Carving Space into the Evening;
A Meditative Ma'ariv
Limmud 2024, Sunday, Blue 32 - Wellbeing hub
Welcome. We invite you to reflect on the day and settle your mind and heart before transitioning to Limmud's evening programme.
Let go of what constricts you; hold onto what has nourished you.
Easing In...
Niggun
Ashrei: A Psalm of Praise–Hakarat Hatov (Seeing the Good)
אַ֭שְׁרֵי יוֹשְׁבֵ֣י בֵיתֶ֑ךָ ע֝֗וֹד יְֽהַלְל֥וּךָ סֶּֽלָה: אַשְׁרֵ֣י הָ֭עָם שֶׁכָּ֣כָה לּ֑וֹ אַֽשְׁרֵ֥י הָ֝עָ֗ם שֱׁיְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהָֽיו
Happy are those that dwell in Your house, they will yet praise You forever. Happy the people for whom this is true, happy the people whose God is the Eternal.
Ashrei yoshvei vetecha od y’hal’luchah
Practice Hakarat Hatov (Seeing the Good)
With the person sitting next to you, briefly discuss:
What do you sing praise for today?
What do you want to carry into tomorrow?
What have you learned that you want to carry with you?
Let your body and/or spirit rise
Bar'chu
בָּרְכוּ אֶת יְיָ הַמְבֹרָךְ! בָּרוּךְ יְיָ הַמְבֹרָךְ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד
Barchu et Adonai, Hamevorach. Baruch Adonai hamevorach l’olam va’ed.
Praise Adonai to whom our praise is due forever! Praised be Adonai to whom praise is due, now and forever!
Ma’ariv Aravim/ Roll into Night (Noam Katz)
Roll into dark; Roll into light; Night becomes day; Day turns to night.
בּוֹרֵא יוֹם וָלָיְלָה, גוֹלֵל אוֹר מִפְּנֵי חֹשֶׁך, וְחֹשְֶׁך מִפְּנֵי אוֹר
Borei Yom v'laila; Goleil or .
Creator of Day and Light, rolling light away from dark, and darkness from light
Ahavah Rabbah
You love us with a great, boundless, unconditional love
We meditate for someone else: May you be well, may you be happy, may your body be strong, may your soul be at peace.
We meditate for ourselves: May I be well, may I be happy, may my body be strong, may my soul be at peace.
Shema
שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְהוָה אֶחָֽד
Shema yisrael, adonai eloheinu, adonai echad
Hear O’ Israel, the Eternal is our God, the Eternal is All-Oneness
בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתוֹ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד
Baruch shem kavod malchuto l’olam va-ed
Blessed is the name of God's glorious reign for ever and ever
וְאָ֣הַבְתָּ֔ אֵ֖ת יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהֶ֑יךָ בְּכָל־לְבָבְךָ֥ וּבְכָל־נַפְשְׁךָ֖ וּבְכָל־מְאֹדֶֽך
וְהָי֞וּ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֗לֶּה אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָנֹכִ֧י מְצַוְּךָ֛ הַיּ֖וֹם עַל־לְבָבֶֽךָ
וְשִׁנַּנְתָּ֣ם לְבָנֶ֔יךָ וְדִבַּרְתָּ֖ בָּ֑ם בְּשִׁבְתְּךָ֤ בְּבֵיתֶ֙ךָ֙ וּבְלֶכְתְּךָ֣ בַדֶּ֔רֶךְ וּֽבְשָׁכְבְּךָ֖ וּבְקוּמֶֽךָ
וּקְשַׁרְתָּ֥ם לְא֖וֹת עַל־יָדֶ֑ךָ וְהָי֥וּ לְטֹטָפֹ֖ת בֵּ֥ין עֵינֶֽיךָ
וּכְתַבְתָּ֛ם עַל־מְזוּזֹ֥ת בֵּיתֶ֖ךָ וּבִשְׁעָרֶֽיךָ
לְמַ֣עַן תִּזְכְּר֔וּ וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם אֶת־כָּל־מִצְותָ֑י וִהְיִיתֶ֥ם קְדֹשִׁ֖ים לֵֽאלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃ אֲנִ֞י יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶ֗ם אֲשֶׁ֨ר הוֹצֵ֤אתִי אֶתְכֶם֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם לִהְי֥וֹת לָכֶ֖ם לֵאלֹהִ֑ים אֲנִ֖י יְהוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם
V’-a-hav-ta et A-do-nai El-o-he-cha, b’-chol l’-vav-cha uv’-chol naf-sh’-cha uv’-chol
m’-o-de-cha V’-ha-yu had’-va-rim ha-ei-leh a-sher a-no-chi m’-tzav’-cha ha-yom al
l’-va-ve-cha. V’-shi-nan-tam l’-va-ne-cha v’-di-bar-ta b’-am b’-shiv-t’-cha b’-vei-te-cha uv’-lech-t’-cha va-de-rech uv’-shoch-b’-cha uv’-ku-me-cha.
