On April 29th, an auspicious date for my family, I led Thursday morning Sachrit services (morning services, on Monday, Thursday and Saturday, of course Torah is read at these morning services) at school. I was super nervous! I led with cantorial student and friend, Rachel Harrison. She sang and played lots of amazing melodies. It wouldn’t have been successful without her. Since it was April 29th I gave a kavannah (it can be a reading or a very short speech or poem to give the congregation something to think about before prayer, basically that’s what it is) before the Yotzer Or (one of the prayers part of the Sh’ma and its blessing rubric) about him:
Hayden, my nephew, 3 months old
And…
Here is the kavannah I gave:
3 years ago today I watched my nephew come into this world. It was a rather ineffable experience. I watched a life come into the world. I was able to hold a tiny human being when he was only moments old. I’ve heard from parents that giving birth and watching their children being born is one of those moments where they begin to believe in God. How could you not, after witnessing this moment?
The words Yotzer Or, creating light. It makes me think of illumination. God illuminates all that is in the world. The day my nephew was born he illuminated the lives of our family. As we give thanks for all that God has given us in our lives and on this day I urge you to think of someone or something that brightens up life, that makes you smile, that makes you realize this world and the life we are living has significance and that we owe thanks to God, the being who has given us light to see all that is good in the world.
this is LOVE!! congrats…3 years old! they say it is the new 2!! smiles
Lauren, YOU make me smile! This was a beautiful post…. thank you for sharing.