The Biblical character Hannah abandons her son. This should shock us. Hannah does not take mothering for granted. Instead, she…
Category: Prayer
Shema: A Breathing Meditation
Shema. Listen. Listen to your body as it breathes. So I did one day. More carefully than usual. First, I…
Offering Worship: Did Moses Make It All Up?
Offering as a form of worship. Take a look at Leviticus. God offers some weird instructions for worship! Like a precise…
Psalm 148: Nature's Rap
Psalm 148: what a beautiful vision of creation! Spiritual beings sing God’s praise. Sun, moon, and clouds sing. So do…
Yah Ribon: The Mystical Prayer that Isn't
Yah Ribon Alam: Ineffable Breath of Life, Master of Time and Space. So begins a most famous Aramaic piyyut (liturgical poem).…
Psalm 16: When existential questions disturb your sleep
Psalm 16. A psalm about questions and answers. Nightmares disturbed my sleep yesterday. I peeked into a closet and said: I want to…
A Rosh Hashanah Ritual Riddle: How are dessert and liturgy alike?
Your Rosh Hashanah ritual riddle: how are sweet fruit crumble and the liturgy of Unetaneh Tokef alike? I’m asking for…
Does the Ana Bekoach prayer reveal the secret 42-letter name of God?
The secret 42-letter name of God is hidden in plain sight. Clues are everywhere. Pay attention. Even to Google ads.…
Praise to the Living God! What kind of Jewish prayer is Yigdal Elohim Chai?
Yigdal Elohim Chai (Praise to the Living God) has a special role in Jewish prayer. It’s one of a very few…