Between Egypt and Sinai
On Saturday evening we finish counting three weeks of the Omer. With four more weeks to go, we have metaphorically left Egypt behind, but — on…
Read articleHallel 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…
Read articlePraise, Praise
A hallelujah song, with two acrostic paragraphs each spelling the word ‘praise.’ It’s also a salute to the psalms of praise in Jewish liturgy known as…
Read articleVagabond Prayers: A Covid Ushpizin (of sorts)
A Covid-inspired meditation, an Ushpizin (of sorts) for these times when the idea of visitors — and blessings from heaven — may seem distant. Ushpizin is…
Read articleFarewell Ushpizot, Ushpizin: Meditation Before Taking Down a Sukkah
Each year, we construct beautiful dwellings for Sukkot. We intentionally create temporary, holy spaces. We invite the presence of honored guests, the ushpizin, seven prophets, patriarchs and kings of…
Read articleBeauty Dances
On Sukkot, joy and beauty arrive. We are called to bring that beauty into the world. This piece appears in This Grateful Heart: Psalms and Prayers for a…
Read articleMeditation before Taking down a Sukkah
Before taking down your Sukkah, take a moment to remember that it represents hope and peace. As you take apart the physical structure, draw the meaning…
Read articleThe Season of Building
Sukkot is known as z’man simchateinu, the time of our rejoicing. One of the major mitzvot of the holiday is to ‘dwell’ in a sukkah. So…
Read articleBeauty Dances
This is a Sukkot prayer about the beauty that arrives with this festival of joy, and the call to bring that beauty into the world. This piece…
Read articleSukkot Prayers
Here’s a list of prayers for Sukkot with brief descriptions, divided by topic: “Joy,” “Harvest Season” and “Sukkah: Physical home, Spiritual home.” To read a prayer, click on…
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