The Inside Out Wisdom and Action Project, (IOWA Project), supports social change makers to integrate Jewish spiritual wisdom into their lives in order to bring their most grounded, visionary and creative selves to their leadership, making social justice activism a sustainable, transformative practice.
Transcript: My name is Rachie Lewis and I am going to lead us in a meditation on the traditional morning brachot, the morning blessings and we are going to use some lesser known names for God as part of those brachot. And I am going to leave space in between each blessing that I’ll say in Hebrew and English and we should take a few breaths in that gap. Find a comfortable position, feel your feet on the ground and take a deep breath.
Baruch ata Tzur Olamim asher natan l’sachvi vina l’hachvin bein yom u’vein laila.
Blessed are you God, Rock of Ages, who gives us wisdom to discern between day and night.
PAUSE
Baruch ata Mekor Mayim Chayim sh’asani b’tsalmo.
Blessed are you God, Fountain of Living Waters who has made me in Your image.
PAUSE
Baruch ata Tzur Olamim sh’asani bat chorin.
Blessed are you God, Rock of Ages, who has made me free. (bat for female identified folks and ben for male identified folks, beit as gender neutral alternative)
PAUSE
Baruch ata Mekor Mayim Chayim malbish arumim.
Blessed are you God, Fountain of Living Waters, who clothes the naked.
PAUSE
Baruch ata Tzur Olamim matir asurim.
Blessed are you God, Rock of Ages, who sets captives free.
PAUSE
Baruch ata Tzur Olamim zokeif k’fufim.
Blessed are you God, Rock of Ages, who raises those bowed down
PAUSE
Baruch ata Tzur Olamim rokah ha’aretz al Tzur Olamim hamayim.
Blessed are you God, Rock of Ages, who spreads the earth separate from the waters.
PAUSE
Baruch ata Mekor Mayim Chayim sh’asah li kol tsarki.
Blessed are you God, Fountain of Living Waters, who has made for me all that I need.
PAUSE
Baruch ata Tzur Olamim ha’meichin m’tza’adeh gaver.
Blessed are you God, Rock of Ages, who steadies my steps.
PAUSE
Baruch ata Tzur Olamim ozer yisrael b’gevurah.
Blessed are you God, Rock of Ages, who girds your people, Israel, with courage.
PAUSE
Baruch ata Mekor Mayim Chayim hanotein l’ya’eif ko’ach.
Blessed are you God, Fountain of Living Waters, who gives strength to the weary.
PAUSE
Baruch ata Mekor Mayyim Chayim hama’avir sheina ut’numa mei’af’apai.
Blessed are you God, Fountain of Living Waters, who removes sleep from my eyes, and slumber from my eyelids (so that I can see clearly).
We take one last breath and open your eyes
Rachie Lewis is the Director of Synagogue Organizing at the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston, where her focus has been on multi-faith immigrant solidarity and accompaniment efforts in MA. She is a member of the IOWA Project’s Ovdim Cohort and finds light and joy playing trombone in a community brass band (when that was a thing), and writing a mystery novel about a queer rabbi.
