,
And for the sins I’ve committed against peoples,
I offer a new voice.

G-d of generations,
Source of forgiveness and grace,
For the sins that I remember,
And for the sins that I’ve forgotten,
I offer myself, in humble service,
To You, Your Word and Your Holy Name.

Postscript: This was originally published on Aug. 31, 2011. Click here for my full list of prayers for the Yamim Noraim. Here’s a focused list of prayers for Elul, another one of prayers for Rosh Hashana, a list of prayers for Yom Kippur and one more for Sukkot. And here’s a link to yizkor and memorial prayers.

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Photo Source: Va-yehi Or

Healing from Coronavirus: Hebrew and English

Posted on: April 1st, 2020 by Alden

Here’s a Hebrew version of my prayer “Healing from Coronavirus,” with a revised English version so that the two match. Alex Griffel, a student at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies when I am also a student and Liturgist-in-Residence, translated the text, after he and I made some adaptations. Faculty member Rabbi Howard Markose who teachesBiblical Hebrew Grammar reviewed the draft. There were technical issues with the Hebrew, with new challenges appearing with each reread of the text. This is the result. Note: As a writing coach I have two open spots for new clients. Contact me at: alden@tobendlight.com.

Healing from Coronavirus

יהי רצון מלפניך
ה’ אלוקינו ואלוקי אבותינו ואמותינו
,שתשלח אור בריאות ורווחה לכל מי שנחשף לקורונה
,מי שלקה במחלת הקורונה
.וכל מי שילקה בה בעתיד – חס ושלום
.תברך אותם, תגן עליהם ,ותביא אותם במהירות להתאוששות שלמה
.תשלח להם רפואת הנפש ,רפואת הגוף ורפואת הנשמה
ונאמר, אמן

May it be Your will,
G-d of our fathers and mothers
That You cast the light of health and well-being
On those who’ve been exposed to coronavirus,
Those who have contracted the disease,
And those who contract the disease in the future, G-d forbid.
Bless them, protect them and bring them speedily to full recovery.
Send them
Healing of soul,
Healing of body,
And healing of spirit.
And let us say, Amen

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New! A PDF version of Haggadah Companion: Meditations and Readings. Get a $1.00 off with the coupon code “freedom” (without quotes) at checkout. The PDF edition is in memory of my wife Ami z”l, who died before Passover 11 years ago. Here’s a link.

Please check out my ELItalk video, “Falling in Love with Prayer,” and my two CCAR Press books: This Joyous Soul: A New Voice for Ancient Yearnings 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.

Traveler’s Prayer in a Time of Pandemic

Posted on: March 4th, 2020 by Alden

This is a new prayer for safe travel, incorporating the perils of modern life with classic language of t’filat haderech, the traveler’s prayer. It’s my third prayer related to the outbreak of coronavirus. The first,”Coronavirus: A Prayer for Medical Scientists,” was included in a Central Conference of American Rabbis rapid response liturgy packet, which got me thinking about prayers that might be missing from the packet. I then wrote “Healing from Coronavirus” which was subsequently added. This morning, the idea of a revised traveler’s woke me. This is what I wrote.

Traveler’s Prayer in a Time of Pandemic
May it be Your will,
Our G-d,
G-d of our fathers and mothers,
That we journey in peace
And return in peace,
Safe from the ancient hazards of travel –
Enemies, thieves, ambushes and wild beasts –
And safe from modern perils –
Plane crashes and traffic wrecks,
Scammers and con artists,
Infectious disease and quarantine –
So that our travel serves it highest purpose,
And we reach our destination and return home
In joy, life and health.
Grant us grace in Your eyes
And in the eyes of all whom we meet.

.ברוך אתה ה’, שומע תפלה
Baruch atah Adonai, sho’me’a t’fila.
Blessed are You Adonai, Who hears prayer.

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Postscript: My other prayers for healing include: “For Surgery,” “On Waiting for An Organ Transplant,” “Upon Recovery from Surgery,” “For Healing the Spirit” and “For a Critically Ill Child.”

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons

Healing from Coronavirus

Posted on: March 3rd, 2020 by Alden

Here’s a prayer for those who’ve contracted or have been exposed to the coronavirus, including those who might contract the disease in the future. See also: “Coronavirus: A Prayer for Medical Scientists.”

Healing from Coronavirus
Source of healing,
Cast the light of health and well-being
On those who’ve been exposed to coronavirus,
Those who have contracted the disease,
And those — G-d forbid — who contract the disease in the future.
Bless them, protect them and bring them speedily to full recovery.
Bless all who are ill
With healing of body
Healing of soul
And healing of spirit.

.ברוך אתה ה’, מקור חיים
Baruch atah Adonai, m’kor chayim.
Blessed are You Adonai, Source of life.

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Photo Source: World Health Organization

Coronavirus: A Prayer for Medical Scientists

Posted on: February 27th, 2020 by Alden

This is a prayer is for the wisdom and skills of medical scientists, researchers and public health officials around the world fighting the novel coronavirus. See also: “Healing from Coronavirus,” “On the Front Lines of the Pandemic” and “Traveler’s Prayer in a Time of Pandemic.”

Coronavirus: A Prayer for Medical Scientists
G-d of wisdom,
Bless medical scientists and researchers around the world
With insight and skill, dedication and fortitude,
As they combat coronavirus,
So that their work yields knowledge and understanding,
Speedily finding vaccines, treatments and deterrents to its spread.

Source of life,
Grant public health and government officials
The strength to act swiftly and decisively,
With compassion and understanding,
In service to humankind,
Fighting this outbreak
And the other diseases that still plague the planet,
Diseases threatening the lives of our brothers and sisters,
Nations and communities,
Young and old.

Rock of Ages,
Bring an end to disease and suffering,
So that all may know
Your compassion and Your grace.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה’, רוֹפֵא כׇל בָּשָׂר, וּמַפְלִיא לַעֲשׂוֺת׃
Praised are You G-d, healer of flesh, maker of wonders.

Postscript: Here are prayers “For Nurses” and “For Physicians” that appear in my book, Jewish Prayers of Hope and Healing. My other prayers for healing include: “For Surgery,” “On Waiting for An Organ Transplant,” “Upon Recovery from Surgery,” “For Healing the Spirit” and “For a Critically Ill Child.”

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.

Photo Source: East Stroudsberg University

Posts Tagged ‘renewal’

How to Find G-d

Inside the (Hanukkah) Light

For Three Leaders, For the World

Guest Writer: Hannah Greenberg

Teach Me

Authentic Confession: Meditation on the Vidui

Healing from Coronavirus: Hebrew and English

Traveler’s Prayer in a Time of Pandemic

Healing from Coronavirus

Coronavirus: A Prayer for Medical Scientists

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

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