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Rock of Ages, let our song, praise Thy saving power;  Thou, amidst the raging foes, wast our sheltering tower.  Furious they assailed us, but Thine arm availed us,  And Thy Word broke their sword, when our own strength failed us.  And Thy Word broke their sword, when our own strength failed us. Kindling new the holy lamps, priests, approved in suffering,  Purified the nation's shrine, brought to God their offering.  And His courts surrounding, hear, in joy abounding,  Happy throngs, singing...

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To The Forces of Kindness and Mercy, wherever you may be:  Please pour out your blessing on this land, our citizens and elected officials,  in whose hands we’ve entrusted with the public good.  Enlighten us all with the rules of justice,  so that peace, tranquillity, happiness and freedom  stretch throughout our land.  Please bestow the spirit of humanity amongst all of us,  and plant love, fellowship, and friendship  between the different communities and faiths that dwell here.  Uproot from our hearts...

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When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world.  But I found it was difficult to change the world,  so I tried to change my country.  When I found I couldn’t change my country,  I began to focus on my town.  However, I discovered that I couldn’t change the town,  and so as I grew older, I tried to change my family. Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is myself,  but...

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by Rabbi Shoshana Friedman, Temple Sinai, Brookline, MA Holy One of Blessing! Grant us strength to be part of a holy uprising A resistance against the forces of destruction For we stand in witness of the unity of Creation. Grant us patience to work well with others In groups of fellow uprisers To honor and uplift Your sacred name. Grant us wisdom to practice self-care So we may travel through this wilderness as long as we must - please God! Grant...

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The traditional confessional prayer, the Vidui, is composed of two parts, the Ashamnu and the Al Chet, that we read aloud on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. The Ashamnu (translated as “we have trespassed” or “we are guilty”) is an abbreviated confession, an alphabetic acrostic, and written in first person plural. We recite this confessional in the plural to represent our shared responsibility and culpability in all of our lives and missteps. We also share this confessional as a reminder that...

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In the days prior to Rosh Hashanah, throughout the Hebrew month of Elul, traditional Jews add Psalm 27 to their daily prayers. Here’s a contemporary translation by Norman Fischer from his book Opening to You: Zen-Inspired Translations of the Psalms You are my light and my help Whom should I fear? You are the fortress of my life Whom should I dread? When the narrow ones gather their strength to devour me It is they who stumble and fall Even if...

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Elul (Hebrew: אֱלוּל) is the twelfth month of the Jewish civil year and the sixth month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar. It is a summer month of 29 days. Elul usually occurs in August–September on the Gregorian calendar. The name of the month, like the names of the rest of the Hebrew calendar months, was brought from the Babylonian Exile, and originated from the Akkadian word for "Harvest".  In the Jewish tradition, the month of Elul is a...

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Unetanneh Tokef or Un'taneh Tokef (ונתנה תוקף) (" Let us speak of the awesomeness ") is a piyyut that has been a part of the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur liturgy in rabbinical Judaism for centuries. It is chanted while the Torah ark is open and the congregants are standing. -- Let us now relate the power of this day's holiness, for it is awesome and frightening. On it Your Kingship will be exalted; Your throne will be firmed with kindness...