Posts Tagged ‘return’

 

Yom Kippur Prayers

Posted on: September 20th, 2011 by tobendlight

YomKippurגמר חתימה טובה

This list of prayers and stories for Yom Kippur id divided by topic: Vidui (confession), T’shuva (Repentance), Neilah (closing service), Living in Holiness, Sacred Time and Death/Mourning. Here are several additional lists of prayers for Elul, Rosh Hashana and Sukkot. Here’s a link to yizkor and memorial prayers.

Vidui (Confession)

T’shuva (Repentance, Return)

Neilah (Closing Service)

Living in Holiness

Sacred Time

Death and Mourning

For an annotated list of Memorial and Yizkor prayers, click here. Here are three prayers about preparing for death:

  • Near the End: A Meditation – On preparing for the journey of death with grace and dignity.
  • Remember – Whatever our fears, this is a call back to our deepest sense of peace and well-being.
  • Things Break – Each day we face the flow of endings and beginnings. G-d’s love remains.

Short Story

Cantor Cohen” is a Yom Kippur story of a Chazzan preparing to lead his congregation in prayer, repentance and righteousness.

Click here for the full list of prayers for the Yamim Noraim. Here are focused lists of prayers for Elul, Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, Sukkot and Simchat Torah. And here’s a link to yizkor and memorial prayers.

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Photo Source: Temple Judea

Rosh Hashanah Prayers

Posted on: September 14th, 2011 by tobendlight

שנה טובה

Here are prayers for Rosh Hashanah with brief descriptions, divided into two topics: living in holiness and for creation and the new year. Here’s a focused list of prayers for Elul, a list of prayers for Yom Kippur and one more for Sukkot. And here’s a link to yizkor and memorial prayers.

For Creation and the New Year

Meditations for the New Year, which is also Yom Harat Olam, the birthday of the world:

Living in Holiness

These prayers set a tone for the period of t’shuva from Rosh Hashana to Yom Kippur:

Click here for the full list of prayers for the Yamim Noraim, listed by topics. Here’s a list of prayers for Elul, a list of prayers for Yom Kippur and one more for Sukkot. And here’s a link to yizkor and memorial prayers.

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. You can also connect on Facebook and Twitter.

Prayers for Elul

Posted on: September 7th, 2011 by tobendlight

Elul A Time to ReflectHere’s a list of prayers for the month of Elul divided into categories: breaking free, living in holiness, time and confession. Here are additional links to prayers for Rosh Hashana, another one of prayers for Yom Kippur and one more for Sukkot. Here’s a link to yizkor and memorial prayers.

Breaking Free

Three meditations that ask why we stay chained to our sorrows, then challenge us to see life as a sacred journey:

Living in Holiness

These prayers examine the art of living a life of holiness, focusing on attributes (grace, humility) and practices (listening for G-d’s voice, doing G-d’s will):

  • Is This the Fast? – An introspection based on Isaiah 58:6-7.
  • For Grace – A meditation about living a life of grace by offering grace to others.
  • For Humility – For living a life of humility in service to G-d, ourselves and others.
  • To Do Your Will – To ask for the guidance to do G-d’s will in humility and love.
  • To Hear Your Voice – G-d’s voice is available to all who choose to listen.
  • The Path of Righteousness – The path is paved with questions.
  • For Compassion – About seeing ourselves in everyone.
  • On Making a Mistake – To elevate a mistake into an act of love.
  • To Ask – On asking for G-d’s guidance and support to live a life of righteousness.

Time

Prayers about the holiness of time in general and about the sanctity of this period in the Jewish calendar:

  • Rhythms – A meditation on the contrasting rhythms of life.
  • The Season of Healing – This is a season of healing our souls and our lives.
  • The Season of Return – This is a season of return to G-d, repentance and t’shuva.
  • History – A celebration of the gifts of history and memory.

Confession

Here are meditations on confession (vidui). Although they were written for use on Yom Kippur, they are appropriate as Elul meditations to prepare for vidui:

Click here for the full list of prayers for the Yamim Noraim. Here’s a list of prayers for Rosh Hashana, another one of prayers for Yom Kippur and one more for Sukkot. Here’s a link to yizkor and memorial prayers.

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.

Photo Source: ou.org

The Path of Righteousness

Posted on: August 19th, 2010 by tobendlight

800px-Shofar,_BROn Yom Kippur the questions of who we are and what we might become collide, as do the questions of what we’ve done with our lives and how much time we have left. The path of righteousness is paved with questions. This prayer echoes the Un’tanneh Tokef, an amazing and powerful prayer recited on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. To listen while you read, click the triangle in the bar below. The text follows. This appears in This Grateful Heart: Psalms and Prayers for a New Day from CCAR Press.

 

The Path of Righteousness
G-d of what was and what will be,
Of what might have been and might still be.
G-d of past and future,
Of memories and beginnings.
G-d of the finite and the infinite,
Of moments and possibilities.
What is my life?
And what of my death?
What of my choices?
And what of my future?
What of this distance?
And what of the endless sky?
What of the darkness?
And what of the light?

G-d of the seen and unseen,
Of the known and unknowable.
Teach me patience and understanding
As the mysteries of my life unfold.
Teach me to live gently, love generously,
And to walk with strength and confidence.
Teach me to give and to receive,
Sharing Your blessings in joy and sorrow.
Teach me to see others through Your eyes,
As children of G-d.
And teach me to see myself and my life as You do,
With love.

Blessed are You, Adonai,
Source of life,
Guardian and Shelter,
You set Your people on the path of righteousness,
Holiness and charity,
Kindness and grace,
To return to You in service.
Blessed is Your Holy Name.

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

Postscript: Here’s a link to prayers and stories for the Yamim Noraim, the High Holy Days, listed by topic.

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: Photo by Martin Kozák, Wikimedia Commons

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