Sunday, July 22, 2007

Call to Silence and Opening Meditation

Music: Kari Perkins

Hodu L'Adonai (Psalm 118)

Hodu L'Adonai ki tov
Ki l'olam chasdo
Yomar na Yisrael
Ki l'olam chasdo
Yom'ru na Beit Aharon
Ki l'olan chasdo
Yom'ru yir'ei Adonai
Ki l'olam chasdo


Give praises to God for God is good.
God's steadfast love is eternal.
May Israel declare it.
May the house of Aaron declare it.
May those who fear God declare it.



Readings



About Judaism, compiled from various sources
(each paragraph read by a different person)



As we discussed last week, the Torah, which is comprised of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible: Genesis, Deuteronomu, Nmbers, Leviticus, and Exodus: is the most holy book for the Jews. It is housed in a box or container called the ARK. The TOrah is usually a scroll and is only touched with a special pointer or Yad, as it is too holy for human touch. The Torah is kept in the synagogue, which is the place of worship. Interestingly, the Jewish spiritual leader, or Rabbi, which means teacher, has no special religious status, unlike leaders in many other faiths.



There are different levels of orthodoxy in the Jewish religion: orthodox, conservative reformed, and a newly formed branch called progressive. For all Jews, the most important day of the week is the Sabbath or Shabbat, which is a day made holy by refraining from weekday work while eating with family, praying, and attending Synagogue. The Sabbath begins at sunset on Friday and ends at sunset on Saturday.

Many Jews wear a skullcap called a Kippah. Some wear it all the time, some just at Synagogue. An orthodox Jew must keep his head covered at all times and may even wear a skullcap under a larger hat for security. Head covers for women are optional. A prayer shawl or Tallit can be worn during prayer, the fringe on the shawl to remind him of the many commandments of the Torah. A tefilin, a small leather box with long leather straps, can be affixed to the forearm or head during prayer, a reminder to keep God's laws in the wearer's heart and mind.

Jewish boys become adults after a period of study in a ceremony called Bar Mitzvah, which means son of the Commandments. Reformed and conservative American Jewish girls can become daughters in a similar ceremony called a Bat Mitzvah.

Lastly, Jews marry in a service called Kiddushin, which is Hebrew for Holy or special. The couple marries under a huppah or canopy and write a contract or Ketubah. A glass is broken to remind the couple that sadness is always just around the corner for Jews. It is also a reminder of the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem as well as a reminder of the permanence of marriage.

It is customary at the beginning of Shabbat for the family to light candles and join in prayer:

As these Shabbat candles give light to all who behold them,
so may we, by our lives, give light to all who behold us.
As their brightness reminds us of the generations of Israel who
have kindled light, so may we, in our own day, be among
those who kindle light.

The parents now bless the children saying:

May God bless you and guide you. Be strong for the truth, charitable
in your words, just and loving in your deeds. A noble heritage has
been entrusted to you; guard it well.

Music: Kari Perkins

Shalon Rav

Shalom rav al Yisrael am'cha tasim l'olam
Ki atah hu Melech Adon l'chol ha shalom
V'tov b'einacha l'vareich et am'cha Yisrael
B'chol et uv'chol sha'ah bishlomecha
Baruch atah Adonai ham;vorach et amo Yisrael ha'hashalom.

Bestow peace upon Your people Israel forever,
For You are King, Master of all Peace.
May it be good in Your eyes to bless Your people Israel,
At every time and every hour, with Your peace.
Blessed are You, Lord, who blesses His people Israel with peace.

A poem for Home or Synagogue (from Gates of the House)

Something is very gently, invisibly, silently, pulling
at me - a thread or net of threads finer than cobweb
and as elastic. I haven't tried the strength of it. No
barbed hook pierced and tore me. Was it not long ago
this thread began to draw me? Or way back? Was I born
with its knot about my neck, a bridle? Not fear but a
stirring or wonder makes me catch my breath when I
feel the tug of it when I though it had loosed itself
and gone.

A Reading from the Gospel of Mary Magdalene

"Impose no law other than that which I have witnessed. Do not add more laws to those give in the Torah, lest you become bound by them." Having said all this, he departed.

Call to Conversation

Closing Meditation

No Snake, by Annie Finch

Inside my Eden, I can find no snake.
There's not one I could look to and believe,
obey and then be ruined by and leave
because of, bearing children and an ache.

I circle down on Eden from above,
searching the fields in solitude and love
like a high hawk. She would never forsake

this place that's made again of memory;
she'd wait in that tree below me, spring
out towards my growing shadow, let it bring
a sudden hope that she could coil free;

but she's not here. Only mountains that curve,
and dip around the valley when I swerve,
settle with dark heights, as I near the tree.

Music: Kari Perkins

Modim Anachnu Lach

Modim anachnu lach she'atah hu Adonai Eloheinu
Elohei avoteinu l'olam va'ed
Tzur chayeinu magen ish'enu
Atah hu l'dor vador

We gratefully thank You, for You are the Lord our God,
And God of our ancestors, forever and ever.
Rock of our lives, shield of our salvation,
You are the One, from generation to generation.

The Mary Magdalene Community kindly asks for your comments/thoughts to continue our conversation.