Sacred Reunion - Reading for the Daily Facebook Live Minyan for The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah, April 24, 2022

Daily Minyan Reading 

April 24, 2022

Eternal Creator, 

Author of freedom,

Who shines light upon us every day, 

As we emerge from our celebration of Passover, 

May we be inspired 

To tell our stories of liberation and hope,

To identify and speak of the times 

When we recognize the holiness of life and learning

Of gratitude and mutual understanding

That can bind us together as a community

Not just in our worship spaces

But across the differences that exist

Not to set us apart,

But to provide us with the task 

Of getting to know one another. 

May we move closer every day 

Towards a sacred reunion 

That mirrors Your Oneness

Which pervades our vast universe

And resides in every human heart. 

I sing praise - Pesach 5782

I sing praise 

to recall 

The people who crossed the sea 

at the very beginnings of their freedom

Those who stood with one another 

In a magnificent space of worship 

And played and intoned melodies 

That drew them together 

I sing praise

For those in exile who found a way

To share the psalms of their youth

In a strange land

For those who returned with a revitalized spirit

To their homes and their Temple 

And gave voice to their faith 

From the depths of their soul 

I sing praise

For those exiled again

Who prayed in song in smaller and remote spaces

And studied with one another in a rhythm 

That was like wisdom-driven percussion 

I sing praise

For the members of communities who developed different styles and traditions, with disparate tunes for nearly-identical texts, but who, with common language, 

Found a way to connect through those holy and shared words.  

I sing praise 

For Seder songs that I heard in my home as my father and his brothers passed down the family musical tradition for the festival of freedom

I sing praise

For my mentors, teachers, family members and friends who have inspired me to continue to sing songs of liberation and peace that  will accompany us as we cross the sea again and again. 

I sing praise 

In my heart and mind

As the Author of Freedom 

Listens and sings back 

In eternal harmony. 

 

Lead us again - Original Reading for the Facebook Live Daily Minyan on April 14, 2022 - The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah, Overland Park, KS

Daily Minyan Reading 

April 14, 2022

Creator of Light,

Our companion in the darkness of night,

Loving source of the light of Torah

That sustains us with wisdom,

Enlighten us with new insights into 

The meaning of freedom,

The significance of community,

And the necessity of intergenerational connection 

As we gather once again

Virtually or in person

To share our ancient story of liberation. 

Instill in us compassion 

For those who truly face oppression in our time.

Enable us to distinguish between perpetrator and victim

Between those who focus only on rights for themselves

And those who see the need to take responsibility 

For the well-being of the entire human family. 

Lead us again on dry land 

through the parted waters of the sea

So that we can reach the other side

As dedicated partners with one another

Seeking, always, to share in the blessing of 

Your Oneness. 

Seeing God in our sparkling eyes - Reading for The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah Daily Facebook Live Minyan - April 10, 2022

Daily Minyan Reading (Facebook Live) 

April 10, 2022

The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah 

Creator of light, 

Revealer of the dawn,
Eternal Teacher who shines 

The brilliance of Torah 

Into our minds and hearts, 

Strengthen our resolve

To acknowledge Your intention 

To fashion this world with blessing

To infuse Your image into every living being

And to touch each human soul with Your spirit.

When citizens of this amazing world

Fail to recognize Your presence 

in the sparkling eyes

Of members of every generation 

Seeking, instead, to rob them of their humanity

In order to dismiss their right to live and thrive

In the lands where they reside,

Remind us that we have work to do.

You call upon each of us, every day, 

To reaffirm Your teachings 

To reestablish Your moral dominion among us

And to bring all people back to the Oneness

That is You.  

Shining our Spirit into the Darkness - Facebook Live Daily Minyan reading for The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah on April 4, 2022

Sometimes the polarization and divisions just gets too overwhelming. 

Also, the claim by a major political figure in the state state that there are values tied to the state, some of which I am sure depart from what I would consider important values, made that sense of division worse.  

So, here is my prayer for the The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah Daily minyan for April 4, 2022. 

Daily Minyan Reading

Barechu to Shema

April, 4, 2022

God who rolls light from darkness,

And darkness from light, 

Eternal Teacher, who blesses us with the light of Torah,

Guide us to shine our spirit of compassion and goodness

Into the darkness of the human soul

Which prevents the growth of understanding and cooperation

Among us. 

Open our eyes to see each other as potential partners 

where some see only adversaries,

Neighbors where some see only strangers, 

Friends where some see only enemies. 

As You have commanded us to listen to Your Word, 

So may we truly hear one another

As we walk along the same path in this world of wonder. 

Help us to be one as You are one.