As the sun begins to set, we will celebrate the Shabbat apart from one another. In thinking about what that means for us as a sacred community, with everything happening around us, I came upon this beautiful poem that has provided me strength over the past days.
What if you thought of it as the Jews consider the Sabbath— the most sacred of times? Cease from travel. Cease from buying and selling. Give up, just for now, on trying to make the world different than it is. Sing. Pray. Touch only those to whom you commit your life. Center down.
And when your body has become still, reach out with your heart. Know that we are connected in ways that are terrifying and beautiful. (You could hardly deny it now.) Know that our lives are in one another’s hands. (Surely, that has come clear.) Do not reach out your hands. Reach out your heart. Reach out your words. Reach out all the tendrils of compassion that move, invisibly, where we cannot touch.
Promise this world your love– for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, so long as we all shall live.
–Lynn Ungar 3/11/20
So as we make our promises on this Shabbat, let us also pray for those in need of physical, emotional, and spiritual healing. As your eyes glance over these words, may your mind draw upon the sweet sounds of our Cantor.
Mi shebeirach avoteinu M'kor hab'racha l'imoteinu May the source of strength, Who blessed the ones before us, Help us find the courage to make our lives a blessing, And let us say, Amen.
Mi shebeirach imoteinu M'kor habrachah l'avoteinu Bless those in need of healing with r'fuah sh'leimah, The renewal of body, the renewal of spirit, And let us say, Amen
May we take sacred moments on this Shabbat, connecting to each other, though we are distanced: call a friend, reach out to a loved one, or check in on a parent. Holiness on this Shabbat is found in our interconnectedness.
