Original prayers for the daily minyan of The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah on December 28, 2021

Original prayers for the daily Facebook Live minyan of The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah (Overland Park, KS) on December 28, 2021

Bright as Noon 

Creator of Light

Who brings on the evening and the peace of night

To cover us like a blanket until the dawn, 

Help us to make 

Whatever darkness we face

as bright as noon. 

May the love You bestow upon us 

Through the gift of Torah

Open our eyes to the connections 

That bind all life together. 

Lead us to fashion a peace among us

That will reveal how all humanity

And all creation 

Are  merely a part of

 the Oneness that is You.

*********************

Opportunities 

It is our love for You, Eternal One,

That inspires us to extend our hands 

To our fellow travelers on our life’s journey

As we cross the seas before us 

That are not obstacles

But opportunities

To walk along a path towards redemption 

That has meaning only if we willingly 

share it with joy, with determination

And with hope. 

********************

Our gifts for tomorrow 

Eternal One, 

Guardian of our days

We lie down 

And we rise up

Under Your protection

Knowing that 

the stillness of night

Will provide us with the vision

That will lead us to infuse tomorrow

With the gifts of our unique and special spirit.  

Blessed are You,  our God,

who keeps all people

Safe and warm 

Embraced within Your loving presence.

For Light and Torah, for Freedom and Responsibility - for the 12/20/2021 evening online minyan for The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah, Overland Park KS

Original readings for the daily evening minyan for The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah (Overland Park, KS) on December 20, 2021

For Light and Torah: 

Eternal God,

As darkness descends, 

Reveal to us the light that can emerge 

Within our souls,

Leading us to renew ourselves every day

And guiding us to contemplate life’s meaning

Each night. 

May the gift of Torah

That you offer us in love

Be our beacon for wisdom and partnership

As we learn from one another 

Recognizing that our mutual connections

Can unite us as one

So that we will be able to touch

Your Oneness and holiness. 

For Freedom…and responsibility 

God of Freedom,

You led the Israelites across the sea 

So that they could leave slavery behind 

And taste the sweetness of liberty 

That would ultimately unleash their potential

To teach the world 

About justice, kindness, compassion, healing and peace. 

May our journey across the sea of challenge

Nurture within us a sense of responsibility for  

Our personal and communal well-being

So that we will arrive in a place of promise and hope. 

Meditation for Light and Torah - December 12, 2021 - for the daily minyan for The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah, Overland Park, KS

Meditation for Light and Torah 

December 12, 2021

Creator of Light and Darkness

You fashioned the potential 

for us to make peace among all people. 

Your wonders teach us that anything is possible 

If we focus on the miracles 

which we can generate

To enhance our world. 

You gave us the light of Torah 

To dispel darkness

To foster cooperation and creativity

To inculcate wisdom and knowledge

And to enliven our spirits. 

You have done all of this 

with love and care

As our Parent 

and our Guide,

Instilling within us the hope

That we can become One 

with the human family 

And with the Universe

As You are One. 

Second Night of Chanukah - 11/29/2021 - Original Readings for Daily Minyan for The Temple, Congregation B'nai Jenhudah

FROM BARECHU TO SHEMA 

As the Eternal One 

Our Creator, 

Rolls light from darkness and darkness from light, 

May lighting our Chanukah candles

Signify for us our own dedication to our heritage

As we continue this tradition year after year.

We remember how the light of Torah

Inspired the Maccabees and the Jews of Judea

And can direct us now

To pursue freedom and justice

Believing that God’s Oneness 

Can fill every heart

With respect and with love. 

SHEMA

Generations of our people

Who have lit Chanukah candles 

Have seen in that light 

Enduring hope

For the possibility of redemption. 

The letters that spell MAKABI

MEM KAF BET YUD 

Are an acronym for the first words 

of our song of redemption 

MI CHAMOCHA BA-EIL LIM ADONAI

May we stand up for who we are 

Combating hatred

Spreading understanding 

Promoting peace

That could be the salvation of all humankind. 

We sing Mi Chamocha to the tune of Rock of Ages on this Chanukah night. 

MI CHAMOCHA 

BEFORE SILENT AMIDAH

As we are about to continue silently, 

Take the opportunity the consider 

What blessings and gifts you see in the Chanukah lights

You might think about 

Family

Healing 

Courage

Friendship 

Tzedakah 

Compassion 

Connection 

And 

How precious life is for all of us

And across the generations. 

Light and Freedom - original prayers for The Temple Congregation B’nai Jehudah Overland Park online evening service 12062021

For the Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah online service on December 6, 2021

(For Light of sight and heart - Before the Shema)

Eternal God, we give You thanks 

For the light that fades in the evening, 

Preparing for a promised 

and glorious return at dawn

And 

For the light of Torah 

presented to us each day with great love. 

We praise You, Eternal One, 

who inspires us

with the gift of divine wisdom 

to engender Unity and Oneness 

throughout all humankind.

Which we will pass from one generation 

To the next. 

******************

(For freedom - before Mi Chamocha) 

Were we there with the Israelites, 

Walking across the sea,

Leaving the chains of bondage behind

 to pursue the potential 

embodied in freedom? 

Do our feet and our spirits grow weary 

When resolution we expected 

In our daily lives

Delays its arrival!? 

Will we turn our hearts in prayer 

to You, O God, 

with hope, 

knowing that the sea 

that once miraculously parted 

Could still uncover dry land on

which we will be able to traverse 

to the other side?

May we be like our ancestors, 

looking into each other’s eyes 

Treading together with confidence 

knowing that You, God, 

will be walking with us

To bring us home.