When our own words fail us ....
11/21/2014 01:34:47 PM
Dear Chevre,
We are saddened by the horrendous acts of violence and murder that took place on Tuesday in a Jerusalem synagogue. We are pained and frightened not just by these acts of terror which occurred in a house of prayer and study, but by the increasing tone of violence and vengeance in this beloved city of peace.
In these times of attack, of fear and of grief, when our own words fail us, we reach for the wisdom of the psalms. Already this week our community has stopped to offer prayers and meditations several times. This Saturday we will again spend some of our service facing this darkness.
Whether with us or on your own we encourage you to join us in prayer with Psalm 6. We pray these words in memory of Rabbis Moshe Twersky z"l, Aryeh Kupinsky z"l, Avraham Shmuel Goldberg z"l, Kalman Zeev Levine z"l, and Druze police officer Zidan Nahad Seif z"l, with prayers of healing for their families and for those wounded, and with hope for peace.
Together, we pray for the peace of Jerusalem,
שַׁאֲלוּ, שְׁלוֹם יְרוּשָׁלִָם [Psalm 122]
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א לַמְנַצֵּחַ בִּנְגִינוֹת, עַל-הַשְּׁמִינִית; מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִד. |
1 For the Leader; with string-music; on the Sheminit. A Psalm of David. |
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ב יְהוָה, אַל-בְּאַפְּךָ תוֹכִיחֵנִי; וְאַל-בַּחֲמָתְךָ תְיַסְּרֵנִי. |
2 Adonai, rebuke me not in your anger, neither chasten me in your rage. |
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ג חָנֵּנִי יְהוָה, כִּי אֻמְלַל-אָנִי: רְפָאֵנִי יְהוָה--כִּי נִבְהֲלוּ עֲצָמָי. |
3 Be gracious unto me, Adonai, for I am feeble; heal me, Adonai, for my bones shudder. |
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ד וְנַפְשִׁי, נִבְהֲלָה מְאֹד; ואת יְהוָה, עַד-מָתָי. |
4 My soul is utterly confounded; and You, Adonai, how long? |
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ה שׁוּבָה יְהוָה, חַלְּצָה נַפְשִׁי; הוֹשִׁיעֵנִי, לְמַעַן חַסְדֶּךָ. |
5 Return, Adonai, release my soul; save me as befits your kindness. |
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ו כִּי אֵין בַּמָּוֶת זִכְרֶךָ; בִּשְׁאוֹל, מִי יוֹדֶה-לָּךְ. |
6 For there is no mention of you in death; in the nether-world who will thank you? |
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ז יָגַעְתִּי, בְּאַנְחָתִי--אַשְׂחֶה בְכָל-לַיְלָה, מִטָּתִי; בְּדִמְעָתִי, עַרְשִׂי אַמְסֶה. |
7 I am weary with my groaning; every night I drench my bed, with my tears I soak my couch |
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ח עָשְׁשָׁה מִכַּעַס עֵינִי; עָתְקָה, בְּכָל-צוֹרְרָי. |
8 My eye is dimmed because of anger; aged by my tormentors |
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סוּרוּ מִמֶּנִּי, כָּל-פֹּעֲלֵי אָוֶן: כִּי-שָׁמַע יְהוָה, קוֹל בִּכְיִי. |
9 Depart from me, all evildoers; for Adonai has heard the sound of my weeping. |
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י שָׁמַע יְהוָה, תְּחִנָּתִי; יְהוָה, תְּפִלָּתִי יִקָּח. |
10 Adonai has heard my plea; Adonai will accept my prayer. |
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א יֵבֹשׁוּ, וְיִבָּהֲלוּ מְאֹד--כָּל-אֹיְבָי; יָשֻׁבוּ, יֵבֹשׁוּ רָגַע. |
11 Let all my enemies be shamed and confounded; they shall regret and be shamed |
