Jewish Meditations

[historyteach]

Every night before sleep, we give our tired and worn-out souls back to God. Every morning, we receive our souls anew, refreshed and full of energy. Therefore, the first words that we say upon waking are:

"I thank You, Eternal One,
for compassionately returning my soul to me,
how great is Your faithfulness"

In Hebrew:
Modeh ani l'fanecha melech chai v'kayam,
she-hech-ezarta be nishmati b'chemla,
rabah emuna-techa

With this thought and intention of "I thank You," we begin our day. This thought accompanies us, always engraved in our consciousness, the whole day long.

Shalom!

[historyteach]

Wisdom From Close and Afar
By HaRav Ariel Bar Tzadok

Long ago, Ben Zoma (P.A. 4,1) taught that one who is wise could find wisdom in everyone and indeed, everywhere. This idea is based upon the simple premise that G-d’s Presence is to be found everywhere. Being that the Divine Presence is everywhere, thus one with the gift of penetration can peal away the facades of illusion and perceive Heavenly Truth everywhere, in everything and in every one. One simply needs to know how to extract the sparks of light from within the shells of darkness.

Originally, humanity possessed an instinctual ability to recognize wisdom and truth. However, we lost this, as a result of the episode that we metaphorically refer to as the “eating of the forbidden fruit of the Tree of Knowledge” long ago in Eden. Since then, our instinctual intuitive vision has dimmed. We no longer immediately recognize wisdom. Ben Zoma came to teach us that if we look properly, placing emphasis on gazing upon the Divine Presence and not upon any garment it may be cloaked in, we will indeed sharpen our inner vision and come again to recognize wisdom at an instinctual level.

The Zohar teaches that G-d looked into the Torah and used it to create the universe. Everything in the universe has a spark of Torah in it. Therefore, one does not need a book from which to learn wisdom. The greatest of holy books is the universe itself. One can contemplate life, the universe and everything or anything within it and learn from it great truths about the true nature of G-d. Truth should echo in our ears, regardless of the source from which it comes. This is what Ben Zoma intended for us to learn. When we can recognize wisdom and truth wherever it may be found and extract it from its shell that perverts its meaning and message, then we have participated in the redemption process of restoring lost and exiled Light.

There are many non-Jewish, non-Torah sources that speak words of profound wisdom and truth. Regardless of the source of the words, we must nonetheless not be afraid to accept messages of wisdom and truth regardless of their place of origins. By doing so, we perform the extraction and take words outside of their limited context and relative meaning and give them a whole new life of their own; a life that can influence us all for good, to better understand and thus serve our Creator.

Shalom!

[Rusty Zipper]

missed ya teach...

WB

[historyteach]

(((Rusty)))

My old sources ran dry. Just finding new ones.
I'm around. Ya can't get ridda me that easy!

Shalom!

[historyteach]

Prayer for the soul
My G*D, the soul which You have placed within me is pure. You have created it, You will one day take it from me and restore it to me in time to come. So long as my soul is within me, I make acknowledgment before You, my G*D and G*D of all generations. Blessed are you, Eternal One, who restores my soul each day that I may once again awaken.

Shalom!

[Rusty Zipper]

teach

I'm around. Ya can't get ridda me that easy

nor would we want to teach!

good deal on the new sources!

[historyteach]

The Shehecheyanu

The Shehecheyanu blessing ws introduced to encourage Jews to offer thanks for new and unusual experiences. It it typically recited at the beginning of holidays and to celebrate special occasions.

Baruch atah adonai eloheinu melech ha'olam shecheyanu v'kiy'manu v'higyanu lazman hazeh.

Blessed are you, our G*D,
who has supported us,
created us,
and brought us to this glorious moment!

Shalom!

[historyteach]

Blessing for Springtime

Springtime brings with it special blessings of thanks. This blessing, recited upon seeing fruit trees in bloom, thanks God for a perfect world, filled with trees and creations for us to enjoy. From the Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 226:1.

Blessed are You, Source of all Life, for nothing is lacking on Your universe, and You have created in it good creatures and good trees, to give humankind pleasure.



I noticed that my blueberry bushes have their very first blossems today!

L'Chaim!
(To Life!)

[historyteach]

Theresa's Prayer

May today there be peace within.

May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.

May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.

May you be confident knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.

It is there for each and every one of us.

Shalom!

[Ann]

Amen, Teach. What a lovely prayer to read tonight.

[historyteach]

Since I'm exhaused right now, and starting to doze already, I thought these prayers, normally said together at the end of one's day, would be appropriate right now.

Bedtime Prayers
By Ariel Scheib

Prior to going to sleep, there is a small composition of bedtime prayers to recite. These prayers are believed to bring peace and comfort to one as they sleep. Scholars used to teach that during the night demons come searching for innocent souls; however, completing these prayers would protect the soul from such dangers. The bedtime prayers are structured around saying the Shema. The Shema is also often uttered before one passes away. Many Jews believe that reciting the Shema before they go to sleep will protect them, if unexpectedly they die while sleeping. Other prayers include Psalm 91 and Psalm 3. The final prayer recited is Adon Olam, requesting that God watch over one’s soul as they sleep.