Uk-shar-tam l’-ot al ya-de-cha v’-ha-yu l’-to-ta-fot bein ei-ne-cha. Uch’-tav-tam al m’-zu-zot bei-te-cha u-vish-a-re-cha.
L’-ma-an tiz-k’-ru, va-a-si-tem et kol mitz-vo-tai vih’-yi-tem k’-do-shim l’-El-o-hei-chem A-ni A-do-nai El-o-hei-chem, a-sher hotz-ei-ti et-chem mei-er-etz Mitz-ray-im lih’-yot la-chem l’-El-o-him a-ni A-do-nai El-o-hei-chem.
You shall love the Eternal your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Take to heart these instructions with which I charge you this day. Impress them upon your children. Recite them when you stay at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you get up. Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them serve as a symbol on your forehead, inscribe them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Thus you shall be reminded to observe all My commandments and to be holy to your God. I, the God of Freedom, am your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God: I, the One Who Always Loves You, is your God.
Amidah
With the person next to you, discuss briefly who do you need to forgive before the day ends, or for what; who do you need to ask for forgiveness from? For what?
אֲ֭דֹנָי שְׂפָתַ֣י תִּפְתָּ֑ח וּ֝פִ֗י יַגִּ֥יד תְּהִלָּתֶֽךָ׃
Adonai s’fatai tiftach, ufi yagid tehilatecha
My God, open up my mouth, so I can sing Your praises.
We take this time to focus our prayers on forgiveness as the day comes to an end. Or, pray for whatever you need.
Oseh Shalom: A prayer for peace
Oseh Shalom bimromav, hu ya’aseh shalom aleinu, v’al kol yisrael, v’al kol yoshvei teivel; v’imru Amen
May the One who makes peace in the highest, bring peace to us, to all Israel and to all who dwell on earth and let us say, Amen.
עוֹשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם בִּמְרוֹמָיו
הוּא יַעֲשֶׂה שָׁלוֹם עָלֵינוּ
וְעַל כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל
וְעַל כָּל יוֹשְׁבֵי תֵּבֵל
וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן:
Mi Shebeirach
A prayer for healing. Who are you praying for tonight?
Mi shebeirach avoteinu; M'kor hab'racha l'imoteinu
May the source of strength Who blessed the ones before us
Help us find the courage to make our lives a blessing And let us say Amen
Mi shebeirach imoteinu; M'kor habrachah l'avoteinu
Bless those in need of healing with r'fuah sh'leimah; The renewal of body, the renewal of spirit
And let us say Amen.
Acheinu
A prayer for the return of our hostages in Gaza
Acheinu kol beit yisrael,
Acheinu kol beit yisrael, han'tunim b'tzara, b'tzara uvashivyah, haomdim bein bayam uvein bayabasha. Hamakom Y'racheim, Y'racheim Aleihem v'yotziem mitzara lirvacha, umi'afaila l'orah umishiabud lig'ulah, hashta ba'agala uvizman kariv.
אַחֵינוּ כָּל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, הַנְּתוּנִים בְּצָרָה וּבַשִּׁבְיָה, הָעוֹמְדִים בֵּין בַּיָּם וּבֵין בַּיַּבָּשָׁה, הַמָּקוֹם יְרַחֵם עֲלֵיהֶם, וְיוֹצִיאֵם מִצָּרָה לִרְוָחָה, וּמֵאֲפֵלָה לְאוֹרָה, וּמִשִּׁעְבּוּד לִגְאֻלָּה, הַשְׁתָּא בַּעֲגָלָא וּבִזְמַן קָרִיב.
