A Sinaite’s Liturgy – 2nd Sabbath of May

KINDLE THE SABBATH LIGHTS

 

 

O YHWH,

our God, Lord, and Creator,

You perfected Your universe on day six

culminating in the ‘crown’ of Your creative work

—humankind—

then You set aside a seventh day.

 

If You chose to set apart this day for rest,

it behooves us who are made in Your image,

to do the same,

not simply to rest from our weekly chores,

but to take delight in the difference

of what we choose to do on this day,

a day set aside for You,

which makes this seventh day special for us.

 

O CREATOR of LIGHT,

in the meaningful family tradition of Your chosen people,

the matriarch of the family

kindles the Sabbath lights 

and speaks the blessing:

 

Blessed are You,

YHWH, our God, 

King of the Universe,

Who sanctified us with Your commandments 

and commanded us to “sanctify the Sabbath.”

 

As the world celebrates motherhood,

we reflect on this fitting tribute —that

“God could not be present for every child born in this world,

and so God created mothers.”

 

 

You have designed woman

to be the perfect vessel

to carry and nurture new life 

until she births a new person 

from the darkness of her womb

to see the light of day;

and thereon to nurture that life

with selfless dedication 

until she is ready to release this beloved part of her ‘self’

to take his own direction in life

in a world ridden with choices.

 

Bless all mothers, O GIVER of LIFE,

for their special role in the lives of children,

providing never-ending unconditional love to them;

may children young and old,

see in mothers that very image of You,

a loving God Who cares that each child

fulfills the purpose for which he was created:

to come to know You,

yet freely choose his destiny,

with You or without You in it.

May he choose ‘Life’,

Your Life,

for in doing so, his destiny is rightly directed.

and that brings great comfort to every mother’s heart.

 

Proverbs 31:28-31

 

Her children have risen and praised her;

her husband and he extolled her:

“Many women have amassed achievement, but you surpassed them all.”

Grace is false, and beauty vain;

a woman who fears YHWH, 

she should be praised.

Give her the fruits of her hands;

and let her be praised in the gates

by her very own deeds. 

 

 

 

 

BLESSINGS

 

O YHWH, 

You perfectly designed the world we live in

to sustain all life—with sunshine and air,

water and a variety of nourishment.

 

We bless You for blessing us

with fruit from the vine and bread from wheat,

daily provisions that nourish body and soul.

 

In Your Tabernacle in the wilderness,

You consistently stressed two items together:

the Ark of the Covenant

which contained Your revelation on two tablets of stone,

and the table of shewbread

which was replaced every Sabbath.

How could we miss the connection: 

that as we delight in nourishing our physical life,

we nurture our spiritual life by ‘feeding’ on Your Torah,

both, a joy and delight not only on Sabbath,

but as often as we desire food for body and soul.

 

We celebrate motherhood,

and ask for blessings upon all women 

who deliver Your gift of life to each of their children;

may they be rewarded in the desires of the heart

that their children no matter how old,

will find joy and happiness

from the Source of it all—

You, YHWH, our Lord and our God,

their Creator and their very Source of life.

 

 

We ask for blessings upon our family,

fathers, mothers and children,

the blessing of lives

not only well-lived

but rightly-lived, 

because of a special connection with You 

Who determines length of life

and gives meaning for being born,

for being,

for existing

and even for the ending

of a lifetime.

 

May none of us waste precious time,

for every second and every minute is forever gone,

and none of us know the length of life

You have allotted each of us on this earth.

 

For the precious gift of time,

O YHWH,

GIVER of the breath of life, 

we are thankful and celebrate Life!  

To Life, l’chaim!

 

 

SABBATH MEAL

TORAH DISCUSSION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

HAVDALAH

 

Shabbat shalom!

NSB@S6K