Prayer
On the Ninth of Av, Oholah and Oholibah speak.
“There is only one joy: to increase and not to lessen the world’s joy.”
Prayer isn’t the same across religions.
Its meaning in the Bible is “Truly said!” or “So be it!” After that it acquired its intense liturgical emotion, and then hasn’t changed much since.
Prayers on the death of a father.
“We pray sincerely for America and the ideals of democracy and freedom that are here enshrined.”
Accompanied by a master player of the santur.
An ancient rabbinic dispute pitted eminent scholars against one another. The Taḥanun prayer is rooted in that story of public shame and private distress.
Some reflections on solitary prayer and mixed-sex seating.
Not an expression of indignity, but of commitment to being an agent of the divine will.
When ancient practices for honoring the dead become a threat to the living.
To pray is to be human; to be human is to pray.
And how it enriches other realms of life.
An illuminated manuscript reflecting the Roman Jewish rite.