Our family, the whole house of Israel, who are in distress, or in captivity — who stand either in the sea or on dry land — may the Omnipresent have mercy on them and take them out from narrowness to expanse, and from darkness to light, and from oppression to redemption, now, swiftly, and soon.
Prayer for the Welfare and the Return of Israel's Captured and Missing from among our Sisters and Brothers
Written by the Rabbinical Assembly of Israel and the Masorti Movement
God of Israel, our Rock and our Redeemer, God of Mercy, of Compassion,
we pray, we plead that You return these precious and beloved people, the captured and the missing, who have cruelly and heartlessly been torn from their homes and carried off to our enemy's territory.
We are terrified contemplating their fate and horrified at the thought of what the missing and the captured are suffering right now. They lay beyond our reach and our capacity to save them.
And so we plead before You:
Ruach HaElohim. be at their side, support them, protect them and quickly bring them back to the embrace of their families and all who love them as You have declared:
*Thus says the Lord; Behold, I will restore the captives of Jacob's tents, and have mercy on their dwelling places.” [Jeremiah 30:18]
We beseech you, Adonai, quickly fulfill Your word: "Here, I am with you, I will watch over you wherever you go and will bring you back to this land, indeed I will not leave you until I have done what I have said to you." [Genesis 28:15]
. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהוָֹה אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם,
מַתִּיר אֲסוּרִים
Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech ha-olam, matir asurim
Blessed are You Eternal,our God, Ruler of the universe,
Aleinu
A Poem Praying For
Us Then
and
Them Right Now
by Judy Chicago
And then all of what has divided us will merge. And then compassion will be wedded to power. And then softness will come to a world that is often harsh and unkind. And then …all people… will be gentle. And then …all people… will be strong. And then no other person will be subject to another’s will. And then all will be rich and varied. And then all will share equally in the earth’s abundance. And then all will care for the sick and the weak and the old. And then all will nourish the young. And then all will cherish life’s creatures. And then all will live in harmony with each other and the earth. And then everywhere will be called Eden once again. Amen.
עָלֵֽינוּ לְשַׁבֵּֽחַ לַאֲדוֹן הַכֹּל לָתֵת גְּדֻלָּה לְיוֹצֵר בְּרֵאשִׁית שֶׁלֺּא עָשָֽׂנוּ כְּגוֹיֵי הָאֲרָצוֹת וְלֺא שָׂמָֽנוּ כְּמִשְׁפְּחוֹת הָאֲדָמָה שֶׁלֺּא שָׂם חֶלְקֵֽנוּ כָּהֶם וְגוֹרָלֵֽנוּ כְּכָל הֲמוֹנָם: אֵין עוֹד,
Ein Od
וַאֲנַֽחְנוּ כּוֹרְ֒עִים וּמִשְׁתַּחֲוִים וּמוֹדִים לִפְנֵי מֶֽלֶךְ מַלְכֵי הַמְּ֒לָכִים הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, שֶׁהוּא נוֹטֶה שָׁמַֽיִם וְיוֹסֵד אָֽרֶץ, וּמוֹשַׁב יְקָרוֹ בַּשָּׁמַֽיִם מִמַּֽעַל, וּשְׁ֒כִינַת עֻזּוֹ בְּגָבְ֒הֵי מְרוֹמִים, הוּא אֱלֺהֵֽינוּ אֵין עוֹד, אֱמֶת מַלְכֵּֽנוּ אֶֽפֶס זוּלָתוֹ כַּכָּתוּב בְּתוֹרָתוֹ וְיָדַעְתָּ הַיּוֹם וַהֲשֵׁבֹתָ אֶל לְבָבֶֽךָ כִּי יְהֹוָה הוּא הָאֱלֺהִים בַּשָּׁמַֽיִם מִמַּֽעַל וְעַל הָאָֽרֶץ מִתָּֽחַת אֵין עוֹד:
