Soulful Shabbat Week 4: Blessing those we love

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Soulful Shabbat Week 4: Blessing those we love

Bnai Keshet

Soulful Shabbat Week 4: Blessing those we love

Dear Bnai Keshet,

We are almost at the end of our Soulful Shabbat series and we'd like to share just one more practice with you. [ Don't forget to register for dinner at 6:30pm on February 3rd and join us for musical services right after! Please bring a dessert to share after services!]

We started this series with a meditation on the word vayinafash, God was "re-souled" on the 7th day. How have you made a commitment to being "re-souled" this month? I (Rabbi Ariann) have spent time with children, have participated in MLK Day celebrations at the Newark Museum, have marched on Washington, and yes, I have celebrated Shabbat as well. I (Rabbi Elliott) have snowboarded in Idaho and refreshed my soul at a retreat with the Institute for Jewish Spirituality, and yes, I have also celebrated Shabbat.

This week we're going to focus on ways to re-soul others. The video describes the practice of blessing children around the Shabbat table, which is traditionally done after lighting candles and before kiddush.

It may be a radical idea to some of us that we even have the power of blessing. Judaism, from the earliest moments of the priesthood described in the Torah through today, has always emphasized a place for a personal blessing practice. Judaism teaches that humanity carries the godly power to be conduits of blessing. We share this belief with many faith traditions, although we may use different language to convey it.

In the video, you'll learn about new and old ways to bless your children at the Shabbat table. But if you are enjoying Shabbat alone or with friends, this blessing opportunity is still available to you. Please use the language of our tradition or the Buddhist metta blessing also taught in the video to bless yourself, to bless your friends, to bless your neighbors, and to bless those you're thinking about who aren't with you physically.

We hope to see you on Feburary 3rd for our special Soulful Shabbat, the culmination of this month of taking on new and old Shabbat practices.

Shabbat shalom,

Rabbi Ariann and Rabbi Elliott

Bnai Keshet
99 South Fullerton Avenue
Montclair, NJ 07042

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