Selichot: Body, Soul . . . “Will You Hear My Voice?”
Aug 28, 2013 By Samuel Barth | Commentary
This coming Saturday night in (Ashkenazi) synagogues around the world, congregations gather for the beginning of Selichot, the prayers and poems that inspire and guide us to seek forgiveness. Many of us will spend hours in the coming weeks turning through pages of ancient (and modern) words, hearing melodies and chants that have served so well as the pathway for the journey of the soul.
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“No’am Adonai” (the Beauty of Adonai): Psalm 27 and Elul
Aug 14, 2013 By Samuel Barth | Commentary
“[L]ahazot beno’am Adonai ul’vaker b’heychalo” (To gaze upon the beauty of Adonai, and to visit in God’s sanctuary) [Ps. 27:4]d
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Healing of Body and Soul (Part 2)
Aug 7, 2013 By Samuel Barth | Commentary
If an anthropology student from the University of Mars were to attend a Shabbat morning service in an American Jewish synagogue, what kind of understanding about our real synagogue lives might emerge in the student’s term paper on the topic? The essay might suggest that announcements and kiddush are the most important parts of the experience because that is when the most people are present. The Martian professor (whose appearance we will not explore here) might urge the student to be more subtle and to observe closely the body language of the human participants to discern which parts of the service are most engaging and important to those present.
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Healing of Body and Soul (Part 1)
Jul 31, 2013 By Samuel Barth | Commentary
In addition to the well-known mi sheberakh prayer for healing recited (or sung, in modern versions) during the Shabbat Torah Service, our liturgy engages with the theme of healing in the weekday ‘Amidah, in the blessing that begins, “Refa’einu Adonai veneraf’ei, hoshi’einu venivashe’a” (Heal us, Adonai, and we shall be healed, save us and we shall be saved). The blessing continues, asking for complete healing (refu’ah sh’leymah) for all among the People of Israel who are unwell.
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Jerusalem
Jul 17, 2013 By Samuel Barth | Commentary | Tishah Be'av
As we emerge from our encounter with destruction and desolation on Tish’ah Be’Av, we approach Shabbat Nahamu, named for the opening words of the haftarah “Nahamu nahamu ami” (Be comforted, oh be comforted My people; Isa. 40:1). This becomes the week when we allow ourselves to encounter all the images of Jerusalem that are presented to us as signs and symbols of hope in our liturgy.
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Tisha Be’av
Jul 8, 2013 By Samuel Barth | Commentary | Tishah Be'av
These words will reach you during the nine days that lead to the fast on Tish’ah Be’Av, the day we mourn the destruction of the first and second Temples and many other tragedies of Jewish history. It is traditionally a complete fast—from sunset until sunset—with Yom Kippur the only other such fast day in the Jewish calendar. There is a Hasidic teaching that no halakhah concerning fasting on these days is needed, for “on the black fast of Tish’ah Be’Av, who could eat, and on the white fast of Yom Kippur, who needs to eat?”
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Turn Aside (Haseir) Evil Forces
Jun 25, 2013 By Samuel Barth | Commentary
Last week, we began to explore Hashkiveinu, the blessing unique to the evening service that asks for peace through the night and renewed life in the morning (Siddur Sim Shalom for Weekdays, 140).
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“To Life. . .to Peace”—Answers to the Terrors of the Night
Jun 19, 2013 By Samuel Barth | Commentary
Anomaly invites interpretation. There is a clear pattern to the texts surrounding the Shema’; a pattern that is consistent in the morning and the evening. Two blessings precede the biblical Shema’, one concerned with the natural cycles of light and darkness, and the second exploring the Torah as vehicle for divine love. Following the Shema’, the theme turns to redemption—recalling slavery and liberation, ending with praise to God, “Ga’al Yisrael” (Redeemer of Israel). In the morning we move directly from the blessing of redemption to begin our core prayer, the ‘Amidah.
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