Ein Od
כַּכָּתוּב בְּתוֹרָתֶֽךָ יְהֹוָה יִמְלֺךְ לְעֹלָם וָעֶד: וְנֶאֱמַר וְהָיָה יְהֹוָה לְמֶֽלֶךְ עַל כָּל הָאָֽרֶץ בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא יִהְיֶה יְהֹוָה אֶחָד וּשְׁמוֹ אֶחָד:
Kaddish
יִתְגַּדַּל וְיִתְקַדַּשׁ שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא. [ אמן]
בְּעָלְמָא דִּי בְרָא כִרְעוּתֵהּ וְיַמְלִיךְ מַלְכוּתֵהּ בְּחַיֵּיכון וּבְיומֵיכון וּבְחַיֵּי דְכָל בֵּית יִשרָאֵל בַּעֲגָלָא וּבִזְמַן קָרִיב, וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן: אמן]
קהל ואבל: יְהֵא שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא מְבָרַךְ לְעָלַם וּלְעָלְמֵי עָלְמַיָּא:
יִתְבָּרַךְ וְיִשְׁתַּבַּח וְיִתְפָּאַר וְיִתְרומַם וְיִתְנַשּא וְיִתְהַדָּר וְיִתְעַלֶּה וְיִתְהַלָּל שְׁמֵהּ דְּקֻדְשָׁא. בְּרִיךְ הוּא. בריך הוא:]
לְעֵלָּא מִן כָּל בִּרְכָתָא בעשי”ת: לְעֵלָּא מִכָּל וְשִׁירָתָא תֻּשְׁבְּחָתָא וְנֶחֱמָתָא דַּאֲמִירָן בְּעָלְמָא. וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן: [קהל: אמן]
יְהֵא שְׁלָמָא רַבָּא מִן שְׁמַיָּא וְחַיִּים עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשרָאֵל. וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן: [קהל:אמן]
עושה שָׁלום בעשי”ת: הַשָּׁלום בִּמְרומָיו הוּא יַעֲשה שָׁלום עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשרָאֵל וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן: [קהל: אמן
Transliteration:
Yitgadal v’yitkadash sh’mei raba b’alma di v’ra chir’utei; v’yamlich malchutei b’hayeichon u-v’yomeichon, uv’hayei d’chol beit yisrael, ba-agala u-vi-z’man kariv, v’imru amen.
Y’hei sh’mei raba m’varach l’alam u-l’almei almaya.
Yitbarach v’yishtabah, v’yitpa’ar v’yitromam, v’yitnasei v’yit-hadar, v’yit’aleh v’yit’halal sh’mei d’kudsha, b’rich hu, l’ela min kol birchata v’shirata, tushb’hata v’nehemata, da-amiran b’alma, v’imru amen.
Y’hei sh’lama raba min sh’maya, v’hayim, aleinu v’al koi yisrael, v’imru amen.
Oseh shalom bi-m’romav, hu ya’aseh shalom aleinu v’al kol yisrael, v’imru amen.
Translation:
Magnified and sanctified is the great name of God throughout the world, which was created according to Divine will. May the rule of peace be established speedily in our time, unto us and unto the entire household of Israel. And let us say: Amen.
May God’s great name be praised throughout all eternity. Glorified and celebrated, lauded and praised, acclaimed and honored, extolled and exalted ever be the name of thy Holy One, far beyond all song and psalm, beyond all hymns of glory which mortals can offer. And let us say: Amen.
May there be abundant peace from heaven, with life’s goodness for us and for all thy people Israel. And let us say: Amen.
May the One who brings peace to the universe bring peace to us and to all the people Israel. And let us say: Amen.
May our right hand bring us closer to our Godliness.
May our left hand give us strength to face each day.
And before us may our vision light our paths ahead.
And behind us may well-being heal our way.
Al around us is Shechinah (4x)
Miy'mini Michaeil, umismoli Gavriel, Umil'fanai Uri'eil, umei'achorai are'faeil,
V'al roshi Sh'china (4x)
May Micheal be at my right hand, Gabriel at my left, Before me Uriel, behind me Raphael,
And above my head the Divine Presence.