SULAM - TZELEM - B’RACHAH - MIDRASHIM ON WORDS OF TORAH - Written for Alden Solovy’s workshop at the Central Conference of American Rabbis 2022 Convention (Online)

SULAM - Paved Path/Ladder/Highway

I am building a highway to heaven

Inspired by dreams of generations

Constructed with love and skill 

Paved with hope. 

I am building a highway to heaven

Extending it through time and space

Sustained by the wisdom of elders

Maintained by the strength of children 

Enhanced by the prayers of grandchildren 

I am building a highway to heaven

Moving past lands and spaces where conflict reigns

To arrive at a place of security and peace

Where all people can find their true home. 

 

TZELEM - IMAGE 

Eternal One,

I see Your image in the tree branches blowing in the wind as new buds form in the spring; as green leaves rustle in the summer; and as the trees bare their branches moving from fall to winter.
Eternal Creator, 

 I see Your image in the faces of children, and in their voices as words become expression of emotion and thought. 

Eternal Helper, 

I see Your image in people whose hands are extended to help the lonely, the refugee, a friend, a family member, and a stranger. 

Eternal Teacher, 

I see Your image in the passing of wisdom and the ability to reason from dedicated educators to students hungry for learning. 

Eternal Source of melody, 

I see Your image in the hands that make beautiful music on instruments of human creation, and in lyrics that sing Your praise. 

Eternal Companion, 

I see Your image inside of myself when I touch the soul of another human being and find connection and the potential for oneness and peace. 

B’RACHAH - To bless/to strengthen

My blessings strengthen my sense of self when I acknowledge the gifts inside of me. 

My blessings strengthen my family when I am present for them, caring, and giving. 

My blessings strengthen community when I am humble enough to know that it is the community that provides me with fortitude and affirmation. 

My blessings strengthen the world when I can create understanding that will eliminate division and foster cooperation.  

My blessings strengthen all of existence when I allow my soul to be suffused by the spirit of the Eternal Source of being.  

Season to Season - For the First Day of Spring - for the March 20, 2022 Facebook Live minyan of The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah, Overland Park, KS

Reading (from Barechu to Shema) 

for the First Day of Spring 2022

For the daily minyan of 

The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah 

March 20, 2022

Day to day

Season to season

Our lives move forward while traversing

Along the way, 

Within patterns and cycles that show us

That change is a necessary, yet wondrous

Part of our existence. 

Eternal God, be our guide and teacher

So that we can see that our growth 

In wisdom and knowledge

Also has its own patterns and cycles,

Its new vistas and unexpected revelations 

That continuously demonstrate to us 

The undeniable oneness that binds us all together

Which resides and flourishes 

Within the Oneness that is You.

Light, Gladness, Joy and Honor - Original reading for March 15, 2022 daily virtual minyan for The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah, Overland Park, KS

Eternal One, 

As the Jews of Persia, 

Once they were saved from the designs of an evil leader, 

Knew light, gladness, joy and honor, 

May we bask in the light of Your presence 

Shining upon us. 

May we find gladness even in routine moments of each day. 

May we derive joy from study, conversation, and building sacred community, 

And may we remember that we gain honor for ourselves 

When we honor others 

With respect, support, encouragement, 

And even love. 

Empower us to discover the light, gladness, joy and honor

That can suffuse our souls

When we acknowledge that we are reflections 

of your image and spirit

Whenever we, in many voices and a single voice, 

proclaim You One. 

Paths in our lives - original reading for online daily minyan for The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah, Overland Park, KS

Original reading for daily Facebook live minyan for The Temple, Congregation B'nai Jehudah in Overland Park, Kansas. 

Daily Minyan Reading 

March 9, 2022

Eternal God, 

As you continually create day and night, 

Set the stars along their respective paths, 

And lead us through the cycles of the seasons, 

May Your Teachings, Your Torah, 

Guide us along the path of our lives.

Inspire us to perform acts of kindness and goodness, 

To be peacemakers at time of conflict

To be healers when souls are weary from fear and danger

To bring light when darkness threatens to engulf our world. 

Blessed are You, the One God 

Who suffuses our very essence with love

If only we would hear that voice inside of us

That calls us to spread love and hope

Throughout all of humanity.

Singing Your Praise in Challenging Times - Daily Minyan Reading for The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah on March 7, 2022

My reading for The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah Daily Minyan on March 7, 2022

Eternal God, 

Creator of light, 

Source of the light of Your Torah and wisdom, 

What is the light that you want us to share in this world? 

Even in difficult and challenging times, 

We believe that light needs to be demonstrated,

 in our thoughts and actions,  

Through 

Understanding

Connection

Affirmation

Acceptance 

Cooperation 

Truth

Knowledge

Healing

Peace 

And Hope. 

May Your Oneness unite us in ways 

that will sustain us 

so that we can sing Your praise 

And recognize Your enduring presence 

In our minds and hearts. 

“Into This World” - A Prayer for Peace for all of us and for the people of Ukraine

  A cousin of mine, after Shabbat services at Beth Shalom Synagogue in Overland Park, Kansas on February 26, called me that evening to ask me if I knew of the “Prayer for Peace” in Siddur Sim Shalom (a photo of the page is below), a translation of a prayer by Rabbi Nathan Sternhartz/Nathan of Breslov, the chief disciple and scribe of Rabbi Nachman.   The Prayer for Peace took on greater meaning that Shabbat because the war in Ukraine had just begun, and Rabbi Nathan was from Ukraine. 

    My cousin wondered what I might do to set it to music, 

   After reading the prayer, which I have seen before, I didn’t see a way to add a melody to the prayer word for word. Instead, I thought that I could use the prayer as a starting point for something new, incorporating some of the words of the prayer into the lyrics.   

    My cousin presented this prayer to me while I was struggling with an ongoing creative block. I had just received an email with quotes about getting beyond such a block.   The advice seemed to work. 

   Another impetus to complete the song was the current situation in Ukraine.  This song is very much dedicated to their courage and to the hope that they will, once again, be able to sustain their world in positive ways. 

   Here is the link on YouTube:

Larry Karol sings “Into This World”

Into this World 

By Larry Karol 

February 28, 2022

Inspired by “Prayer for Peace” in the SIDDUR SIM SHALOM prayerbook

(The Rabbinical Assembly/USCJ) s

Dedicated to the people of Ukraine 

Why have we come into this world?

To learn  

To teach 

To give 

Why have we come into this world?

To grow 

To seek 

To live 

God of compassion

Give us the courage 

To work for the day 

when all people are free 

Let Justice flow like a river 

Let Peace fill the earth as waters fill the sea

Why have we come into this world?

To console 

To heal 

To share 

Why have we come into This  world?

To praise 

To build

To care 

God of compassion

Give us the courage 

To work for the day 

when all people are free 

Let Justice flow like a river 

Let Peace fill the earth as waters fill the sea

Why have we come into this world?

To help 

To hope

To calm our fear 

Why have we come into this world?

To speak

To sing

To hear 

God of compassion

Give us the courage 

To work for the day 

when all people are free 

Let Justice flow like a river 

Let Peace fill the earth as waters fill the sea

Why have we come into this world?

To return

To restore

To forgive

Why have we come into this world?

To stand 

To lead 

To live 

God of compassion

Give us the courage 

To work for the day 

when all people are free 

Let Justice flow like a river 

Let love fill the earth as waters fill the sea

Let Justice flow like a river 

Let love fill the earth as waters fill the sea

   

From SIDDUR SIM SHALOM (with gratitude and respect for the inclusion of this prayer in the Siddur)