Prayer is …
More than the words in this book,
though these words will guide you, and teach you,
if you let them.
Prayer is …
Time out of time — to notice
in the silence, in the distracting thoughts, in the still small voice within,
Change and stillness,
Knowing, and heartbreak
Remorse and forgiveness
Hope and resolve
Gratitude and compassion
Prayer is not …
a spectator sport.
It is not passive,
though it can be effortless.
The recitation of words can be rote, thoughtless and unconscious –
or it can be Practice — inscribing words on your heart.
Sometimes, a phrase suddenly jumps out of the stream and glimmers in new light.
This happens especially, as you learn to understand Hebrew.
[Oy, and then there are more challenges — when the Hebrew is not just a meaningless mantra, and the words are not ones you would choose to say – curses on enemies, songs of victory, endless strings of lavish praise upon a God you don’t believe requires or desires those particular phrases — that kind of thing.
Don’t get confused. Still you can pray in your own words, or in silence.
Just keep rising, level after level.]
Advice?
Be careful not to dismiss, judge, or otherwise miss the value of where you are and what has been given to you from your people.
Be careful not to become spiritually complacent, arrogant, stubborn, stuck.
Don’t give up when it’s hard.
Music is important.
Singing with others together,
lifting voices,
generating joy,
dancing,
holding silence,
finding harmonies,
creating beautiful sound.
Words are important.
Moving the heart.
Teaching across time and generations.
Silence is important.
Making space to listen, to receive.
Prayer is…
interactive and solitary
Paradoxical — Revolutionary
Prayer is a gift you give to your soul.
rabbikatiemizrahi 