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Week 4, Days 22-28: April 30–May 5
Theme: Hope- Body and Soul

Prayer is at the center of Jewish spiritual life, at the core of our spiritual strength, and the fuel for mindfulness that can infuse a moment or an action with a sense of holiness. All these things have provided the Jewish people with one of our most important qualities: Resilience. This week we highlight prayers for you to consider making part of your personal spiritual practice. Take time to learn them, say them, use them, find meaning in them.

Sh’ma: This is the watchword of our faith, acknowledging God’s Oneness. It is on a Jewish person’s lips in the morning and evening, and even at the very end of someone’s life. Try reciting at bedtime (great ritual with children), or in the morning. Say it or sing it, alone or with family members. Try it standing or sitting and notice how those positions cause you to embody the prayer differently.

שְׁמַע | יִשְׂרָאֵל, יְיָ | אֱלֹהֵינוּ, יְיָ | אֶחָד:
בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתוֹ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד.

Sh’ma Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Echad
Baruch shem k’vod malchuto l’olam va’ed

Here is a link to Beth Schafer’s Sh’ma: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk_ybWXaSWE

Modeh Ani: We recite this as soon as we wake up giving thanks for being able to face the world with a soul restored for a new day! Use this prayer as a meditation, weave it into your breath, feel yourself connected to the earth, humanity and God. Let it bring peace to the body and the soul.

מוֹדֶה אֲנִי לְפָנֶיךָ, מֶלֶךְ חַי וְקַיָּם, שֶׁהֶחֱזַרְתָּ בִּי נִשְׁמָתִי בְּחֶמְלָה רַבָּה אֱמוּנָתֶךָ.

Modeh Ani Lefanecha, Melech Chai V’kayam, Shehechezarta Bi Nishmati, Bechemla Raba Emunatecha

Here is a link to Rabbi Shefa Gold’s meditation on Modeh/Modah Ani: https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/modeh-ani-beginning-the-day-with-gratitude/

Resilience Nigun: The Spirituality Committee and Beth Schafer have created a piece called the Resilience Nigun. A nigun is a wordless melody used to convene people musically in prayer or celebration. Beth wrote this nigun for Temple Sinai to become our musical calling card. As it came into fruition during this time of pandemic, it is being learned in individual homes as opposed to our beloved sanctuary. Below is a link to a recording of it for you to learn. One day we will gather in person and it will be the first time any of us will hear it sung with other people-a true reminder of the resilience we embody as a congregation. Let every time you hear it or sing it fill you with hope.

[insert link to mp3 here]

The Blessing: One stands when counting the omer, and begins by reciting the following blessing:

Barukh ata Adonai Eloheinu Melekh ha’Olam asher kid’shanu b’mitzvotav v’tizivanu al sefirat ha’omer.

Blessed are you, Adonai our God, Sovereign of the Universe, who has sanctified us with your commandments and commanded us to count the omer.

After the blessing, one recites the appropriate day of the count and after 6 days, the week is also included in the count. For example: “Today is the twenty-second day, or three weeks and one day of the omer.”