Rosh haShanah la-Behemah (the Jewish New Year’s Day for Animals) falls on the first day of Elul. It's a time when we begin an accounting for all the souls with whom we're in relationship. Usually, we think about our relationships with other people, but much of our lives and our happiness is tied to animals. Bees polinating flowers and trees, fruit and vegetables. Pets who bring us joy. Domesticated animals who nourish us.  This ceremony is adapted from the Isabella Freedman...

When I Am Among the Trees by Mary Oliver When I am among the trees, especially the willows and the honey locust, equally the beech, the oaks and the pines, they give off such hints of gladness. I would almost say that they save me, and daily. I am so distant from the hope of myself, in which I have goodness, and discernment, and never hurry through the world but walk slowly, and bow often. Around me the trees stir in...

Invitation to Brave Space by Micky ScottBey Jones  Together we will create brave space Because there is no such thing as a “safe space” We exist in the real world We all carry scars and we have all caused wounds. In this space We seek to turn down the volume of the outside world, We amplify voices that fight to be heard elsewhere, We call each other to more truth and love We have the right to start somewhere and continue...

For centuries, Sephardi Jewish families have gathered to celebrate a special Rosh Hashanah ceremony with a plate or meal of symbolic foods. Each food is eaten after requesting a specific kind of Divine blessing that sounds like the name of that food in Hebrew.  Before eating dates ( tamar ): May it be your will, God, that hatred will end. ( Tamar resembles the word for end, yitamu. ) Before eating pomegranate: May we be as full of mitzvot as the...

Praised are you, Source of Life Who has created the skies and the universe, The magic of darkness and light Blessed are the cycles that guide us Day and night, month and season Never missing their cue Blessed are the moon and stars The crowns of our earth Moving in splendid constellations May we accept the planetary wisdom To welcome time’s rhythm Of change and return May we shine with the stars And spread light to all beings Born from the...

Psalm 31 This psalm is traditionally read to ward off hatred and speaks of trusting in the mercy of the Divine  I put my trust in you; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. Incline your ear to me; deliver me speedily: be my strong rock, for an house of defence to save me. You are my rock and my fortress; for your name's sake lead me, and guide me. Pull me out of the net that they...

Recite when seeing large-scale wonders of nature such as high mountains, vast deserts, seas, major rivers, shooting stars and the sunrise:   Baruch atah Adonai, Eloheinu melech haolam, oseh maasei v'reishit. We praise You, Eternal God, Sovereign of the universe, who makes the works of creation.

Leader:   בָּרְכוּ אֶת יהוה הַמְבֹרָךְ. Barchu et-Adonai ha'mevorach   Praise God to whom our praise is due! Everyone:  בָּרוּךְ יהוה הַמְבֹרָךְ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד Barchu et-Adonai ha'mevorach l'olam va'ed  Praise God to whom our praise is due, now and forever! Leader repeats:  בָּרוּךְ יהוה הַמְבֹרָךְ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד Barchu et-Adonai ha'mevorach l'olam va'ed  Praise God to whom our praise is due, now and forever!

 יִתְגַּדַּל וְיִתְקַדַּשׁ שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא.  בְּעָלְמָא דִּי בְרָא כִרְעוּתֵהּ וְיַמְלִיךְ מַלְכוּתֵהּ  בְּחַיֵּיכוֹן וּבְיוֹמֵיכוֹן וּבְחַיֵּי דְכָל בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל, בַּעֲגָלָא וּבִזְמַן קָרִיב. וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן  יְהֵא שְׁמֵהּ רַבָּא מְבָרַךְ לְעָלַם וּלְעָלְמֵי עָלְמַיָּא  יִתְבָּרֵךְ, וְיִשְׁתַּבַּח,וְיִתְפָּאֵר, וְיִתְרוֹמֵם, וְיִתְנַשֵּׂא, וְיִתְהַדָּר, וְיִתְעַלֶּה, וְיִתְהַלָּל, שְׁמֵהּ דְקֻדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא. לְעֵלָּא מִן כָּל בִּרְכָתָא וְשִׁירָתָא,תֻּשְׁבְּחָתָא וְנֶחֱמָתָא, דַּאֲמִירָן בְּעָלְמָא, וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן יְהֵא שְׁלָמָה רבָּא מִן שְׁמַיָּא וְחַיִּים עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשְֹרָאֵל,וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן עשֶֹׁה שָׁלוֹם בִּמְרוֹמָיו הוּא יַעֲשֶֹה שָׁלוֹם עָלֵינוּ וְעַל כָּל יִשְֹרָאֵל וְעַל כָּל יוֺשְׁבֵי תֵבֶל, וְאִמְרוּ אָמֵן Mourners: Yitgadal v'yitkadash sh'mei raba...

What Is Shabbat, the Sabbath, Really About? Shabbat is the celebration of two monumental aspects of human life: The creation of the universe. Our liberation as a people from Egypt—and the resulting message that the world can be liberated from all forms of oppression. Yet the celebration is more than just a moment of thankfulness. It is, rather, a personal reliving of the creation and of the liberation. For 25 hours (from 18 minutes before sunset on Friday night until it’s...

Here is a brief blessing, in Aramaic, to give thanks after your meal    בריך רחמנא מלכא דעלמא מריה דהאי פיתא Brich rachamana malka d’alma marei d’hai pita. We are blessed with compassion by you, Infinite One, who sustains us with bread.   Adapted from the Babylonian Talmud (Brachot 40b) by OneTable: https://issuu.com/onetableshabbat/docs/ultimate_shabbat_guide?e=33133766/60166643