Soulful Shabbat
01/02/2017 12:07:35 PM
Jan2
Dear Bnai Keshet,
Many of you might be making some resolutions at this time of year. Or perhaps you’re not making resolutions, but you’re noticing the new opportunities for growth and renewal. So we thought we’d start the year off with a resolution of our own, to make an effort at reconnecting with our souls as a community through the sacred technology of Shabbat, particularly the ritual moments of Shabbat that can happen in our own homes.
It is rare that we make it through a Shabbat here at Bnai Keshet without singing Veshamru. It is part of the Friday night liturgy, we sing it when we repeat the Amidah Saturday morning and we sing after services before we bless the wine. This song-prayer is all about the power of keeping some kind of Shabbat practice. It ends with the line, “…for in six days did YHVH make the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day God stopped, and vayinafash.”
Typically this word vayinafash is translated as “rested.” Our prayer book translates it in a really nice way, “on the seventh day God stopped and drew a breath of rest.” This translation is connecting to the root word nefesh which means breath. But nefesh also means soul. We could read this line as “on the seventh day God stopped, and re-souled.”
Putting aside the challenges of what it means for God to re-soul (or breath or rest for that matter) this line is meant to be an inspiration for what we might do for ourselves to keep Shabbat. What practices might you try that would help you to feel more connected to your soul? What might help you to breathe restfully?
Over the month of January, we’ll be offering four rituals of Shabbat practice that are simultaneously ancient and contemporary, traditional and innovative. All of these practices can be performed at home with minimal equipment and in just a few minutes. All of them are powerful tools for connecting us to our souls. See if you can add one practice each week so that by the end of the month you’re doing some variation of all four. We will send out an inspirational video and resources on Friday morning each week to help you along.
Week 1: Lighting Candles/Making a separation
Week 2: Making Kiddush/Sanctifying the Day
Week 3: Saying Hamotzi/Breaking Bread
Week 4: Blessing those we love
On February 3rd, the entire community is invited to celebrate our month of practice with Shabbat dinner and a beautiful musical service.
With love,
Rabbi Ariann and Rabbi Elliott
Thu, April 18 2024 10 Nisan 5784