The Sh'ma at Bedtime
(excerpts from the traditional ritual)

Who Closes My Eyes...:
A Blessing at Bedtime

Praised are You,
Adonai, our G*D,
Ruler of the universe,
who closes my eyes in sleep,
my eyelids in slumber.

May it be Your will,
Adonai,
My G*D and the G*D of my ancestors,
to lie me down in peace
and then to raise me up in peace.

Let no disturbing thoughts upset me,
no evil dreams nor troubling fantasies.

May my bed be complete and whole
in Your sight.

Grant me light
so that I do not sleep the sleep of death,
for it is You who illumines and enlightens.

Praised are You,
Adonai,
whose majesty gives light to the universe.


The Sh'ma Itself
(Deuteronomy 6: 4-9)

(G*D is a Faithful Ruler)
Hear, O Israel, Adonai, our G*D, Adonai, is One.
Blessed be the name of G*D's glorious majesty forever and ever.

You shall love Adonai your G*D with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and you shall speak of them when you are sitting at home and when you go on a journey, when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be frontlets between your eyes. You shall inscribe them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.

Hashkivenu: "Lie Us Down..."

Lie us down,
Adonai our G*D,
in peace;
and raise us up again,
our Ruler,
in life.

Spread over us Your Sukkah of peace,
direct us with Your good counsel,
and save us for Your own Name's sake.

Shield us;
remove from us
every enemy, pestilence, sword, famine, and sorrow.

Remove all adversaries
from before us and from behind us,
and shelter us in the shadow of Your wings.

For You are our
guarding and saving God,
yes, a gracious and compassionate G*D and Soverign.

Guard our going out
and our coming in
for life and peace,
now and always!


A Prayer for Protection at Night

In the name of Adonai
the G*D of Israel:
May the angel Michael be at my right,
and the angel Gabriel be at my left;
and in front of me the angel Uriel,
and behind me the angel Raphael...
and above my head
the Sh'khinah (Divine Presence).

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: Eisenberg, Ronald L. The JPS Guide to Jewish Traditions. PA: Jewish Publication Society, 2004; “Prayer Kriat Sh’ma”.

Blessings to you all,
During your good night's sleep,
and your awakening in the morn.

Shalom!

[historyteach]

Prayer of Thanks for Good News

Baruch atah adonai eloheinu melech ha'olam, hatov vhameitiv.

Blessed are you, Adoni, our G*D, Ruler of the Universe, the Good and the Doer of good.


May we all have good news!

Shalom!

[indigo]

Amen and Shalom Teach.

L'Chaim!

[historyteach]

Adon Olam

The Lord of the Universe who reigned
before anything was created.
When all was made by the Eternal One's will
G*D was acknowledged as Soverign.

And when all shall end
G*D still all alone shall reign.
G*D was, G*D is,
and G*D shall be in glory.

And Adoni is one, and there's no other,
to compare or join The Eternal One.
Without beginning, without end
and to G*D belongs diminion and power.

And the Almighty is my G*D, my living G*D.
to Adoni I flee in time of grief,
and G*D is my miracle and my refuge,
who answers the day I shall call.

To G*D I commin my spirit,
in the time of sleep and awakening,
even if my spirit leaves,
G*D is with me, I shall not fear.

Shalom!

[Ann]

G*D is with me, I shall not fear.

Amen, Teach. As someone who lived in fear, all day every day for far too long, I am grateful that today I am able to give my fears to God and live life as it was intended, joyous and free.

Thank you for this reminder.

Hugs

[historyteach]

"May the Lord bless you and keep you
May the Lord cause His favor to shine upon you and be gracious unto you
May the Lord lift His favor unto you and give you peace” (Numbers 6:24-26)."

“So may it be God’s will”
(from the Amidah, the focus of every Jewish prayer service)

Shalom!

[historyteach]

My Soul Yearns for Love
by Jeff Roth

נפשי חולת אהבתך, אנא אל נא רפא נא לה
Nafshi holat ahavahtecha, ana elna refa na la
My soul yearns for your love, please God, heal her

Every human act is either an expression or a request for love. This line from Yedid Nefesh, which Jeff Roth translates as my soul yearns for your love, please God, heal her is introduced with the kavanah (intention) that we may really feel both the yearning to give and express love as well as the longing to receive love.

The healing that’s implied [in this prayer] is not that the yearning should stop. The healing that’s implied is heal this yearning by helping us to experience this love. The yearning should continue. It’s what pulls us to search for this love.

The healing is bringing our awareness and our consciousness to this yearning and seeing that it is OK to have this. When we see it from this more conscious place we feel more connected.

I was fortunate enough to have met Jeff Roth at the retreat I went to a few summers ago. He was one of the founders of Elat Chaim, where I stayed, in the Catskills, in NY. He's a wonderfully gifted man.

Shalom!

[Rusty Zipper]

[citychick]

Every human act is either an expression or a request for love.

thats a lovely thought historyteach.

Thank you.